How do I open a HEIC file on Windows?

Either install the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, or convert the HEIC to JPG first using TurboConvert — the converted JPG opens in any image viewer.

Is HEIC better quality than JPG?

HEIC and JPG can produce the same visual quality, but HEIC achieves it at roughly half the file size. If quality is equal, HEIC is more efficient — but JPG is compatible with far more devices and applications.

Can I convert multiple HEIC files at once?

TurboConvert's HEIC to JPG tool supports multiple file uploads — you can drop a batch of HEIC photos and convert them all at once.

Home › Blog › What is a HEIC file — and how do you convert it to JPG?

Images February 2026 4 min read

What is a HEIC file — and how do you convert it to JPG?

You've taken a photo on your iPhone and sent it to your computer, but Windows says it can't open the file. That's the HEIC problem — a modern image format that iPhones use by default but that most apps and websites still don't support. Here's everything you need to know.

What is HEIC?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It's a file format based on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) standard, developed by the MPEG group. Apple adopted HEIC as the default photo format for iPhones starting with iOS 11 in 2017.

HEIC was designed to replace JPG — it offers roughly twice the compression efficiency, meaning a HEIC photo is about half the size of an equivalent JPG at the same visual quality. For iPhone users with limited storage, this is a significant advantage.

Why can't Windows open HEIC files?

HEIC is a relatively new format and Windows doesn't include native support by default. You can open HEIC on Windows by installing the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (it's free), but this isn't immediately obvious. As a result, millions of people encounter HEIC files they can't open.

macOS has supported HEIC natively since macOS High Sierra (2017), so Mac users rarely encounter this problem. Android support varies by device and version.

How to convert HEIC to JPG for free

The easiest solution is to convert HEIC files to JPG — a format that works everywhere. TurboConvert's HEIC to JPG converter runs entirely in your browser:

Go to the HEIC to JPG tool.
Drop your HEIC file (or files) into the upload zone.
Download the converted JPG files instantly.

Your photos are never uploaded — the conversion happens locally in your browser using WebAssembly.

How to stop iPhone from saving photos as HEIC

If you'd rather your iPhone save photos as JPG from the start: go to Settings → Camera → Formats → select Most Compatible. This saves photos as JPG instead of HEIC. The trade-off is larger photo files and faster storage usage.

Convert HEIC to JPG now

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