What you'll learn:
Why Windows refuses to open HEIC files by default (it's not just laziness)
The native Microsoft fix — free, except for the part that isn't
When an online converter beats software you install
The command-line option that handles 1000 files as easily as 1
Which method to pick based on what you're actually trying to do
I just spent an embarrassing 20 minutes trying to email an iPhone screenshot to my accountant. Why? Because Windows opened the file, showed me a blank gray box, and told me to "install an app from the Microsoft Store."
If you've landed here, you've probably had the same experience. Maybe worse — you've got 500 HEIC photos from a recent trip, you need them in JPG, and you'd rather not pay for software to do something Apple solved nine years ago.
Three methods below. I tested all three this week on a fresh Windows 11 install. Here's the honest breakdown of what works, what's annoying, and what you should actually use depending on your situation.
Why Windows Doesn't Open HEIC Natively
Quick context — it'll help you pick the right method.
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is what your iPhone has saved photos as since iOS 11, back in 2017. It's about 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality, supports HDR, and can pack multiple frames into one file. Apple ships full HEIC support on every Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
Microsoft? Different story. HEIC uses HEVC compression — the same codec as 4K video. HEVC is patent-encumbered, and Microsoft and the patent holders never came to terms. Windows technically can decode HEIC, but Microsoft makes you install two separate extensions (and pay $0.99 for one of them) before File Explorer will even show you a thumbnail.
This is annoying, but it's also why Windows can't legally just include HEIC support out of the box. Patent issue, not laziness. Doesn't make it less annoying.
OK, into the methods.
Method 1: Microsoft Store Extensions (the "official" way)
Best for: occasional conversion, one file at a time, photos you want to view not just convert.
What you need
Two extensions from the Microsoft Store:
HEIF Image Extensions — free
HEVC Video Extensions — $0.99 (used to be free, became paid in 2020)
Search for those exact names. There are knockoffs that don't work properly.
How to convert
After both are installed:
Right-click your HEIC file → Open with → Photos
In the Photos app, click the ... menu (top right) → Save as
Change the file type dropdown from
.heicto.jpgPick a quality level (default 95 is fine for almost everyone)
Save
That's it. The HEIC file opens like any other image now. You can also save as PNG if you'd rather.
The catches
One file at a time. No batch convert. 50 photos = 50 right-clicks.
The $0.99 thing. Some users get HEVC Video Extensions free if their PC manufacturer bundled it. Others have to pay. There's no way to tell ahead of time.
Photos app is slow. Loading large HEIC files can take 3-5 seconds. For 1-5 photos this is fine. For 100, it's torture.
No transparency or HDR preservation. If your HEIC has an alpha channel or HDR data, Photos app strips it on JPG export.
When this is the right choice
You shoot HEIC on your iPhone occasionally and need to send 1-3 photos to someone every few weeks. Install once, forget about it.
Method 2: SwapFile.io (online converter)
Best for: anyone who doesn't want to install anything, or has 5-50 photos to convert.
I built SwapFile.io partly because Method 1 was driving me crazy. Here's the flow:
Open
swapfile.io/en/tools/heic-to-jpgin your browserDrag your HEIC files (or click to upload) — up to 15MB each without an account
Wait 1-2 seconds per file
Download the JPG
Files automatically delete from our servers in 1 hour. No account required. No cookies (we use Plausible for analytics — cookie-free, EU servers). No "create an account to download" wall.
Why this isn't a self-plug
The honest answer: there are 30+ online HEIC converters. Most of them:
Force you to create an account
Show ads on the conversion page
Keep your files indefinitely (read their privacy policy if you want to ruin your day)
Limit free conversions to 3-5/day
Cap file size at 2-5MB
SwapFile.io's pitch is just: none of those. If a different converter works for you and you trust them with your photos, use that. The point is online converters skip the install + payment dance entirely.
The catches
Need internet, obviously
15MB per file limit (anonymous) — covers 99% of iPhone photos, but professional cameras can shoot HEIC files bigger than that
Uploading sensitive photos to any server is a trust decision. Even with our 1-hour delete, you're trusting us to do what we say.
When this is the right choice
5-50 photos to convert, no install allowed (work computer), and the photos aren't ultra-sensitive (like, you're fine with them living on a server for an hour).
Method 3: ImageMagick (command line)
Best for: 100+ photos at once, or anyone who already lives in the terminal.
