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How to Open HEIC Files in Windows
Open this newer format easily
By Jennifer Allen Jennifer Allen Writer Swansea University, Staffordshire University Jennifer Allen has been writing about technology since 2010. Her work has appeared in Mashable, TechRadar, and many more publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 3, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide What to Know
In Windows 10, find the file and double-click on it to open it in a preview window like any other image file. If you have Windows 7 or 8, you need a third-party tool like CopyTrans HEIC. Download and install it, then double-click the file to open it. Modern iOS devices save images in the HEIC/HEIF format. This article explains how to open these image files in Windows. The instructions work for Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. MacOS opens such files without any extra tweaking. How to Open a HEIC File in Windows 10
Assuming your PC is up to date, you don't actually have to do much to open a HEIC file. Here's what's involved. Find the file on your PC. Double-click the file. Through this method, it's not possible to see a preview of the image like with some other files. It should now open in a Photo Preview window just like any other image file. File won't open? Download the HEIF Image Extensions add-on from the Microsoft Store. If you send image files from your iOS device, such as through email or Dropbox, your iOS device should automatically convert the file to JPG, meaning you don't have to worry about HEIC/HEIF compatibility issues. How to Open a HEIC File in Windows 7 and 8
Opening a HEIC/HEIF file is a little trickier on Windows 7 and 8 since there's no direct support for the file extension. The best solution is to download a tool called CopyTrans HEIC for Windows. It's a plugin that opens HEIC files just as easily as any other files, with no further interaction required once you've installed the tool. You can also use CopyTrans HEIC for Windows on a Windows 10 PC. It shows thumbnail previews of your images and offers easy conversion tools too. Visit https://www.copytrans.net/copytransheic. Select Download, then install the software. Double-click a HEIC file to open it. What Are HEIC Files Anyway
The HEIC format was adopted by Apple in 2017 as a replacement for the JPEG format. More efficient in terms of size and quality, the HEIC file extension is also known as a HEIF file. It's been used in the past for Apple's iPhone Portrait Mode, enabling much higher quality images than a regular JPEG, among other advantages. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Convert HEIC Files to JPG in Windows THEMEPACK File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac How to Add Fonts to Word The 21 Best Free Data Recovery Software Tools (Oct. 2022) 9 Best Free Image Converter Software Programs MSI File (What It Is & How to Open One) PCT File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Install a Windows Gadget 7 Best Free Image Hosting Websites How to Open, Edit, and Convert LZH Files 10 Best Free Photo Editing Programs GRD File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows How to Change Screen Savers on Windows 10, 8 and 7 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies