HEIC to JPG on Windows: Complete Conversion Guide (2025)

Transferred photos from your iPhone and can't open them on Windows? You're dealing with HEIC files - Apple's default image format since iOS 11. While HEIC offers superior compression and quality, Windows doesn't fully support it out of the box. This guide covers every method to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows quickly and easily.

TL;DR - Quick Summary

• Fastest Method: Use our free HEIC to JPG Converter - no installation, works in browser
• What is HEIC?: Apple's image format offering 50% smaller files than JPG at same quality
• Why Convert?: Windows compatibility, sharing, uploading to websites, printing services
• Quality Loss?: Minimal - JPG at 90%+ quality is visually identical
• Batch Convert: Most tools support converting multiple HEIC files at once
• Alternative: Install HEIF extensions on Windows for native viewing (doesn't convert)

What is HEIC Format?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a file format based on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) standard. Apple adopted it as the default photo format for iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 11 in 2017.

HEIC vs JPG Comparison

Why Apple Uses HEIC

• Storage Efficiency: Same quality photos take half the space
• Better Quality: 16-bit color depth vs JPG's 8-bit
• Advanced Features: Live Photos, depth maps, HDR data
• Multiple Images: Can store image sequences in one file

Why You Need to Convert to JPG

Despite HEIC's advantages, JPG remains necessary for:

• Opening photos on Windows without extra software
• Sharing via email or messaging apps
• Uploading to websites and social media
• Printing at photo labs and print services
• Editing in older software (Photoshop CS6, older apps)
• Compatibility with all devices and platforms

Method 1: Online HEIC to JPG Converter (Fastest)

The quickest way to convert HEIC files without installing anything.

Using Our Free HEIC to JPG Converter

Our HEIC to JPG Converter processes files directly in your browser:

Step 1: Go to HEIC to JPG Converter

Step 2: Drag and drop your HEIC files or click to upload

Step 3: Wait for automatic conversion

Step 4: Download your JPG files

Features:

• No software installation required
• Batch conversion supported
• 100% browser-based (files stay on your computer)
• No watermarks or quality reduction
• Free, no signup needed

Other Online Converters

Convertio:

1. Visit convertio.co/heic-jpg
2. Upload HEIC files (up to 100MB free)
3. Click Convert
4. Download JPG files

CloudConvert:

1. Go to cloudconvert.com/heic-to-jpg
2. Upload files
3. Adjust quality settings if needed
4. Convert and download

iLoveIMG:

1. Visit iloveimg.com/convert-to-jpg/heic-to-jpg
2. Select HEIC files
3. Convert to JPG
4. Download results

Online Converter Comparison

Method 2: Windows HEIF Extensions (View Only)

Want to just view HEIC files without converting? Install Microsoft's HEIF extensions.

Installing HEIF Image Extensions

For Windows 10/11:

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Search for "HEIF Image Extensions"
3. Click Get or Install
4. Restart Windows Explorer or your PC

Direct Links:

• HEIF Image Extensions (Free - for images)
• HEVC Video Extensions ($0.99 - for videos)

What This Enables

After installation:

• View HEIC files in Windows Photos app
• See HEIC thumbnails in File Explorer
• Open HEIC in some editing software
• Does NOT convert files - they remain HEIC

Limitations

• Doesn't convert to JPG
• Some apps still won't open HEIC
• HEVC codec costs $0.99 for video
• May not work in all software

Method 3: iPhone Settings (Prevent HEIC)

Stop the problem at the source - configure your iPhone to capture JPG instead.

Change iPhone Camera Format

1. Open Settings on iPhone
2. Scroll to Camera
3. Tap Formats
4. Select Most Compatible

This changes:

• Photos: Saved as JPG instead of HEIC
• Videos: Saved as H.264 instead of HEVC

Transfer Settings (Keep HEIC, Auto-Convert)

Keep HEIC on iPhone but auto-convert when transferring:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Photos
3. Under "Transfer to Mac or PC"
4. Select Automatic

Now when you transfer photos via USB, iOS automatically converts HEIC to JPG.

