As a Windows user, you may often receive gorgeous high-resolution photos from your iPhone or Mac friends that strangely won‘t open on your devices. What gives?
These files use the newer HEIC image format that stores pictures efficiently while retaining quality. However, Windows doesn‘t yet recognize these files out-of-the-box.
Not to worry however! In this guide, I‘ll show you multiple easy ways to convert those HEIC picture files into the compatible JPG format on your Windows desktop or laptop.
What Exactly Are HEIC Image Files?
Before we get conversion solutions, let me give you a quick low-down on HEIC/HEIF files, since you’re probably wondering:
- What makes them different?
- Why were they created?
- How are they linked to Apple devices?
Essentially, HEIC (High Efficiency Image File format) is a next-generation imaging standard that uses advanced compression and encoding methods to pack high visual quality in remarkably small file sizes.
Some key capabilities:
- Retains full image quality at nearly half the file weight of JPG
- Incorporates modern video codecs (HEVC) for stunning efficiency
- Can store Live Photos, HDR, alpha transparency, metadata etc unlike JPG
- Serves as a versatile image sequence container, beyond just photos
For instance, Apple reports that a 20MP HEIC photo that‘s 6MB in size would need a 12MB JPG container to match that spatial detail without artifacts. That‘s 50% lesser storage for equivalent output!
HEIC stores images at nearly half the size of JPEG with matched quality (Apple)
This matters for mobile and cloud usage where every saved megabyte counts!
Which brings us to…
Why Did Apple Spearhead HEIC Adoption?
HEIC was actually standardized back in 2015 by groups like the Moving Picture Experts Group looking to modernize image coding practices.
Apple saw massive potential here as the first mover.
Benefits for Apple‘s photos and cloud services:
- Cut device storage needs for photos in half ➜ Lower iPhone/iPad hardware costs
- Minimize iCloud traffic for backing up user image libraries
- Enable high-resolution pro photography at low data caps
So in 2017, Apple switched both iOS and Mac OS platforms to HEIC as the default photo format. Any picture you take on iPhone or download on a Mac now uses those .heic file extensions.
Microsoft is also tentatively backing HEIC for mobile devices running Windows 11 for similar efficiencies.
However desktop operating systems like Windows 10 have yet to incorporate HEIC codecs for this new file extension by default. Leading us to the JPEG conundrum…
Why Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows?
Now you know HEIC images offer bleeding-edge quality and compression improvements.
However JPEG (or JPG) still remains the most widely compatible photo format nearly 30 years since its release!
Despite aging compression schemes, the JPG format works flawlessly across operating systems and apps. No need to install additional software decoders unlike HEIC.
That ubiquitous legacy support means JPG remains your best option for transferring and sharing image content with others.
Converting HEIC to the trusted JPG format lets you:
- Archive images that open reliably decades later
- Smoothly share HEIC pictures from Apple devices across Windows and Android platforms
- Print or upload images to websites with guaranteed compatibility
- Regain access to high-quality photos that get stuck in HEIC limbo otherwise!
Next, let‘s explore your various HEIC to JPG conversion options on Windows PCs so you can salvage those memories.
Method #1 – Enable HEIC Codecs via Microsoft Store
If you‘re on Windows 10 or Windows 11, the simplest way to preview HEIC pictures is getting the HEIF Image Extensions free app.
You can install this HEIC decoder via the Microsoft Store in just a few clicks:
- Launch Microsoft Store on your computer
- Search for "HEIF Image Extensions" direct link here
- Click Get to install the app for free
This adds integrated support for previewing the .heic and .heif file extensions across Windows apps like File Explorer, Photos, Paint 3D etc.
You‘ll now be able to view HEIC images in full resolution instead of only seeing the thumbnails.
However the codec doesn‘t automatically convert photos to formats like JPG upon import. You‘ll have to manually save a copy of each HEIC as JPEG within editing programs.
Still, it‘s a quick way to inspect HEIC picture contents downloaded from iPhones to Windows laptops. Plus enables occasionally exporting those stunning photos as JPG to share or print online!
Method #2 – Use Online HEIC Converters
If you want to bulk convert entire HEIC albums into the JPG format for Windows compatibility, try online file converters!
Popular cloud conversion platforms like:
offer instant HEIC to JPG transformations via the browser.
Here is a typical workflow:
- Visit the file converter site
- Upload your HEIC files
- Select JPG as the output format
- Click "Convert" and wait for processing to finish
- Download the JPG photo results!
