The fastest fix is to convert the HEIC photo to JPG, because JPG opens in every app on Windows. With DockFlip HEIC to JPG this happens in your browser, so the photo stays on your device. If you would rather keep the HEIC files, install the HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store, or set your iPhone to shoot in Most Compatible mode.
What a HEIC file is, and why iPhones use it
HEIC is the photo format that iPhones have used by default for years. It is the Apple flavour of HEIF, a modern image format that stores a photo in far less space than a classic JPG at similar visible quality. That is why Apple switched: more photos fit on the same phone.
You will usually see a HEIC file as IMG_1234.HEIC. HEIC and HEIF are close cousins, and most converters treat both the same way. The format can also hold extras such as depth information and, on some images, more colour data than JPG.
Why HEIC will not open on Windows
Nothing is wrong with the photo. A standard Windows install simply does not ship with the decoder for HEIC. So when you copy photos from an iPhone to a PC, you may see a blank thumbnail, a "can't open this file" message, or the file may open only in some apps.
The same thing happens in other places. Many websites, form uploads and older apps accept JPG and PNG but reject HEIC. That is the reason people end up searching for a converter right after they try to upload a photo.
You have three realistic ways to deal with it. Each one fits a different situation, and the table further down helps you pick.
Method 1: Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser (fastest)
This is the method most people want, because it needs no install and no account. You convert the photo once, and the JPG opens anywhere.
- Open the converter. Go to HEIC to JPG on DockFlip.
- Add your photos. Drag your HEIC or HEIF files onto the page, or click to choose them. You can add several at once.
- Wait for the conversion. Each photo is converted inside your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
- Download the JPG files. Open them in Photos, Paint, Word, email, WhatsApp Web or any upload form.
Need a lossless copy for editing instead? Use HEIC to PNG. PNG does not add compression loss, but the files are much larger. If the JPGs end up too big for an email or form, run them through Compress Image afterwards.
Method 2: Install the Microsoft codecs so Windows can open HEIC
If you want Windows itself to understand HEIC, so that the Photos app and File Explorer thumbnails work, you can add Microsoft's codec extensions from the Microsoft Store.
- Try to open the HEIC file. In Windows 11, the Photos app usually shows a prompt that links to the extension it needs.
- Open the Microsoft Store link. The extension to look for is the HEVC Video Extensions add-on, and some setups also use HEIF Image Extensions.
- Check the price before you install. The HEVC extension is a paid add-on in many regions. The price shown in the US is about $0.99, and other countries differ. Some PCs already include a free version from the manufacturer.
- Reopen the photo. Once the extension is installed, HEIC photos open in Photos and show thumbnails in File Explorer.
Store listings and prices change over time. Follow the link Windows shows you, and read the price in the Store before you buy. If you only have a few photos, Method 1 costs nothing and takes less time.
This route is a good fit if you handle HEIC photos every day and want them to just work in Windows. It is not needed for uploads, because websites still need JPG or PNG, and the extension does not change that.
Method 3: Change your iPhone settings so new photos are JPG
The cleanest fix is to stop creating the problem. You can tell the iPhone to save new photos in a format every computer understands.
Save new photos as JPG
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Camera, then Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible.
From now on, new photos are saved as JPG. Photos you already took stay in HEIC. The trade-off is that JPG files take more storage space on the phone. Menu names can differ slightly between iOS versions.
Let the iPhone convert photos when you copy them to a PC
In Settings, Photos, near the bottom, there is a Transfer to Mac or PC option. Choosing Automatic lets the iPhone convert photos to a compatible format when you plug it into a computer. Choosing Keep Originals copies the HEIC files unchanged.
Which method should you use?
| Your situation | Best method | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| A few photos right now, on any computer | Method 1, convert in the browser | Free |
| You must upload to a website or form | Method 1, you need a JPG or PNG file | Free |
| You open HEIC photos on your own PC all the time | Method 2, Microsoft codecs | Check the Store price |
| You want to stop getting HEIC at all | Method 3, iPhone setting | Free, but uses more phone storage |
| You will edit the photo heavily | Convert to PNG | Free, larger files |
HEIC vs JPG: what you give up and what you gain
People worry that converting ruins their photos. For normal use, it does not. Here is what actually changes.