Pros and Cons

Most Compatible Mode:

• ✓ Universal compatibility
• ✗ Larger file sizes (2x)
• ✗ No advanced features (Live Photos limited)

Automatic Transfer:

• ✓ Keep HEIC benefits on device
• ✓ JPG when transferring
• ✗ Only works via USB transfer
• ✗ Doesn't apply to cloud sync

Method 4: Windows Photos App

If you've installed HEIF extensions, Windows Photos can export to JPG.

Converting with Windows Photos

1. Open HEIC file in Windows Photos (requires HEIF extension)
2. Click ... (three dots) menu
3. Select Save as
4. Choose JPG from file type dropdown
5. Select save location
6. Click Save

Limitations

• One file at a time (no batch)
• Requires HEIF extension installed
• Limited quality options
• Slow for multiple files

Method 5: Free Desktop Software

For frequent conversions, desktop software offers more features.

iMazing HEIC Converter (Recommended)

Free, dedicated HEIC converter from DigiDNA:

1. Download from imazing.com/heic
2. Install the application
3. Drag and drop HEIC files
4. Choose output format (JPG or PNG)
5. Select quality level
6. Click Convert

Features:

• Completely free
• Batch conversion
• Quality settings (0-100%)
• Preserves EXIF data
• No watermarks
• Fast processing

CopyTrans HEIC for Windows

Adds system-level HEIC support:

1. Download from copytrans.net/copytransheic
2. Install the plugin
3. Right-click any HEIC file
4. Select "Convert to JPEG"

Features:

• Right-click context menu integration
• View HEIC in Windows Photo Viewer
• Print HEIC files directly
• Use HEIC in MS Office applications

XnConvert (Power Users)

Advanced batch image converter:

1. Download from xnview.com/xnconvert
2. Add HEIC files to input
3. Set output format to JPG
4. Configure actions (resize, rename, etc.)
5. Convert

Features:

• 500+ supported formats
• Batch processing
• Advanced transformations
• Scripting support
• Free for personal use

Method 6: Command Line (Advanced)

For developers and power users who need automation.

Using ImageMagick

1. Install ImageMagick with HEIC support:

# Windows (using Chocolatey)
choco install imagemagick

# Or download from imagemagick.org

2. Convert single file:

magick input.heic output.jpg

3. Batch convert all HEIC in folder:

magick mogrify -format jpg *.heic

4. Convert with quality setting:

magick input.heic -quality 90 output.jpg

Using FFmpeg

1. Install FFmpeg:

choco install ffmpeg

2. Convert HEIC to JPG:

ffmpeg -i input.heic output.jpg

3. Batch convert:

for %i in (*.heic) do ffmpeg -i "%i" "%~ni.jpg"

PowerShell Script

Batch convert using ImageMagick:

# Convert all HEIC files in current directory
Get-ChildItem -Filter *.heic | ForEach-Object {
    $output = $_.BaseName + ".jpg"
    magick $_.FullName -quality 90 $output
    Write-Host "Converted: $($_.Name) -> $output"
}

Quality Settings: Finding the Right Balance

When converting HEIC to JPG, you're converting from a more efficient format to a less efficient one. Here's how to maintain quality:

Recommended Quality Settings

Quality Comparison

HEIC Original (2MB):

• JPG at 100%: ~4MB (no visible difference)
• JPG at 90%: ~2.5MB (no visible difference)
• JPG at 80%: ~1.5MB (minimal difference)
• JPG at 70%: ~1MB (slight artifacts on zoom)

Best Practice

Use 90% quality for general conversions - it's visually identical to the original while keeping file sizes reasonable.

Preserving Photo Metadata

HEIC files contain valuable metadata (EXIF):

• Date and time taken
• GPS location
• Camera settings
• Device information

Ensuring Metadata Preservation

Most conversion tools preserve EXIF data by default. Verify by:

1. Right-click converted JPG
2. Select Properties
3. Go to Details tab
4. Check for Date taken, Camera model, GPS coordinates

Tools That Preserve Metadata

• ✓ Our HEIC to JPG Converter
• ✓ iMazing HEIC Converter
• ✓ ImageMagick (default)
• ✓ CopyTrans HEIC
• ⚠️ Some online converters strip metadata

Batch Converting Large Photo Libraries

Transferring thousands of iPhone photos? Here's the efficient approach:

