GUIDE · WINDOWS 11
How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11
You copied photos from your iPhone to your Windows 11 PC, double-clicked one, and got a blank icon or an error instead of a picture. The files end in .heic — Apple's photo format, which Windows 11 doesn't open out of the box. Here are three free ways to turn them into JPGs that open everywhere.
Method 1: Convert in your browser (fastest, no install)
This is the quickest route if you just want it done. PicUplift's HEIC to JPG converter decodes your photos locally with WebAssembly — nothing is uploaded to any server.
- Open the converter in Chrome or Edge on your Windows 11 PC.
- Drag in your .heic files — you can drop dozens at once.
- Keep the default 90% quality (or lower it if you want smaller files), then click convert.
- Download each JPG individually or grab them all as a ZIP.
No signup, no watermark, no daily limit. Because everything runs on your device, there's no queue and no waiting for a server.
Method 2: Install Apple's HEIF extension from the Microsoft Store
Microsoft sells the official HEIF Image Extensions codec for $0.99 in the Microsoft Store. Once installed, the built-in Photos app opens HEIC files directly, and you can right-click → Save as to export JPG copies.
This is a good option if you want HEIC support baked into Windows itself. The downside: it costs a dollar, it only fixes your PC (the files you send to others are still HEIC), and batch-converting dozens of photos through the Photos app is slow.
Method 3: Stop your iPhone from creating HEIC files
If the root problem is "my iPhone keeps giving me files Windows can't open," fix it at the source. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Camera → Formats and switch from High Efficiency to Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPG.
Trade-off: JPG files are roughly twice the size of HEIC at similar quality, so you'll use more storage. This also doesn't help with the HEIC photos you already have — for those, use Method 1.
Which method should you pick?
- A handful of photos, right now → Method 1 (browser converter).
- You open HEIC files every week → Method 2 ($0.99 codec) for convenience, Method 1 for batch jobs.
- You're tired of the format entirely → Method 3, and convert your backlog with Method 1.
FAQ
Will converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
JPG is a lossy format, so a tiny amount of detail is lost in any conversion. At 90% quality the difference is invisible in normal viewing. If you need pixel-perfect copies, convert to PNG instead — the same tool offers PNG output.
Is it safe to use an online converter for personal photos?
It depends on the converter. Many upload your files to their servers. PicUplift's converter runs entirely in your browser tab — you can verify this by disconnecting from the internet after the page loads; conversion still works. Your photos never leave your device.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 10 too?
Yes. All three methods above work on Windows 10 as well — use a current version of Chrome or Edge for the browser method.
Why does my iPhone save photos as HEIC instead of JPG?
Since iOS 11, iPhones default to HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) because it stores the same quality at roughly half the file size of JPG. The catch is compatibility: Apple devices handle it natively, but Windows and many web services don't.