How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows

Apple’s High Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) format does an excellent job of saving storage space on iPhones, but opening these photos on a Windows PC frequently causes compatibility problems. Converting HEIC files to standard JPG format resolves the issue and ensures you can view, edit, and share these images across any platform.

Here’s exactly how to convert HEIC to JPG using built-in Windows features, local utilities, or free online tools.

What is HEIC and Why Can’t Windows Open It?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. Apple made it the default iPhone camera format starting iOS 11 in 2017. HEIC files are roughly 40–50% smaller than JPEG at the same visual quality, and they support features JPEG lacks, like 16-bit color, transparency, Live Photos, and burst sequences stored in a single file.

Windows struggles with HEIC because it doesn’t include the HEVC codec by default. HEVC, the same H.265 compression used for 4K video, requires patent licensing fees. That’s why your iPhone images often show blank thumbnails or won’t open in Photos, Paint, or most other Windows apps.

JPG or JPEG are just two names for the same format and have been the universal standard since the early 1990s. Every device, browser, social media platform, and image editor on the planet supports it. You might lose some storage capacity while storing it, but your photos will open anywhere.

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Install the Required Extensions (For Built-In Windows Methods)

Methods that use the Photos app or Paint require Windows to support the HEIC format at the system level. Two free extensions from the Microsoft Store should be installed for it.

1. Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
2. Search for HEIF Image Extensions published by Microsoft Corporation, which is completely free. Click Get or Install.
3. Now search for HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer by this exact complete name and click Get to install.
4. Restart the PC if File Explorer continues to display blank thumbnails after the installation.

There are two different HEVC extensions in the Microsoft Store. The one called “HEVC Video Extensions” costs $0.99, while the other named “HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer” is similar but free. Always search for it, including “from Device Manufacturer” to find the right app. If your local store doesn’t show the extension in search, download it from this Store’s product page.

1. Convert HEIC to JPG via Microsoft Paint

Microsoft Paint is a reliable native solution for converting HEIC files on Windows. Once you have installed the required extensions, Paint can open these images and let you re-save them in any supported format, including JPG.

1. Right-click the HEIC file and select Open with > Paint. (If Paint isn’t in the list, click “Choose another app” and choose it there.)
2. In Paint, click File in the top-left corner.
3. Select Save as from the menu.
   
4. Click the JPEG picture from the sub-menu.
5. Choose your save location, name the file, and click Save.

2. Convert HEIC to JPG from the Windows Photos App

The Photos app provides a little more control over the output than Paint and is the default Windows option to convert one or two images.

1. Right-click your HEIC image and select Open with > Photos.
2. Once the image loads, click the three-dot menu (…) at the top-right of the toolbar.
3. Select Save as.
   
4. In the “Save as type” dropdown at the bottom of the dialog box, choose JPEG (*.jpg;*.jpeg;*.jpe;*.jfif).
5. Pick a location to save the image, rename it if needed, and click Save.

Windows updates frequently change the Photos app layout. If Save as isn’t in the three-dot menu, look for it under File in the app’s menu bar, or right-click the picture. Windows 10 users might have to select Edit & Create > Edit > Save a copy, which automatically saves as JPG.

3. Convert with a Free Online Tool

When working on a managed workstation where app installations are blocked, web converters provide an instant alternative. Portals like FreeConvert, HEIC.online, and heictojpg process files in no time through a browser interface.

1. Open heictojpg.com in any browser.
2. Click Choose Files or drag and drop. You can drop up to 200 files at once.
3. The conversion starts automatically after upload.

4. Once done, click each image to download it individually. Or wait for the conversion to finish, then click the top-right “Download X Photos” button to get them all in a ZIP bundle.

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4. Batch Convert with IrfanView

If you have a lot of iPhone photos to convert, I haven’t found anything better than IrfanView as the best free tool to get the HEIC to JPG conversions done. It’s been my go-to choice for years because I can easily batch-convert hundreds of files at once while keeping original EXIF data intact. It even allows you to tweak the quality settings exactly how you want.

Install IrfanView and Its Plugins

1. First, visit irfanview.com and download the installer for your Windows. Most modern PCs require 64-bit.
2. Next, download the All Plugins pack from this plugins page.
3. Install IrfanView, then run the plugins installer. It will automatically find IrfanView’s location.
4. You’ll also need the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store installed (see the prerequisite step above), as IrfanView uses the system-level HEIC codec.

Bulk Convert HEIC to JPG

1. Open IrfanView.
2. Click File in the top menu bar, then select Batch Conversion/Rename… (keyboard shortcut: B).
3. In the top-right panel, open the folder that contains HEIC files. Press Ctrl+A to select all images to convert, or click individual ones while holding Ctrl, then click Add.
4. In the Output format dropdown, select JPG – JPG/JPEG Format.
5. Click the Options button next to the output format. Set the JPEG quality to 90–95% for the best balance of quality and file size. Check “Keep original date/time” to preserve timestamps.
6. Set the Output directory at the bottom to wherever you want the converted JPGs to save.
7. Click Start Batch. The application will process all selected files and show a progress log.

5. Convert with CopyTrans HEIC

CopyTrans HEIC makes things very easy by adding a “Convert to JPEG” option to the Windows right-click context menu. Since it doesn’t rely on the Microsoft Store, it’s a perfect workaround to avoid those official HEIC/HEVC extensions.

1. Download CopyTrans HEIC and run the installer. Give it administrative privileges when prompted.
2. Once installed, go to your HEIC files in File Explorer. You can select a single file or hold Ctrl and click to select multiple pictures.
   
3. Right-click the selected file(s) and choose “Convert to JPEG with CopyTrans” from the context menu.
4. The converted files will appear in the same folder as the originals, having the same filenames but with the .jpg extension.

CopyTrans HEIC is free for personal use and compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. It also adds HEIC thumbnail support in File Explorer as a side benefit, so you’ll see proper image previews without the Microsoft Store extensions.

Change iPhone Settings to Prevent Future HEIC Conflicts

Instead of converting files after moving them to your computer, you can set your iPhone to automatically change HEIC to JPG when you transfer them over USB

1. Open the Settings app on iPhone.
2. Scroll down and select Photos.
3. Move all the way down to the section labeled Transfer to Mac or PC.
4. Tap to check Automatic instead of Keep Originals.

Now, whenever you plug your phone into a Windows PC via a USB cable and copy images over, iOS will translate the files to JPGs on the fly, eliminating the need for post-processing conversions.

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