How to open iPhone HEIC photos on Windows
Windows cannot show HEIC photos without an extra codec. Three ways to fix it: convert them to JPG, install Microsoft's extensions, or set the iPhone to send JPG.
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In short: Windows needs two Microsoft Store extensions to open HEIC photos. The quickest free fix is to convert the photos to JPG, which every program opens. To stop it happening, set the iPhone to convert photos automatically when they are transferred.
Why Windows will not open them
Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC: the image is compressed with HEVC, the same codec as 4K video, which makes it about half the size of a JPG. Windows needs the free HEIF Image Extensions and the paid HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store to read it. Without them the Photos app shows an error or a blank thumbnail.
Option 1: convert them to JPG
Add the photos to the HEIC converter on this site. They are converted in your browser, as many as you like at once, and come back as JPG, which every program, website and printer accepts. Nothing is uploaded, which matters for personal photos.
Option 2: install the extensions
In the Microsoft Store, install "HEIF Image Extensions" (free) and "HEVC Video Extensions" (a small charge). After that, Photos and File Explorer show HEIC files. Other programs, and most upload forms, still will not accept them.
Option 3: make the iPhone send JPG
On the iPhone, open Settings, then Photos, and under "Transfer to Mac or PC" choose Automatic. Photos copied to a computer by cable are converted to JPG on the way. To stop taking HEIC at all, choose Most Compatible under Settings, Camera, Formats; the files will be about twice the size.
Questions
Is converting HEIC to JPG free?
Yes, and unlimited. It runs in your browser.
Do I lose quality converting HEIC to JPG?
A little, since JPG is less efficient, but at high quality the difference is invisible. The JPG will be larger than the HEIC.