If you have copied photos from an iPhone to a PC, you have probably met the .heic file: Windows shows a generic icon, refuses to open it, or makes you wait. HEIC is the high-efficiency format iPhones use by default. Here is how to view HEIC on Windows, get thumbnails back in File Explorer, and convert to JPG when you need to.

What is a HEIC file?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) stores photos using the HEVC codec, giving roughly half the file size of JPEG at similar quality. Apple devices shoot HEIC by default, which is why so many land on Windows PCs.

Option 1: Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions

Windows can display HEIC if you add two pieces:

  1. Install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (free).
  2. Install the HEVC Video Extensions (a small paid item) so the photos actually decode.

After that, the Photos app can open HEIC. The downsides are the paid codec and thumbnails that are often slow to appear.

Option 2: A viewer that opens HEIC natively

To skip the codec hunt, open HEIC in an app that decodes it directly. HawkView shows HEIC instantly on Windows with no Store extensions needed, and the same app opens AVIF, JPEG XL and RAW. Browsing a folder of iPhone photos stays fast because thumbnails are generated by the app, not the Explorer cache.

How to see HEIC thumbnails in File Explorer

Blank HEIC thumbnails usually mean the HEIF extension is missing or the thumbnail cache is stale. Install HEIF support, then clear the cache with Disk Cleanup (tick Thumbnails). If Explorer thumbnails are still unreliable, browsing the folder in HawkView's gallery gives you sharp thumbnails for every photo. There is more on this in our guide to image thumbnails not showing in Windows 11.

How to convert HEIC to JPG

For sharing with apps that do not understand HEIC:

  1. Open the .heic file in HawkView.
  2. Save or export a copy as JPG (or PNG).
  3. Keep the HEIC original for its smaller size.

Should you stop shooting HEIC?

You can switch your iPhone to JPG under Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible, but you give up quality and storage savings. Keeping HEIC and using a viewer that opens it everywhere is usually the better trade.

The bottom line

For an official fix, install the HEIF and HEVC extensions and use Photos. For instant HEIC viewing with no add-ons and fast folder browsing, open them in HawkView.