How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows

Updated April 2026 - 4 min read

Quick Answer

The fastest way: open our free HEIC converter, drag HEIC files, and download JPGs - no software to install.

Method 1: Online Converter (Recommended)

Open ConvertHEIC.org in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox
Drag and drop HEIC files onto the upload area
Use Batch Convert for multiple files
Download JPGs individually or as a ZIP

No software to install. Works on Windows 10, 11, and older versions.

Method 2: HEIF Extensions from Microsoft Store

Open Microsoft Store
Search for HEIF Image Extensions and install it (free)
Search for HEVC Video Extensions (may cost $0.99)
Now you can open HEIC files in Photos app
To convert: open in Photos - Save as - choose JPEG

Batch conversion is not supported with this method.

Method 3: Change iPhone Settings

To prevent HEIC files in the future:

On iPhone: Settings - Camera - Formats
Select Most Compatible

This saves future photos as JPG but does not convert existing HEIC files.

Why Windows Struggles with HEIC

HEIC is Apple's preferred photo format, and Microsoft never built native HEIC support into Windows. When you transfer iPhone photos to a Windows PC — via USB cable, iCloud for Windows, AirDrop to a nearby Windows machine, or email — Windows cannot open the files without additional software.

The technical reason: HEIC uses the HEVC (H.265) video codec for image compression. While HEVC is license-free for video playback in some contexts, Microsoft chose to gate HEIC image support behind a paid codec available in the Microsoft Store. The "HEIF Image Extensions" add-on is free, but the underlying HEVC codec ("HEVC Video Extensions") costs $0.99, creating an annoying hurdle for ordinary users.

On Windows 11, Microsoft has improved HEIC handling somewhat — some editions ship with the codec pre-installed — but the situation is still inconsistent depending on your Windows edition, PC manufacturer, and whether the codec was included in your OEM install. The safest assumption is that HEIC will not work on a Windows machine you do not personally control.

Beyond viewing, Windows tools like Paint, older Photoshop, and most legacy software simply have no HEIC support at all. Converting to JPG before working with the files on Windows eliminates all of these issues.

Method 4: Use Paint App

If you have the HEIF Image Extensions installed (from the Microsoft Store), Windows Paint can open HEIC files and save them as JPG. This works in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Steps:

First, install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (search "HEIF Image Extensions", it is free)
Right-click your .heic file in File Explorer
Select Open with > Paint
In Paint, go to File > Save as
Choose JPEG picture from the file type dropdown
Give the file a name and click Save

Paint does not support batch conversion — you must repeat these steps for each file. For multiple files, use the PowerShell method or an online converter instead.

Method 5: Use PowerShell Script

PowerShell combined with the Windows Imaging Component (WIC) can batch-convert HEIC files to JPG without any third-party software, as long as the HEIF codec is installed.

Prerequisites:

Install HEIF Image Extensions from Microsoft Store (free)
Optionally install HEVC Video Extensions ($0.99) for full compatibility

PowerShell script to convert all HEIC in a folder:

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing

$folder = "C:\Users\YourName\Pictures"

Get-ChildItem -Path $folder -Filter *.heic | ForEach-Object {

$img = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile($_.FullName)

$out = $_.FullName -replace '\.heic$', '.jpg'

$img.Save($out, [System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Jpeg)

$img.Dispose()

}

Replace C:\Users\YourName\Pictures with the actual path to your HEIC folder. JPG files are saved in the same folder alongside the originals.

How to run it:

Press Win + X and open Windows PowerShell (or Terminal)
Paste the script above, editing the folder path
Press Enter — converted JPG files appear in the same folder

If you get an "execution policy" error, run: Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned first.

Method 6: Use IrfanView or XnView

IrfanView and XnView are free, lightweight image viewers for Windows that support HEIC (with a plugin) and include powerful batch conversion tools. Both have been trusted by Windows users for decades.

Using IrfanView:

Download and install IrfanView and its All Plugins pack from the official site
The HEIC plugin is included in the All Plugins download
Open IrfanView and go to File > Batch Conversion/Rename
In the batch dialog, browse to your folder of HEIC files
Select all .heic files using the file list
Set Output format to JPG and configure quality (85–95 recommended)
Set an Output directory for the converted files
Click Start Batch

Using XnView MP:

Download and install XnView MP (the multi-platform version supports HEIC natively)
Open XnView MP and navigate to your HEIC folder using the left panel
Select all files, then go to Tools > Batch Convert
Set Format to JPEG and choose an output folder
Click Convert

Both tools are free for personal use, handle hundreds of files at once, and do not require the Microsoft HEVC codec — they use their own built-in HEIC decoders.

Tips for HEIC on Windows 11

Check if the codec is pre-installed: On Windows 11 PCs sold after late 2022, some OEMs include the HEVC codec by default. Try double-clicking a HEIC file — if Photos opens it, you are already set. If not, install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store.
iCloud for Windows auto-converts: If you use iCloud Photos on your PC, enable the "Download Photos and Videos" option. iCloud for Windows can download photos as JPG automatically — check Settings in the iCloud for Windows app under the Photos section.
File Explorer thumbnails: Even with the HEIF extension installed, HEIC thumbnails in File Explorer can be slow to generate. This is normal; Windows caches them after the first view.
Avoid the "Open with Photos" trick for batch work: The Photos app in Windows 11 can open HEIC and export as JPG, but it only exports one photo at a time. For 10+ files, use IrfanView, XnView, or the PowerShell script above.
WSL as a power option: If you have Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installed, you can use the same sips-equivalent tools from Linux (like ImageMagick via apt install imagemagick) to batch-convert HEIC files directly from the Windows filesystem mounted at /mnt/c/.

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