How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows (4 Methods)

You received photos from an iPhone and Windows tells you it can't open them. The files end in .heic, a format Windows doesn't support out of the box. The fix is straightforward: convert them to JPG, which every program on every operating system handles natively.

This guide covers four free methods to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows, from a zero-install browser tool to native Windows features and command-line automation. Pick the one that fits your workflow.

If you're not sure what HEIC is or why iPhones use it, see What Is HEIC? Apple's Image Format Explained.

Why Windows Can't Open HEIC Files by Default

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11. It uses the HEVC (H.265) codec to compress photos to roughly half the file size of JPG at comparable quality. Apple chose it because iPhones have hardware HEVC encoders, making capture fast and storage efficient.

Windows doesn't include HEVC decoding out of the box due to licensing costs — HEVC is patent-encumbered, and Microsoft doesn't bundle the codec for free. Windows 10 and 11 can display HEIC files if you install the HEIF Image Extension, but many users never do. The result: .heic files appear as blank icons with no preview.

For a deeper comparison, see HEIC vs JPEG: Which Format Is Better?.

Method 1 — Pixotter Online Converter (No Install, Drag and Drop)

The fastest option. Pixotter's HEIC to JPG converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your photos never leave your computer — there's no upload, no server processing, and no file size limit.

Steps

1. Open Pixotter's Convert tool in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on Windows.
2. Drop your .heic files onto the page. Batch processing is supported — drop dozens at once.
3. Set output format to JPG and adjust quality if needed (default 85% works well for most photos).
4. Click Convert and download your JPG files.

The conversion runs in milliseconds using libvips compiled to WebAssembly. Your photos stay on your machine the entire time.

Best for: Quick one-off conversions, privacy-sensitive photos, and users who don't want to install anything. Works on Windows 10, Windows 11, and any other OS with a modern browser.

Method 2 — Windows HEIF Extension + Photos App (Free)

Microsoft offers a free HEIF Image Extension that lets Windows display and convert HEIC files natively. Once installed, you can open HEIC files in the Photos app and save as JPG.

Install the Extension

1. Open the Microsoft Store (search for "Microsoft Store" in the Start menu).
2. Search for HEIF Image Extensions (published by Microsoft Corporation).
3. Click Get or Install. The extension is free.
4. Restart Windows Explorer if .heic files still show blank icons.

Windows 11 note: Some Windows 11 installations include HEIF support pre-installed. Check by double-clicking a .heic file — if it opens in Photos, you already have it.

Windows 10 note: You may also need the HEVC Video Extensions ($0.99 in the Microsoft Store) to decode the image data inside HEIC containers. The free alternative is the HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer — search for that exact title in the Microsoft Store.

Convert to JPG

1. Right-click the .heic file and choose Open with → Photos.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right.
3. Select Save as and choose JPG from the file type dropdown.
4. Pick your save location and click Save.

Limitation: The Photos app converts one file at a time. For batch conversion, use Method 1 (Pixotter) or Method 4 (ImageMagick).

Method 3 — IrfanView (Free, GPL-Compatible)

IrfanView 4.67 is a lightweight Windows image viewer that supports HEIC files with its plugins. It handles batch conversion natively.

Setup

1. Download IrfanView 4.67 from irfanview.com.
2. Download the IrfanView Plugins package (same page, separate download).
3. Install both. The plugins include HEIF/HEIC decoding support.

IrfanView is free for non-commercial use. Commercial use requires a license ($12).

Single File Conversion

1. Open the .heic file in IrfanView (File → Open).
2. Go to File → Save As.
3. Choose JPG/JPEG from the format dropdown.
4. Set quality (85-95 for photos) and click Save.

Batch Conversion

1. Go to File → Batch Conversion/Rename (or press B).
2. Set Output format to JPG.
3. Navigate to your folder of .heic files and click Add All.
4. Set the output directory.
5. Click Start Batch — IrfanView converts all files sequentially.

Best for: Power users who want a desktop viewer that handles HEIC natively alongside 70+ other formats.

Method 4 — ImageMagick CLI (Apache 2.0)

ImageMagick 7.1 is a command-line image processing toolkit. It handles HEIC conversion in scripts and automated workflows. Licensed under Apache 2.0.

Install

Download the Windows installer from imagemagick.org/script/download.php. Choose the Win64-dll version. During installation, check Add application directory to your system path and Install legacy utilities (convert).

ImageMagick requires the HEIF delegate library. The Windows installer bundles it by default since version 7.1.0-0.

Convert a Single File

magick input.heic output.jpg

Convert With Quality Control

magick input.heic -quality 90 output.jpg

Quality values: 85 is a good default. 90-95 for archival quality. 75-80 for smaller files (email, web uploads).

Batch Convert All HEIC Files in a Folder

In PowerShell:

Get-ChildItem -Filter *.heic | ForEach-Object {
    magick $_.FullName -quality 85 ($_.BaseName + ".jpg")
}

In Command Prompt:

for %f in (*.heic) do magick "%f" -quality 85 "%~nf.jpg"

Best for: Developers and power users who need scriptable, automated conversion. Integrates into build pipelines and scheduled tasks.

Which Method Should You Use?

Stop iPhone From Shooting HEIC

If you regularly transfer photos to Windows and don't want to convert every time, you can set your iPhone to shoot JPG directly:

1. Open Settings → Camera → Formats.
2. Select Most Compatible (this shoots JPG + H.264 instead of HEIC + HEVC).

The tradeoff: photos will take roughly twice the storage space on your iPhone. If you have plenty of iCloud storage, this is fine. If not, convert on demand using one of the methods above.

You can also set your iPhone to auto-convert to JPG when transferring. Go to Settings → Photos and under Transfer to Mac or PC, select Automatic. iOS will convert HEIC to JPG during transfer — though this only works for USB transfers, not AirDrop or email.

FAQ

Can I convert HEIC to JPG without losing quality? Some quality loss is inherent because HEIC and JPG use different compression algorithms. Setting JPG quality to 95 produces results that are visually indistinguishable from the HEIC original for all practical purposes.

Is the HEIF Image Extension safe to install? Yes. It's published by Microsoft Corporation and available through the official Microsoft Store. It adds codec support to Windows — it doesn't modify your files or install background services.

Can I batch convert hundreds of HEIC files at once? Yes. Pixotter handles batch conversion in the browser. IrfanView has a built-in batch converter. ImageMagick can process entire directories with a single command. The Photos app method is single-file only.

Do I need the HEVC Video Extensions too? On Windows 10, sometimes yes. The HEIF Image Extension handles the container format, but HEVC Video Extensions handle the codec that decodes the actual image data. On Windows 11, the codec is more commonly pre-installed. If .heic files still won't open after installing HEIF Image Extensions, install HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store.

Will converting to JPG change my photo's dimensions? No. The pixel dimensions stay identical. Only the file format and compression method change. The file size will typically increase (JPG files are larger than HEIC at comparable quality).

Can I convert HEIC to PNG instead? Yes. If you need lossless output or transparency support, convert to PNG instead of JPG. See How to Convert HEIC to PNG for methods. PNG files will be significantly larger than both HEIC and JPG.

Does Windows 11 support HEIC natively? Windows 11 often includes HEIF support out of the box, but it depends on your installation. If you can see HEIC thumbnails in File Explorer, it's working. If not, install the HEIF Image Extension from the Microsoft Store.