How to open HEIC files on a Windows PC

As technology advances, much of our daily work depends on our laptops, desktops, or personal computers. Everything is going digital, from viewing images and videos to writing or documenting.

A small defect in their work can upset us and lead to mismanagement on our part. The electronic devices we use are prone to malfunction or other problems.

One of these problems that you may encounter is that your Windows PC does not support HEIC or HEIF files. Your client, colleague, office staff, or someone in your family may also send you image files that are HEIC files.

While you are trying to open a HEIC file on your Windows PC, a message will appear on your screen saying that the file is not supported. What should be your next step? Do you need to panic, or is there something you can do to fix the problem?

Let's delve deeper into this problem and explore possible solutions on how to open a HEIC file.

.HEIC option no.

The HEIC file, commonly known as the HEIF file format, helps store image sequences and individual image files. HEIF stands for "High Efficiency Image File Format". It is a container format covering all media files on your system, including text, audio, and video on your device. HEIC allows you to store images in several formats, including HDR and SDR.

These files were first defined in 2001 and introduced in 2015 by MPEG. Since the introduction of iOS 11, Apple has adopted the HEIF file format. Therefore, the HEIF file format is supported on devices running iOS 11 and later.

Why does Windows have trouble displaying the HEIC file by default?

When you try to open a HEIC file on a Windows PC, a pop-up message may appear on the screen saying that the file format is not supported. This can happen because your Windows PC does not support the HEIC format used by Apple for their latest iOS devices.

The credit for introducing the HEIC image format belongs to Apple. The main purpose of introducing this format was to use it on the iPhone and iPad. iOS 11 supports the HEIC image format. That is why you will not be able to run the HEIC file on your Windows PC without following certain steps.

How to open HEIC files on Windows PC?

While it is difficult to open a HEIC file on a Windows PC, you can find ways to do so. Let's take a closer look at all these methods.

No. 1. Using HEIF Image Extensions from the Windows App Store

  • To access the HEIC file on a Windows PC, you may need to install support for HEIC image files.
  • To do this, you may need to locate the HEIF file on your Windows device. Open this file through the photo application installed on your PC.
  • A dialog box stating that you need the HEIF extension to view the file will appear on the screen. Choose an installation option. The application required to open the HEIC file on your Windows device will be installed successfully.
  • Switch the file launcher to the installed HEIF app. This will take you to the HEIF file extensions page. Hence, by following these simple steps, you will be able to view your HEIC images on Windows PC. You can install support for viewing and downloading the HEIC format file.

#2. Convert HEIC App to JPG or PNG with Tools

Several applications are available that can help you convert the HEIC file to JPG or PNG for easy viewing.

Of all the apps available, some of the best include:

1. HEIC to JPEG

HEIC to JPEG Converter is an easy-to-use and fast tool to help you upload multiple images at the same time and convert them all to JPEG or PNG. This converter does not damage the pixels of your photos, thus maintaining the quality of the film.

2. Cloud conversion

Changing the file format and adjusting all its basic functions, including size, resolution, and format, will help you use the device without any additional damage. Cloud conversion also doesn't compromise the quality of the original file.

3. FreeToolOnline

Free online tool allows you to convert HEIC files to JPEG for easy viewing. You can upload up to 5000 HEIC files for conversion.

No. 3. Using Adobe Lightroom installed on your PC

If you want to view the HEIC file stored on your computer, you can open and view the image through Adobe Lightroom. Therefore, you may need to follow the instructions below to reach your goal.

Steps you can follow to view HEIC file in Adobe Lightroom via Windows PC:

  • Launch the Lightroom app on your personal computer or laptop.
  • After launching the application, you must click on the "+" sign. Thanks to this, you will be able to upload your images through Adobe Lightroom. To load any HEIC image into Adobe Lightroom, you need to convert the file format from HEIF to JPEG.
  • Once you've finished converting, you can view your files in Adobe Lightroom and then just save this jpeg image to the desired folder.

#4: Convert HEIC files to JPG, PNG, PDF, etc. with Apple Photos on Mac devices.

Although the HEIC file format is visible on Apple devices, visibility is not granted to all devices you work with. So, you can take the help of your MacBook to convert this HEIC image. You can convert HEIC files to JPG, PDF and PNG with Apple Photos.

Follow the steps below to complete the conversion:

  • Double click this image which is currently in HEIC format.
  • A preview tab will open showing this image.
  • Click "File" in the menu bar and then "Export".
  • You can then select different formats from the drop down menu. There you can choose PNG or JPEG.
  • Select a destination folder and save.

Final Thoughts

This article provides detailed information about opening HEIC files on a Windows PC. You can choose any of the methods mentioned above and then you will be able to view your HEIC file directly on your Windows PC without facing any issues.

You can install certain extensions from the Windows App Store to help you view HEIF files on your Windows PC. Apart from this, you can also change the file format using certain programs or applications.

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