HEIC Image Extension 1.2.36.0

The catch shows up the moment you move those photos to a PC.

Windows does not include a HEIC decoder in its base install, so your iPhone shots land as blank icons that refuse to open. HEIC Image Extension is the small, free add-on that fixes exactly that.

What HEIC Image Extension Actually Does

Windows handles images through a system layer called the Windows Imaging Component (WIC).

WIC is what draws thumbnails in File Explorer, renders photos in Microsoft Photos, and feeds image support to every other built-in Windows app. Out of the box, WIC has no idea how to read HEIC.

This extension plugs that gap by registering a HEIC decoder at the system level.

That means it is not a separate photo viewer you have to open. Once it is installed, every app already on your PC gains HEIC support automatically.

Thumbnails appear in Explorer, double-clicking a photo launches Microsoft Photos with correct colors, and you never have to associate file types or change a single setting.

The Three File Types It Covers

The package handles three related extensions, and it helps to know which one you are dealing with:

.heic is the standard container iPhones use for photos shot in High Efficiency mode. Most images from an iPhone 7 or later running iOS 11 or newer will be .heic.

.heif is the broader format that HEIC is built on top of. Some Android phones and third-party cameras save their files with the .heif extension instead.

.hif is used mainly by Canon cameras. Canon EOS R-series bodies save their HEIF stills as .hif rather than .heic.

All three open the same way once the extension is in place. If you want the deeper background on how these formats relate, How to Open and View HEIF Images walks through every scenario in detail.

The One Step Most Guides Skip

Here is the detail that catches almost everyone out: a HEIC file uses HEVC compression for the actual image data inside it.

HEIC Image Extension handles the outer container, but Windows still needs a second piece to decode the compressed picture within - the HEVC Video Extension.

Install only the HEIC extension and many photos will still show up blank or refuse to render. Install both and everything falls into place.

The HEVC Video Extension is also free when you get it through the right channel, and our guide on how to download HEVC Video Extension for free shows you exactly where. Both components together take under five minutes to set up and complete full HEIC support on Windows.

One naming note: Microsoft ships this as part of its official HEIF Image Extensions package, so if you see "HEIF" during install, you are in the right place - HEIC and HEIF share the same decoder.

If Your Files Are AVIF Instead

If your files end in .avif - the AV1 Image Format that is showing up more and more on the web and on newer devices - HEIC Image Extension will not cover them. AVIF uses AV1 compression rather than HEVC, so it needs its own decoder.

The AV1 Video Extension adds AVIF support to Windows through the same WIC pipeline and handles both AVIF stills and AV1 video.

When Converting Is Faster Than Installing

If you just have a one-off batch of HEIC photos and do not want to set up permanent Windows support, converting them is quicker. Convertico's HEIC converters turn HEIC into JPEG right in your browser with nothing to install - handy when someone sends you a folder of iPhone photos and you only need standard files to edit or share.

Not sure whether your files are .heic or .heif, or what the practical difference even is? HEIC vs HEIF - What's the Difference? clears it up in plain terms.

And if you only need to peek at one photo without installing anything, the online HEIC file viewer opens .heic files straight in your browser.

For converting large libraries on your own machine, libheif is a command-line encoder and decoder that handles HEIC and AVIF with full metadata preserved.

Image Viewers That Handle HEIC Well

If you would rather open HEIC photos in a dedicated viewer than lean on Microsoft Photos, several free apps do the job nicely - and a few open the format even before you install the extension:

PicView opens HEIC, AVIF, WebP, PSD, and SVG with no plugin setup on Windows 10 and 11. It is the cleanest pick for anyone who wants a fast, modern viewer.

IrfanView is the most capable free viewer in the group and opens HEIC reliably once you add its plugins pack alongside the main app.

ImageGlass is a lightweight open-source viewer built for Windows 10 and 11 that handles HEIC and launches faster than most.

FastStone Image Viewer is the one to grab if you need more than viewing - it pairs HEIC support with batch conversion, slideshows, and basic editing in a single free tool.

XnView reads over 700 formats and is the strongest choice if you manage big, mixed-format photo libraries and need both viewing and batch work.

Rounding Out Your Windows Image Support

HEIC Image Extension is one piece of a small set of Windows codec add-ons that fill the gaps the OS leaves open. Once your iPhone photos open properly, these are the natural next installs:

The Raw Image Extension adds thumbnail support for Canon CR2/CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, and over 100 other camera RAW formats in File Explorer - worth it if you shoot RAW alongside HEIC.

The WIC for HEIC package is an alternative third-party HEIC codec that some people prefer if the Microsoft extension clashes with a specific app.

Install HEIC Image Extension plus the HEVC Video Extension, and every iPhone photo on your PC opens the way it should - no conversion, no fuss.