HEIC (High Efficiency Image Format) is an image format developed by Apple to replace the old JPEG format, however, it is not natively supported in Windows, so users need a viewer or converter to open and convert HEIC. Install HEIC on your Windows PC. . Files Apple introduced the HEIC file format in 2015.
Here are the steps to open HEIC files in Windows:
Find the HEIC file in File Explorer and double-click it.
If the file does not open in the Photos app, you can right-click on it and select Open With > Photos.
If the Photos app prompts you to download the HEIF image extension, click the Download and Install Now link to get it for free from the Microsoft Store.
Select Yes when asked if you want to change programs, then click Install to download and install HEIF image extensions.
Once installed, you can view your HEIC files in the Photos app like any other image format, and File Explorer will create thumbnails of your HEIC image files.
However, HEIC files may not be supported on all devices or platforms, especially older devices and software versions. In such cases, the files may need to be converted to a more compatible format such as JPEG before viewing or sharing.
Here are some ways to convert HEIC files on Windows:
Install HEIC Viewer or Converter:
There are several third-party HEIC viewer or converter options available for Windows, but one of the most popular is the “HEIC Image Viewer” program, which you can download and install from the Microsoft Store or other third-party websites. Another option is a free HEIC converter site called cloudconvert.
Open the HEIC file in a HEIC viewer or converter
Once you have the HEIC viewer or converter installed, right-click on the HEIC file you want to open and select Open With and select the HEIC viewer or converter you have installed. This will allow you to see the HEIC image.
Convert your HEIC file to JPEG or PNG format
If you want to convert your HEIC file to a more widely supported format, such as JPEG or PNG, you can use a HEIC viewer or converter to do so. Most converters have an option to convert the HEIC file to another format, so you just need to follow the instructions in the program to convert the file.