Step 1: Organize First

Create a folder structure:

iPhone Photos/
├── HEIC_Original/    (your source files)
├── JPG_Converted/    (output folder)
└── Processed/        (move originals after conversion)

Step 2: Choose Right Tool

Step 3: Batch Convert

Using iMazing HEIC Converter:

1. Drag entire folder to app
2. Set quality to 90%
3. Choose output folder
4. Click Convert
5. Processing time: ~1 second per photo

Using XnConvert:

1. Add folder as input
2. Set output format and folder
3. Add actions if needed (resize, rename)
4. Click Convert
5. Monitor progress

Step 4: Verify Results

Check a sample of converted files:

• Open and view quality
• Verify metadata preserved
• Confirm all files converted
• Compare file counts

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Windows cannot open this file"

Cause: HEIF extensions not installed

Solution:

1. Install HEIF Image Extensions from Microsoft Store
2. Or use our HEIC to JPG Converter to convert

"Converter doesn't recognize HEIC file"

Cause: File may be corrupted or have wrong extension

Solutions:

• Verify file is actually HEIC (not renamed)
• Try different converter
• Re-transfer from iPhone
• Check if file opens on iPhone

"Converted JPG looks different from original"

Cause: Quality setting too low or color profile issues

Solutions:

• Increase quality to 90-100%
• Use tool that preserves color profiles
• Check for color management settings

"Metadata/date lost after conversion"

Cause: Converter stripping EXIF data

Solutions:

• Use metadata-preserving converter
• Use iMazing HEIC Converter (preserves by default)
• Use ImageMagick with proper flags

"Batch conversion stops midway"

Cause: Memory issues or corrupted file

Solutions:

• Convert in smaller batches
• Identify and skip problematic file
• Use command-line tool for better error handling
• Check available disk space

HEIC vs Other Formats

When to Convert to JPG

• Sharing with Windows users
• Uploading to older websites
• Printing at photo services
• Email attachments
• Maximum compatibility needed

When to Convert to PNG

• Need transparency support
• Graphics/screenshots (not photos)
• Lossless quality required
• Use our HEIC to PNG converter for this

When to Keep as HEIC

• Archiving on Apple devices
• Storage space is priority
• Only using Apple ecosystem
• Want Live Photos preserved

Related Tools

Complete your image workflow with these tools:

Image Conversion

• HEIC to JPG - Convert iPhone photos to JPG
• PNG to JPG - Convert PNG images to JPG
• JPG to PNG - Convert JPG to PNG format
• WebP to JPG - Convert WebP images
• BMP to JPG - Convert BMP files
• TIF to JPG - Convert TIFF images

Image Optimization

• Image Compressor - Reduce image file size
• Image Resizer - Resize images to any dimension
• Batch Image Resizer - Resize multiple images
• Image Cropper - Crop and adjust images
• Image Enhancer - Improve image quality

Document Tools

• JPG to PDF - Create PDF from your converted images
• PDF to JPG - Extract images from PDFs

Conclusion

Converting HEIC to JPG on Windows is straightforward with the right tools:

1. Fastest: Use our HEIC to JPG Converter - no installation, instant results
2. Desktop: Install iMazing HEIC Converter for batch processing
3. Prevention: Change iPhone settings to capture JPG directly
4. Viewing Only: Install Microsoft HEIF extensions

Key Takeaways:

• HEIC is Apple's efficient format, but JPG has universal compatibility
• Use 90% quality when converting for best results
• Most converters preserve photo metadata
• Batch conversion is available in most tools
• Browser-based tools offer privacy (no upload)

Need to convert iPhone photos right now? Try our free HEIC to JPG Converter - works instantly in your browser with no signup required.

Related Articles

• Convert Images: HEIC, WebP, PNG, JPG Complete Guide - Master all image format conversions
• How to Resize Images Without Losing Quality - Optimize your converted images
• Best Tools to Fix Image Quality - Enhance your photos
• How to Compress PDF Without Losing Quality - Optimize documents with images

Sources

• Apple: About HEIF and HEVC
• Microsoft: HEIF Image Extensions
• HEIF Format Specification
• ImageMagick HEIC Support