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Usually much smaller | Larger |
| Opens in every app and website | No | Yes |
| Compression | Efficient, lossy | Lossy |
| Best for | Saving phone storage | Sharing, uploading, printing |
Two things to keep in mind. First, converting a HEIC photo to JPG is a lossy step, so keep the original if the photo matters. Second, a Live Photo is a photo plus a short video, and a plain JPG keeps only the still image.
If your next problem is the opposite one, a JPG that is too big, the Compress Image tool makes it lighter (see our full guide on how to reduce image size), and Resize Image lets you set exact pixel sizes.
Troubleshooting HEIC problems
The file will not convert, or the page slows down
Very large batches can use a lot of memory. Convert in groups of a few photos at a time, close other heavy tabs, and try again. If a single file keeps failing, check that it really is a photo and that the copy from your iPhone finished.
The photo opens but looks darker or duller
Some iPhone photos contain wide colour data. A JPG made for the web may look slightly different on some screens. This is normal when colour data is simplified for a standard JPG.
The photo is rotated the wrong way
Open the JPG in Photos and rotate it, then save. Some older programs ignore the rotation information stored in the file.
The file is 0 KB, or it says it is damaged
The transfer from the phone probably did not finish. Copy the photo again, or share it from the iPhone using a different method.
You want a transparent background
Photos from a camera have no transparency. To remove the background from a portrait, use the Background Remover after converting.
Is it safe to convert HEIC photos online?
It depends on how the tool works. Many converters upload your photo to a server, convert it there, and send it back. That means your personal photos travel across the internet and sit on someone else's computer for a while.
The conversion runs in your browser, and your photos are not sent to DockFlip. The first time you use a tool, your browser may download the converter code from a public CDN, and that download does not include your photos. If a photo is private, a tool that runs on your own device is the safer choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is HEIC to JPG conversion lossless?
No. JPG is a lossy format, so a small amount of detail can change when a HEIC photo is saved as JPG. For everyday photos the difference is very hard to see. If you plan to edit the photo heavily, convert it to PNG instead, which does not add compression loss, and expect a much larger file.
Why can't Windows open my iPhone photos?
Newer iPhones save photos in HEIC by default, and a standard Windows install does not include the codec needed to read them. The photo is fine. Windows just lacks the decoder, which you can add from the Microsoft Store or skip by converting the file to JPG.
Are my photos uploaded when I convert them with DockFlip?
No. The conversion runs inside your browser and your photos are not sent to DockFlip. The first time you use the tool, your browser may download the converter code from a public CDN, which does not include your photos.
Can I open a HEIC file without installing anything?
Yes. Convert it to JPG in your browser with a tool like DockFlip HEIC to JPG, and the JPG opens in any app. You can also email the photo to yourself from the iPhone as "Most Compatible", or change the iPhone camera format to Most Compatible so new photos are saved as JPG.
Is the HEVC extension free?
Not always. In the Microsoft Store it is a paid add-on in many regions (the price shown in the US is about $0.99, and other countries differ). Some computers include a free version from the manufacturer. Check the price shown in the Store before you buy, or use the free browser method instead.
How do I change my iPhone so it saves JPG instead of HEIC?
Open Settings, tap Camera, tap Formats, and choose Most Compatible. New photos will then be saved as JPG. Photos you already took stay as they are, and menu names can vary slightly between iOS versions.
Can I convert many HEIC photos at once?
Yes. Add several photos to the converter and download the JPGs. Very large batches can be limited by your device memory, so if the page slows down, convert in smaller groups.
Does converting HEIC to JPG remove location and camera details?
Converted files usually do not keep the same camera and location metadata. If you need that information, keep the original HEIC files as well.
DockFlip Team. We build free image and PDF tools that run in your browser. This guide was last updated on .