You just received HEIC photos from an iPhone user, and Windows won't open them. You try to upload them to a website and get an error. This is the most common problem Windows users face when sharing photos with iPhone owners. The solution is converting HEIC to JPG — and here are four completely free methods that work on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Method 1 — Use QuickJPG Online (Fastest)
The fastest way to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows is using a free online converter. No software installation, no account creation, and it works on any browser — Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Opera.
Step by Step
- Open your browser and go to QuickJPG's HEIC to JPG converter
- Click "Choose Files" or drag and drop your HEIC photos into the upload area
- The conversion happens instantly in your browser — your photos never leave your device
- Download your converted JPG files individually or as a ZIP archive
QuickJPG supports batch conversion, so you can convert multiple HEIC files at once. The converted JPGs maintain the original resolution with quality that's visually identical to the source.
Method 2 — Install HEIC Codec from Microsoft Store
Microsoft offers a free HEIC codec extension that lets Windows open HEIC files natively. Once installed, you can view HEIC photos in the Photos app and convert them using Windows tools.
How to Install
- Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows PC
- Search for "HEIF Image Extensions"
- Click "Install" on the free extension by Microsoft
- Wait for installation to complete
After installation, double-click any HEIC file and it will open in the Photos app. From there, you can right-click → "Save as" and choose JPG format.
Method 3 — Use Windows Paint
After installing the HEIC codec (Method 2), you can use the built-in Paint app to convert HEIC to JPG. Paint is pre-installed on all Windows versions.
How to Convert in Paint
- Make sure the HEIC codec is installed (see Method 2)
- Right-click your HEIC file → "Open with" → "Paint"
- Click "File" in the top menu
- Select "Save as" → "JPEG picture"
- Choose your save location and click "Save"
This method works well for single files. For batch conversion, QuickJPG is faster since Paint doesn't support converting multiple files at once.
Method 4 — Change iPhone Camera Settings
If you own the iPhone taking the photos, you can prevent the problem entirely by changing your camera format to JPG. This way, every new photo saves as JPG directly — no conversion needed.
How to Change iPhone Camera Format
- Open "Settings" on your iPhone
- Scroll down and tap "Camera"
- Tap "Formats"
- Select "Most Compatible"
After this change, all new photos save as JPG instead of HEIC. Note that JPG files are about twice the size of HEIC files, so you may need more storage space on your iPhone.
Convert Multiple HEIC Files on Windows
If you have a large collection of HEIC photos to convert, use QuickJPG's batch converter. Upload all your files at once and download them as JPGs or a single ZIP archive. This is much faster than converting files one by one using Paint or other Windows tools.
Need to reduce file sizes after conversion? Try our Image Compressor to shrink JPG files for email or web uploads. Or use Compress to 100KB for government forms and passport applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't Windows open HEIC files?
Windows 10 and 11 don't include native HEIC support. Microsoft offers a free codec extension in the Microsoft Store, but it must be installed manually. Alternatively, use QuickJPG's free online converter — no installation required.
Is there a free HEIC viewer for Windows?
Yes. Install the free "HEIF Image Extensions" from the Microsoft Store. This lets Windows Photos open HEIC files. For conversion to JPG, use QuickJPG's free online tool.
Can I batch convert HEIC to JPG on Windows?
Yes. QuickJPG supports batch conversion — upload multiple HEIC files at once and download them all as JPG or ZIP. Windows Photos and Paint don't support batch conversion.
Does Windows 11 support HEIC natively?
No. Windows 11 still requires installing the HEIC codec extension from the Microsoft Store. Without it, HEIC files won't open in Photos or File Explorer.
How to convert HEIC to JPG without losing quality?
QuickJPG uses high-quality encoding that preserves visual detail. The quality difference between HEIC and JPG is imperceptible for sharing, social media, and printing.