To open a HEIC on Windows, either install the Microsoft HEIF and HEVC extensions required by Photos, or convert a copy to PNG in your browser. The browser route is free and does not require installing a Windows codec.
Convert HEIC to PNG →First, choose what you actually need
If you only need to attach a photo to a form or use it in a document, a PNG copy may solve the problem. If you want to browse HEIC originals regularly in Photos, installing the codecs is the more direct route. Changing the filename extension is not a fix.
Option 1: make a PNG copy without installing anything
- Open the HEIC to PNG tool linked below in an updated browser.
- Choose the .heic or .heif file from your computer. You can select several files together.
- Convert, then download the result. Your image is decoded on your device, not sent to a conversion server.
- Open the PNG in Photos or the application that rejected the HEIC. Keep the original separately.
Option 2: use Microsoft Photos
Open Microsoft Store and look for Microsoft’s HEIF Image Extension. Microsoft’s current listing says HEIC also needs HEVC Video Extensions, even though you are opening a photo rather than a video. Install the required components, then close and reopen Photos and try the file again. HEIF is listed as free in Microsoft’s support guide; HEVC can cost money. Check the price and device requirements shown in your Store before buying. Do not assume a codec package is free on every PC.
If it still will not open
Confirm that the download finished and the file is not empty. Restart Photos after installing extensions. Try converting one photo rather than a large batch. A corrupt file or an unsupported HEIF variant can still fail, even with extensions installed. If one image fails while others work, get a fresh copy from its source before blaming Windows.
What changes when you convert?
A PNG copy gives you a static image. In TotImage, metadata, HDR and extra frames are not retained. PNG may take more storage than the HEIC. It is a practical copy for compatibility, not a replacement for a photo archive. For future iPhone photos, Apple’s Most Compatible camera setting uses JPEG; it does not change existing files.
Keep your originals. Conversion creates a new copy; metadata, HDR and extra frames are not retained.
Questions, answered
Do I need HEVC just to open a photo?
Microsoft’s HEIF listing says the HEVC package is required for HEIC, HIF and HEIF images encoded with HEVC. Availability depends on the PC.
Can I open HEIC for free?
You can make a PNG copy with TotImage for free, without installing a Windows extension. Native Photos support can require a paid HEVC extension.
Sources
Keep going
Why Google Photos downloads are HEIC, and how to get JPG or PNG
A Google Photos download ends in .heic? Find out what that means, then convert a copy to JPG or PNG in your browser.
Read the guide →How to convert many HEIC photos at once: batches and ZIP
Turn a folder of HEIC photos into PNG copies, then download them together as a ZIP. A practical workflow for large photo exports.
Read the guide →Why images save as WebP, and how to get JPG or PNG
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Read the guide →What is an AVIF file, and how to open it or convert it to JPG or PNG
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