ImageMagick is a free, open-source image manipulation tool. It's been around since 1990. It can convert basically any image format to any other image format. And once you have it set up, batch converting 1000 HEIC files takes one line of code and about 30 seconds.
Install (once)
If you have winget (Windows 10+ does):
winget install ImageMagick.ImageMagick
Or, if you have Chocolatey:
choco install imagemagick
Or download the installer from imagemagick.org. Important: check the "Install legacy utilities" box, and the HEIC delegate option. Without the delegate, the install will succeed but magick photo.HEIC photo.jpg will return an error about an unsupported format.
Convert one file
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt in the folder with your HEIC, then:
magick "photo.HEIC" "photo.jpg"
That's it. photo.jpg appears in the same folder.
Convert all HEIC files in a folder
This is the one that makes ImageMagick worth installing. In PowerShell:
Get-ChildItem *.HEIC | ForEach-Object { magick $_.Name "$($_.BaseName).jpg" }
Run that. Walk away. Come back to a folder full of JPGs.
The catches
Setup is the worst part. First-time install on Windows is mildly painful. Plan 15 minutes for it, especially getting the HEIC delegate working.
No GUI. If terminal commands give you anxiety, skip this one.
Default quality is 92. Good for most cases, but if you want smaller files, append
-quality 80to the command.
When this is the right choice
You have 100+ photos, you're comfortable with PowerShell or Terminal, or you'll be doing this conversion regularly enough that the setup pays off.
Method Comparison
FeatureMicrosoft StoreSwapFile.ioImageMagickSetup time5 min + maybe $0.990 (just open browser)15 minCost$0-0.99$0$0Batch convert❌ No🟡 5-50 files✅ UnlimitedWorks offline✅ Yes❌ No✅ YesQuality controlLimitedDefault 90Full controlHDR preserved❌ No❌ No✅ Yes (with flag)PrivacyLocal1h auto-deleteLocalLearning curveEasyEasiestMedium
Which Should You Use?
The decision tree, simplified:
1-5 photos, once a month? → Microsoft Store extensions. Install once, done.
5-50 photos, no software install allowed (work computer)? → SwapFile.io. Browser only.
100+ photos, or this will happen regularly? → ImageMagick. The terminal command pays for itself by the 50th photo.
Professional photographer with sensitive client photos? → Microsoft Store extensions (local) or ImageMagick (local). Don't upload sensitive photos to any online converter, including ours.
FAQ
Will I lose quality converting HEIC to JPG?
A small amount, but it's almost never visible. HEIC uses HEVC encoding (lossy at quality 80+ in most cases). JPG is also lossy. You're going from "good lossy" to "good lossy" — different math, similar perceived quality. The bigger concern is that HEIC can store HDR and alpha, which JPG can't. Most iPhone photos don't have either, so you're fine.
Why is my HEIC 1.2MB but the JPG is 4MB?
HEIC is roughly 50% more efficient than JPG at the same perceived quality. You're not losing detail — JPG just needs more bytes to represent the same image. If file size matters, convert to WebP or AVIF instead, both of which beat JPG by another 30-60%.
Can I convert HEIC straight to PDF for sharing?
Yes, but it's a two-step process: HEIC → JPG → PDF. Most PDF tools (Adobe, Smallpdf) don't read HEIC directly. The Windows Photos app can also "print to PDF" if you'd rather skip the JPG step.
Why doesn't Windows just include HEIC support like macOS?
Patent licensing. HEIF uses HEVC compression, which is licensed by a consortium. Microsoft and the consortium have never agreed on terms that would let Microsoft ship support natively. The store extensions are the workaround.
Is HEIC actually better than JPG? Should I just keep them in HEIC?
For storage on your iPhone, yes — you save about half the space. For sharing or web use, JPG is the safer choice because every device can open it. You can also switch your iPhone to save in JPG instead of HEIC (Settings → Camera → Formats → "Most Compatible") if you want to skip the conversion step entirely.
What if my HEIC files are really big (10MB+)?
Newer iPhone Pro models (12 Pro and later) shoot ProRAW HEIC files that can easily exceed 10MB each. For files over 15MB, you'll need an account on SwapFile.io (free, gets you up to 15MB per file) or use Method 3 (ImageMagick handles any size).
Bottom Line
There's no single best method. The Microsoft Store extensions handle casual use. SwapFile.io handles moderate volume with zero setup. ImageMagick handles industrial scale once you've invested in the setup.
Pick the one that fits how much HEIC pain you're actually going through. Convert. Move on with your day.
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