How to open HEIC files on Windows 11

The quickest way to open a .heic on Windows 11 is to convert it to JPG in your browser — nothing to install, nothing uploaded. To open .heic files directly in the Photos app, install Microsoft's free HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, which adds the codec Windows needs to decode them.

Windows 11 ships with the HEIF Image Extensions built in, so the Photos app can usually show a .heic thumbnail. What it often lacks is the HEVC video extension that decodes the actual image data — and that one is a paid (~$0.99) item in the Microsoft Store for most people, because of HEVC patent licensing. If double-clicking a .heic shows a grey box or a codec error, that missing extension is why.

If you only have a few files, or you are on a work machine where you can't install Store apps, converting in the browser is faster and avoids the codec issue entirely. The photo is decoded by code in this page and never leaves your PC.

Pick whichever fits your situation:

1.Convert it in your browser (fastest, nothing to install)
Open the HEIC to JPG converter, drag your .heic files in, and download the JPGs. This works on any Windows 11 PC, including locked-down work computers, because there is nothing to install and nothing is uploaded.
2.Install the HEVC extension so Photos can open HEIC directly
Open the Microsoft Store, search for HEVC Video Extensions, and install it. After that, double-clicking a .heic opens it in the Photos app like any other picture.
Microsoft Store›Search›HEVC Video Extensions›Install
3.Just look at one file without keeping a copy
Use the HEIC viewer to see the photo on screen without saving anything — handy when you only need to check what an emailed .heic contains.

Convert HEIC in your browserDrop your .heic files and get JPG, PNG, or PDF — converted on your own device, nothing uploaded.

Last verified June 13, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't HEIC open in Windows 11 Photos?

Windows 11 includes the HEIF image extension but often not the HEVC codec that decodes the image data. Without it, Photos shows a grey box or a codec error. Installing HEVC Video Extensions from the Store fixes it, or you can convert the file in your browser instead.

Is the HEVC extension free on Windows 11?

Microsoft lists a free OEM version ("HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer") that ships on some PCs, but most users see a paid ~$0.99 listing. Converting a HEIC to JPG here is free and needs no extension at all.

Can I open HEIC on a work computer without admin rights?

Yes — use the browser converter or the viewer. Both run as web-page code, so they need no install and no admin rights, and the photo is never uploaded off the machine.

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