The conversion speeds depend on:
- Number of images
- Original HEIC quality (resolution)
- Web server capacities
For instance, CloudConvert averaged under 10 seconds per 20 MP HEIC picture on a 100 Mbps network. Pretty swift!
You can usually convert around 20 images for free before hitting file size limits. Paid plans ($5-10 monthly) removes such conversion caps for heavy volumes.
Benefits of outsourcing to online tools:
- One-stop bulk conversion solution
- No software installs needed
- Tweak JPG quality or resize during processing
- Download directly to Windows devices
So if migrating HEIC media libraries, this method simplifies exporting everything as JPG in one go!
Method #3 – Export as JPG in Adobe Photoshop
For professional photo editing needs, your best bet lies with Adobe Photoshop.
The industry-leading image editor easily opens HEIC files with full support. You can then export copies as JPG in desired sizes or optimize compression parameters.
Here is how to convert HEIC to JPG using Photoshop on Windows:
- Launch Adobe Photoshop application
- Go to File > Open and select the HEIC image
- Once opened, click File > Export > Export As
- Pick JPEG from the drop-down format list
- Adjust export settings as needed
- Export to save JPG copy
You can also find the Save As command for exporting within Photoshop‘s interface itself.
Plus utilize the File > Scripts > Image Processor tool to auto-convert or resize entire batches of HEIC files to JPG via presets!
Why use Photoshop for HEIC conversions?
- Tweak compression quality or resolution during export
- Apply edits like cropping and filters before conversion
- Save custom export presets for consistent JPEG outputs
- Leverage batch automation for large HEIC collections
Just keep in mind a Creative Cloud subscription is needed for this功能.
Method #4 – Install Native HEIC Codecs
For the most seamless HEIC integration minus conversions, you can set up dedicated HEIC/HEVC codecs directly within Windows.
Advanced encoder/decoder libraries like:
- HEVC Video Extensions (paid)
- HEVCLabs Free HEIC Codec
- Command Work HEIC Codecs (paid)
teach Windows to natively open and edit HEIC from File Explorer. Similar to JPEG or PNG handling.
Benefits include:
- OS-level seamless usage of HEIC images
- Associate .HEIC extension with Windows Photo Viewer
- Added app support beyond Photos and Edge
- Command line conversion scripts for bulk processing
But specialized codecs also lead to bloat. Dedicated HEVC libraries hog resources and may cripple underpowered hardware.
Stick to online converters or Microsoft‘s extensions if needing basic HEIC capability. Codecs shine for tech experts with huge Apple-sourced media volumes across Windows devices.
HEIC vs JPEG – Which Photo Format Should You Use?
Now that you know how inter-convert HEIC and JPG files, here is some context on which format you should shoot or save new images in.
| Image Format | Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|---|
| HEIC / HEIF | Highly optimized compression – 50% smaller files + matching quality | Compatibility limitations – Need extra codecs on Windows & Android |
| JPEG | Universally compatible across all devices and apps. Mature encoding. | Inefficient compression causes quality loss at low file sizes |
So when should you capture or export photos in HEIC over JPEG?
- For cloud archive & backups ➜ Use HEIC – Saves storage with no quality loss
- For social media or desktop sharing ➜ Use JPEG – Broader device support
We are in a transition period currently where HEIC offers radically improved efficiencies but lacks support. JPEG remains the safer option.
Over time as more smartphones, apps, and websites incorporate HEIC/HEVC codecs, I expect it to replace JPEG as the leading image standard.
For now converting between formats helps you leverage the benefits while eliminating platform-specific drawbacks.
Final Thoughts on Converting HEIC to JPG
Hopefully now you have a clear, practical understanding behind the promising yet compatibility-challenged HEIC photo format.
We‘ve covered a range of solutions to export HEIC images from iPhones and Macs into broadly-usable JPG versions across Windows 10 and 11 desktops:
- Microsoft Store Extensions – Quick previews
- Online Converters – Bulk batch processing
- Adobe Photoshop – Fine-tuned optimization per image
- Native Codecs – Smoothest encoding/decoding
So next time you come across some gorgeous high-res HEIC photos that won‘t open on your laptop, use one of these troubleshooting tips! Transform them into trusty JPGs for transfers, edits, uploads and more.
Converting leading-edge file formats is often needed in times of rapid technological shifts. But some guidance makes the process quite straightforward!
Now over to you – were these HEIC to JPEG methods helpful for your Windows workflow? Let me know if you have any other queries.
