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How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 10 and 11

Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 10 and 11: the free Microsoft extensions, Paint and Photos, a browser batch converter, and how to stop HEIC at the source.

By , Founder and editor-in-chiefPublished

HEIC to JPGOpen iPhone photos anywhere: HEIC to JPG in bulk, without uploading.Compress ImageShrink JPG, PNG and WebP files in bulk, right in your browser.EXIF RemoverSee and strip hidden camera, date and GPS details from your photos, without re-compressing them.

You copied photos from an iPhone to your PC and got a folder of .HEIC files that won’t open, won’t upload and won’t attach to a form. The fastest fix for a batch is to drop them into HEIC to JPG in Chrome or Edge, then download all the JPGs as one ZIP. For the odd single photo, Windows can convert it with Paint once a free extension is installed.

This guide covers both, plus how to make your iPhone send JPGs to Windows from now on.

Why Windows struggles with HEIC

HEIC is the file type iPhones use by default for photos. It stores images in the HEIF format, which keeps the same quality as JPG in a smaller file. Apple made it the default because it saves storage (Apple Support).

Windows can read HEIF only through add-ons from the Microsoft Store:

  • HEIF Image Extensions lets Windows read the HEIF container. It is free.
  • HEVC Video Extensions decodes the compression that iPhone photos use inside that container. Microsoft sells it in the Store for a small fee. Some PCs have it pre-installed by the manufacturer.

Without the right extension, the Photos app shows an error or a blank thumbnail, and File Explorer can’t preview the file. Websites and upload forms are another matter. Even if your PC can display a HEIC, many sites accept only JPG or PNG.

Option 1: convert a batch in your browser (no install)

This works on any Windows version, needs no extensions and handles hundreds of photos at once.

  1. Open HEIC to JPG in Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
  2. Drag the HEIC files from File Explorer onto the page, or click Choose images. You can select a whole folder.
  3. Leave the output on JPG. Choose PNG only if you need lossless files, which are much bigger.
  4. Decide on Keep photo info. Leave it off to strip the date, camera and GPS location, which is the safer default for photos you’ll share. Turn it on if you’re archiving family photos and want dates kept.
  5. Download them all as one ZIP, then right-click the ZIP in File Explorer and choose Extract All.

The conversion runs in your browser, so the photos are not uploaded. That’s worth knowing for ID scans, documents and anything showing your home.

Option 2: Paint or Photos (one file at a time)

If the HEIF and HEVC extensions are installed, Windows apps can open HEIC files and save them as JPG.

With Paint (Windows 10 and 11):

  1. Right-click the HEIC file and choose Open with > Paint.
  2. Click File > Save as > JPEG picture.
  3. Pick a folder and click Save.

With Photos (Windows 11):

  1. Open the HEIC file in Photos.
  2. Open the … (See more) menu and choose Save as.
  3. Change the file type to JPG and save.

The Photos menus have changed several times between Windows 11 updates, so the label might differ slightly on your PC. Paint’s Save as has stayed the same for years and is the most reliable route.

This method is fine for a few photos but slow for a camera roll, because each file needs several clicks.

How to install the extensions

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
  2. Search for HEIF Image Extensions and click Get.
  3. Search for HEVC Video Extensions. Check whether it says Installed. If it doesn’t, the Store shows its price.
  4. Restart Photos or Paint.

If you’d rather not pay for the HEVC extension, use Option 1. Browser conversion doesn’t need it.

Option 3: make the iPhone send JPGs to Windows

The best fix is often upstream. Two iPhone settings control this.

Convert automatically when you copy over USB

Open Settings > Apps > Photos on the iPhone and scroll to Transfer to Mac or PC. Choose Automatic. The iPhone then converts photos to a compatible format (JPG) as you import them with a cable. Keep Originals copies the HEIC files unchanged.

This affects only USB transfers. Photos sent through email, cloud storage or some messaging apps may still arrive as HEIC.

Shoot JPG in the first place

Open Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos are saved as JPG. Existing photos are not converted, and the new files take more space, so this suits people who often share with Windows users or upload to forms.

Which method should you use?

Situation Best method
A folder of 20+ photos to share or upload Browser converter (Option 1)
One photo, extensions already installed Paint, Save as JPEG
You import from the iPhone by cable every month iPhone transfer setting: Automatic
You mostly share with Windows users Camera format: Most Compatible
A government form with a KB limit Convert, then compress to KB

After converting: size and privacy

Converted JPGs are larger than the HEIC originals, often 1.5 to 2 times larger at the same quality. If you’re emailing a batch or uploading to a site with a size limit, run them through Compress Image. A quality of 75 to 85 is usually invisible on screen.

iPhone photos also carry location data. If you converted with Keep photo info turned on and now want to share them publicly, remove the GPS data with the EXIF remover. Our guide on removing location from photos explains what is stored.

Troubleshooting

“This file format is not supported” in Photos. One of the two extensions is missing. Install both, or convert in the browser.

The JPG is rotated. The iPhone stores rotation as a tag. Good converters apply it. If an old app ignores it, rotate the image once and save.

Live Photos. A Live Photo is a HEIC still plus a short video file (.MOV). Converting the HEIC gives you the still. The video part is a separate file.

The ZIP won’t open. Extract it with Extract All in File Explorer before opening the photos; Windows can’t edit photos inside a ZIP.

For Mac steps, see how to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac. For a general overview, read HEIC to JPG on any device.

FAQ

Can Windows 11 open HEIC files without an extension?

Usually not. Windows needs the HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store to open most iPhone HEIC photos. A browser-based converter works without either.

Is the HEVC extension free?

Microsoft lists HEVC Video Extensions as a paid app in the Store, while HEIF Image Extensions is free. Some PC makers include HEVC already. Check the Store page, which shows Installed if you have it.

How do I convert many HEIC files to JPG at once on Windows?

Drop the whole folder into HEIC to JPG and download the results as one ZIP. Paint and Photos can only do one file at a time.

Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?

JPG uses lossy compression, so a tiny amount of detail is lost. At a quality of 85 to 90 the difference is not visible in normal viewing or printing.