Apple puts quality first when it comes to its media capture and storage. While there is always the loss of some image quality in all formats, the High Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) format is Apple’s way of capturing quality image files while not devouring too much of your storage.
Like most Apple formats, HEIC has gained mainstream acceptance from other tech platforms, like Windows, to the point where most include the codecs needed to view and edit these files by default. But what happens when your PC doesn’t want to cooperate?
In this article, we’ll be showing you a few workarounds.
Viewing HEIC files has become much easier since the later versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. HEIC and HEVC can now be installed on Windows, but the user needs to install both the free HEIF Image Extension and the HEVC Video Extension, or they can be easily used through apps like Photos. They even allow for editing and viewing as thumbnails in Explorer. Before attempting any other workaround, confirm that your Apple images do not open in Photos.
HEIC Photos Don’t Open on Windows – Different Solutions to the Same Problem
The primary reason your PC won’t open HEIC files has to do with codecs. We have a few solutions to this problem, ranging from installing them to bypassing the format entirely. Let’s get started:
Add the Extension from Microsoft Store
Microsoft offers users the “HEIF Image Extension” as a free download to enable PCs and their applications to read these files. It’s a very simple, quick process and quite quick. Here’s what to do:
Step 1. Open Microsoft Store from the search bar.
Step 2. Type “HEIF Image Extension” into the search bar.
Step 3. Click the “Download” button and wait for the extension to install. The “Open” button will appear once the process is done.
Step 4. You should now be able to view and edit HEIC image files in Microsoft apps like Photos and view them in Windows Explorer.
Save Your Photos in a Different Format
Your iPhone takes photos and stores them in an HEIC image format by default. If your PC is still giving you trouble with HEIC files, why not change the format of your photos to JPEG? Here’s what to do.
Step 1. On your iPhone, open Settings and navigate down to “Camera.”
Step 2. Tap “Formats.”
Step 3. Under the “Camera Capture” subheader, choose “Most Compatible” instead of “High Efficiency.”
Step 4. Your photos will now automatically be saved as JPEGs on your phone.
Convert Your HEIC Images
Another workaround is to convert your existing HEIC images on your PC to a different format. There are plenty of third-party apps in the Microsoft Store that can handle the challenge. Even photo editing apps like GIMP can help read, edit, and convert image files without needing to rely on Windows apps themselves.
Other picture viewers like XnView MP can provide a more versatile way to view multiple picture formats, including HEIC, without the need to download additional codecs. Third-party solutions are your friend, and many are free to use.
As an avid gamer, I’ve run into my fair share of error codes and weird faults that have forced me to find fixes to problems I never anticipated. That gave me a passion for sharing those fixes with others so we can all game without feeling like our hardware is rebelling against us.
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