How to Open HEIC Files on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
To open a HEIC file, use the app your device already has: Photos on iPhone and iPad, Preview or Quick Look on a Mac, Google Photos on Android 10 and newer. Windows 11 and 10 usually need two Microsoft Store extensions first, and if you cannot install anything, the free online HEIC viewer shows the photo in any browser.
Windows 11 and 10: add two Microsoft Store extensions
Some Windows 11 PCs open HEIC out of the box. Many do not, and a fresh Windows 10 install never does. Add the missing pieces:
- Double click the HEIC. If it opens in Photos, you are done.
- Open the Microsoft Store, search for HEIF Image Extensions (publisher Microsoft) and click Get. It is free and lets Windows read the HEIF container.
- If the photo still fails, install HEVC Video Extensions (about $0.99), the codec that decodes the picture itself.
- Restart Photos. File Explorer thumbnails can take a few seconds to appear.
Installing only the free extension is the most common reason the fix fails. Need JPG copies instead? See how to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows.
Importing from your own iPhone over USB? On the iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Photos (Settings > Photos on iOS 17 and older), scroll to Transfer to Mac or PC and choose "Automatic". The phone then converts photos to JPG during the transfer.
iPhone, iPad and Mac: nothing to install
iPhone and iPad with iOS 11 or later open HEIC in Photos, Files, Mail and Messages. Macs have opened HEIC natively since macOS High Sierra (2017):
- Quick Look: select the file in Finder and press the space bar.
- Preview: double click the file. File > Export saves a JPEG copy when you need one.
- Photos: import the file like any other photo.
If you would rather your iPhone stopped creating HEIC files, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. More in why your photos are HEIC.
Android and Linux
On Android 10 and newer, Google Photos, Samsung Gallery and the stock gallery apps of other major brands open HEIC without extra apps. On Android 9 support varies by app, and older phones need the file converted first. If an app refuses a HEIC when you share it onward, change it to JPG on Android.
On Linux, GIMP 2.10.2 or newer opens HEIC and can export it as JPG. For whole folders, install libheif from your package manager and run heif-convert photo.heic photo.jpg.
View a HEIC in any browser
Safari is the only major browser that displays HEIC. Chrome, Edge and Firefox download the file instead of showing it. On a work PC, a Chromebook or any device where you cannot install anything:
- Open the online HEIC viewer.
- Drop the .heic file on the page.
- The viewer decodes the file and shows a full size preview in the same tab.
A viewer only shows the photo. To upload it to a website or send it on, convert it to JPG, because many upload forms reject .heic files.
Open a HEIC email attachment
Previews are where HEIC fails most often, so save the attachment first, then open the saved file.
| Email client | Previews HEIC? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Mail, Outlook for Mac and iPhone | Yes (Outlook: usually) | Tap the image and save it to Photos or Files |
| Gmail on the web | Not reliably | Download, then open in a HEIC viewer or convert |
| Gmail app on Android | Depends on the phone | Download and open in Google Photos or the gallery |
| Classic Outlook for Windows | No, not in the reading pane | Save the file and double click it to open in Photos (with the extensions above) |
| New Outlook, Outlook on the web, Yahoo Mail | Typically no | Download, then open in Photos or convert |
Someone emailed you a whole album? The HEIC to JPG converter takes up to 60 photos per batch (40 MB per file) and returns them as one ZIP.
Have a HEIC that refuses to open?
Drop it on heicjpg.online and download a full resolution JPG seconds later. Free, no signup.
Convert HEIC to JPG nowFrequently asked questions
Why won't my HEIC file open?
The app or device has no HEVC decoder. On Windows the HEIF and HEVC extensions are missing; most browsers and old Android versions have no support. Converting the file to JPG fixes it everywhere.
What program opens HEIC files?
Windows Photos once both Microsoft Store extensions are installed; Preview, Photos and Quick Look on a Mac; Google Photos or the stock gallery on Android 10 and newer; GIMP 2.10.2 or newer on Linux. On any other device, the online HEIC viewer shows the photo in your browser.
Can I open HEIC files in Chrome or Edge?
No. As of mid 2026, Safari is the only major browser that displays HEIC natively; Chrome, Edge and Firefox download the file instead. Use an online HEIC viewer or convert the photo to JPG.
How do I open a HEIC attachment in Outlook or Gmail?
Save the attachment first, then double click the saved file to open it in Photos on Windows, Preview on a Mac or Google Photos on Android. If nothing opens it, drop the file on an online HEIC viewer or convert it to JPG.
Does Google Drive convert HEIC to JPG?
No. Drive keeps HEIC files exactly as uploaded and has no convert command for images, so convert them yourself before uploading or after downloading.
Related articles
What Is a HEIC File? Meaning, How to Open and Convert ItA HEIC file is an iPhone photo in the HEIF format with HEVC compression, about half the size of a JPG. See what opens it in 2026 and how to convert it free.
Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11 and 10: 7 Free WaysConvert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11 or 10 for free: Photos, Paint, a batch method for whole folders, or an online converter that needs no codec at all.
How to Convert HEIC to JPG: iPhone, Mac, Windows, AndroidExact steps to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone, Mac, Windows 11 and Android with tools you already have, plus a free online option when you cannot install apps.