How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows (3 Free Ways)
Quick answer
The quickest way is to open our HEIC converter in your browser, choose JPG, and drop in your photos. Nothing to install and nothing uploaded. You can also install Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions and save a copy as JPG from Paint, or set your iPhone to send JPG files to your PC.
Free tool
HEIC to PNG Converter. Convert iPhone HEIC photos to PNG or JPG in your browser.
HEIC is the photo format iPhones use by default. Apple says HEIF and HEVC give better compression than JPEG while keeping the same visual quality, which saves space on your phone. The catch is that many Windows apps, websites and upload forms still expect JPG.
Method 1: Use a free converter in your browser
This works on any Windows PC, with no extensions to install.
- Open the HEIC to PNG converter.
- In the Convert to box, choose JPG, smaller files. Pick PNG instead if you need every pixel kept.
- Drag your HEIC photos onto the box, or click it to choose them. You can add several at once.
- Wait while each photo converts. The first one takes a few seconds while the converter loads.
- Click Download next to a photo, or Download all.
The conversion runs inside your browser, so your photos stay on your computer. Photo details such as GPS location are not copied into the new file, which is useful if you plan to share the picture.
Method 2: Use the Windows Photos and Paint apps
Windows can open HEIC photos once two free add-ons from the Microsoft Store are installed: HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC, so Windows needs both.
- Open the Microsoft Store and install HEIF Image Extensions.
- Install HEVC Video Extensions. The Store may also list a paid version of this add-on. Windows Central notes that a free version is available.
- Right-click your HEIC photo, choose Open with, then Paint.
- In Paint, open File, choose Save as, then JPEG picture.
- Pick a folder and click Save.
This method converts one photo at a time, so it suits a few pictures rather than a whole camera roll.
Method 3: Make your iPhone send JPG files
Two iPhone settings stop the problem at the source. Both come from Apple's own support guide.
- Send JPG when you copy photos to a PC. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Photos, and under Transfer to Mac or PC choose Automatic. Photos you import over a cable can then be converted to JPEG.
- Take new photos as JPG. Open Settings, tap Camera, tap Formats, and choose Most Compatible. New photos are saved as JPEG. Photos you already took stay as HEIC.
Keep in mind that Most Compatible makes larger files, so your phone storage fills faster.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | Install needed |
|---|---|---|
| Browser converter | Many photos at once, any PC | No |
| Photos and Paint | One or two photos | Two Microsoft Store add-ons |
| iPhone settings | Stopping HEIC files in future | No |
Frequently asked questions
Why does Windows say the HEVC Video Extension is required?
HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC. Windows needs the HEVC Video Extensions add-on, as well as HEIF Image Extensions, before Photos can show them.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
JPG uses lossy compression, so a little detail is lost, though it is rarely visible at normal viewing sizes. Choose PNG if you need every pixel kept, but expect much larger files.
Can I convert many HEIC files at once?
Yes. The browser converter takes several files at a time and has a Download all button.
Are my photos uploaded when I use the browser converter?
No. The photos are converted on your own device. Only the converter code loads from a public code library the first time you use it.
