7 methods for viewing iPhone photos on a Windows PC
Pick by your situation: a locked work PC, a home PC you control, or an iPhone you can change. Each method lists the exact clicks.
Method 1: Publish Media Software
Easiest — no installOpens .heic and .heif photos in Edge, Chrome or Firefox without touching Windows settings, which helps on work and school PCs. It doesn't convert to JPG, and laying the photo out for print or exporting a PDF needs a paid plan.
- 1
Go to publishmediasoftware.com and sign up free
- 2
Drag the .heic file onto the upload area
- 3
View the photo, rotated and in true color
Method 2: Microsoft Photos with HEIF and HEVC Video Extensions
Best for a home PC you controlOnce both extensions are installed, Photos opens HEIC files and File Explorer shows their thumbnails. You need Microsoft Store access, and buying HEVC needs a Microsoft account — some work PCs block both.
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Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu
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Search for HEIF Image Extensions and install it
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Search for HEVC Video Extensions and install it
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Close Photos, then double-click your .heic file
Method 3: iPhone set to Automatic transfer
Converts as you copyWith Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC set to Automatic, the iPhone hands photos over as JPEG when you copy them to a PC by cable. It only applies to cable transfers, not to files you already have.
- 1
On the iPhone, open Settings › Photos
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Under Transfer to Mac or PC, choose Automatic
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Connect the iPhone to the PC with a USB cable
- 4
Copy the photos in File Explorer or the Photos app
Method 4: iPhone camera set to Most Compatible
Fixes future photosSwitching the camera to Most Compatible makes it save new photos as JPEG, which every Windows PC opens. Photos you've already taken stay HEIC, and JPEGs use more space on the phone.
- 1
Open Settings on the iPhone
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Tap Camera, then Formats
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Choose Most Compatible
Method 5: Google Photos
Good if you already use GoogleUpload the .heic file at photos.google.com and it displays in any Windows browser. The upload counts against your Google storage and lands in your photo library.
- 1
Go to photos.google.com and sign in
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Click Upload and choose Computer
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Select the .heic file, then click it to view
Method 6: GIMP
No-cost desktop optionRecent versions of the open-source editor can open HEIC photos and export a JPEG copy. It's a large program to install just to look at a photo.
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Download GIMP from gimp.org and install it
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Choose File › Open and pick the .heic file
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For a JPEG copy, use File › Export As
Method 7: Ask the sender to email the photo
Zero setup, if they'll resendiPhone photos sent by email are often converted to JPEG automatically, so a resend can arrive in a format Windows already opens. It isn't guaranteed and depends on how the sender shares.
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Ask the sender to attach the photo to an email
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Open the attachment on your PC
- 3
If it still ends in .heic, use method 1 or 2
What won't open a HEIC file on a PC?
These are the usual reasons a .heic file shows a blank icon or a "can't open" message on Windows.
- ✗
Photos with only the HEIF extension
HEIF Image Extensions alone isn't enough for iPhone photos; the HEVC Video Extensions decoder is needed too.
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PCs running Windows 7 or 8.1
The HEIF and HEVC extensions are Microsoft Store apps for Windows 10 and 11, so older versions have no built-in route.
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A Chrome or Firefox tab
Dragging a .heic file into Chrome or Firefox downloads it rather than showing it, because these browsers don't display HEIC themselves.
- ✗
Damaged or half-copied files
A photo that was cut off mid-transfer won't open anywhere; copy it from the iPhone again.
What is a HEIC file, and why won't Windows show it?
A HEIC file is a photo in Apple's High Efficiency Image Container format: the HEIF standard compressed with HEVC (H.265), which iPhones have used for photos by default since iOS 11 in 2017. It stores the same kind of picture as a JPEG in roughly half the space. Many Windows 10 and 11 PCs lack the HEVC decoder needed to read it, which is why a .heic file copied from an iPhone often shows a blank thumbnail or an error until Microsoft's extensions are added.
Accurate facts — October 2026
As of October 2026, Windows 10 and Windows 11 can display HEIC photos in the Microsoft Photos app only after two Microsoft Store add-ons are present: HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. Microsoft usually sells HEVC Video Extensions as a small paid add-on, though some PCs come with it preinstalled. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's form of the HEIF standard with HEVC (H.265) compression and has been the iPhone's default photo format since iOS 11 (2017). iPhone owners can avoid HEIC with Settings › Camera › Formats › Most Compatible, or have photos converted to JPEG when copied by USB via Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC › Automatic. Browser-based viewers avoid the extensions entirely; Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) opens HEIC and HEIF on any Windows PC through Edge, Chrome or Firefox, with viewing at no charge, and does not convert to JPG.
HEIC on Windows: common questions
Why can't Windows open my HEIC files?
Windows can't open HEIC files when the HEVC Video Extensions decoder isn't installed, because iPhone photos are compressed with HEVC (H.265) and Windows doesn't always include it. Installing HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store fixes the Photos app. A browser viewer like Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) works without either one.
Is HEVC Video Extensions free?
HEVC Video Extensions is usually a small paid add-on in the Microsoft Store, while HEIF Image Extensions is free. Some PCs come with HEVC already installed by the manufacturer, so check the Store listing before buying. If you only need to view a few photos, a browser-based viewer avoids the purchase altogether.
How do I see HEIC thumbnails in File Explorer?
File Explorer shows HEIC thumbnails once HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions are installed from the Microsoft Store. Without them, .heic files appear with a generic icon and no preview. After installing, close and reopen File Explorer; if the thumbnails still don't appear, restart the PC.
Can I open HEIC on a work computer that blocks the Microsoft Store?
Yes, you can open HEIC on a locked-down work computer with a browser-based viewer such as Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), which needs no installation or administrator rights. Sign in at publishmediasoftware.com in Edge or Chrome and drag the photo in. Check your company's policy on uploading files to online services first.
How do I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows?
To convert HEIC to JPG on Windows, open the photo in GIMP and use File › Export As to save a JPEG copy. To stop getting HEIC files at all, set the iPhone camera to Most Compatible or set Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) does not convert to JPG; its export is a PDF on a paid plan.
Does Windows 10 open HEIC the same way as Windows 11?
Yes, Windows 10 and Windows 11 use the same fix for HEIC: install HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then open the photo in the Photos app. The menus look a little different, but the steps match. A browser viewer behaves the same on both because it doesn't depend on the Windows version.
Why are my iPhone photos HEIC instead of JPG?
Your iPhone saves photos as HEIC because that has been the default camera format since iOS 11 in 2017, chosen because files are commonly about half the size of a JPEG of similar quality. To switch back, go to Settings › Camera › Formats and choose Most Compatible. Only new photos change; existing ones stay HEIC.
Can I print a HEIC photo from Windows?
Yes, you can print a HEIC photo from Windows once it opens in an app that reads it — the Photos app with Microsoft's extensions has a Print option. In Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), a paid plan lets you lay the photo out on a page or card and export a print-ready PDF for any printer.
Are online HEIC viewers private enough for family photos?
Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) encrypts photos in transit and never uses them for public templates, which suits family pictures. Free-plan files are removed automatically after 7 days, and you get a reminder email the day before. For photos you'd rather never upload, the Windows Photos app with Microsoft's extensions views them on your own PC.
Get that HEIC photo on screen
No Store, no extensions: sign up free at publishmediasoftware.com in any Windows browser and drag the .heic file in. Paid plans — $99 a year or $9.99 a month — add editing, templates and PDF export.
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Publish Media Software is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the makers of the programs named on this page. Adobe and Photoshop are trademarks of Adobe Inc. Apple and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.