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HEIC to JPG on Windows

Copied photos from your iPhone to a Windows PC and found they won't open, or that a website rejects them? iPhones save photos as HEIC, which Windows can't show without extra Microsoft Store extensions. Convert them to JPG here in your browser instead: nothing to install, and every Windows program can open the result.

Your files are processed in your browser and never leave your device.

How to use HEIC to JPG on Windows

  1. Click "Select HEIC photos" and open the folder where your iPhone photos are. Press Ctrl+A to select them all, or hold Ctrl and click the ones you want.
  2. Leave High quality selected, or choose Smaller files to save disk space.
  3. Click "Convert to JPG" and wait a moment while each photo is converted in your browser.
  4. Click "Download all (ZIP)", then right-click the ZIP file in your Downloads folder and choose "Extract All" to get the JPGs.

Why Windows can't open HEIC photos

HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC, the same method used for 4K video. Windows 10 and 11 don't include an HEVC decoder, so the Photos app shows an error or asks you to install the HEIF Image Extensions and the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, and the HEVC one usually costs money. Paint, older versions of Office and many upload forms can't read HEIC at all.

Converting to JPG solves it for good: JPG opens in every Windows program, prints from any app and uploads to any website. The conversion runs in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, which bring their own decoder, so you don't need to change anything on your PC.

How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11 and Windows 10

The steps are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10. Copy the photos from your iPhone to your PC first, with a cable, iCloud for Windows, or by emailing them to yourself. Then open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox.

  1. Click "Select HEIC photos" and go to the folder with your iPhone photos.
  2. Press Ctrl+A to select every photo in the folder, then click Open.
  3. Click "Convert to JPG".
  4. Download the ZIP, right-click it and choose "Extract All". Your JPGs open in Photos, Paint and every other program.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install the HEIF or HEVC extensions?

No. This page converts the photos inside your web browser, which brings its own HEIC decoder, so you don't need any Microsoft Store extensions or other software. Once converted, the JPGs open everywhere without them.

Are my photos uploaded from my PC?

No. The photos are converted on your own PC, inside your browser, and are never sent anywhere. You can check this yourself: press F12, open the Network tab and convert a photo. No upload of your photo appears.

Which browsers work on Windows?

Current versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Firefox all work, on Windows 11 and Windows 10. Internet Explorer is not supported.

How do I copy iPhone photos to my PC as JPG in the future?

On the iPhone, open Settings, then Photos (under Apps on newer iOS versions), scroll to the bottom and make sure Keep Originals is off. On older versions, choose Automatic under "Transfer to Mac or PC". Photos copied with a USB cable then usually arrive as JPGs. To have the camera save JPGs in the first place, go to Settings, Camera, Formats and choose "Most Compatible", although photos then take more space on your phone.

Can I convert a whole folder of HEIC photos at once?

Yes. In the file window, press Ctrl+A to select every photo in the folder. They are converted one after another and downloaded together as one ZIP file, keeping their original names (IMG_1234.HEIC becomes IMG_1234.jpg). For hundreds of photos, convert them in a few smaller groups.

Why are my JPGs bigger than the HEIC files?

HEIC stores the same picture in about half the space, which is why iPhones use it. JPG is older and less efficient, so the same photo takes more room. If disk space matters, choose Smaller files: the JPGs come out about the same size as the HEIC originals and still look sharp.

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