Why HEIC files don't open on a fresh Windows install
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the format iPhones and iPads have used by default since iOS 11. It stores photos with HEVC compression, which produces smaller files than JPEG at similar quality. The catch is that the HEVC decoder is patent-encumbered, so Microsoft ships Windows without it. On a clean Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine, the Photos app can recognise that a file is a HEIC image but has no codec to actually decode the pixels, so you get a message like This file can't be opened or a grey placeholder in File Explorer.
The fix is to add two components from the Microsoft Store. One is free, and the one that does the real decoding work has a small charge unless your PC maker has already licensed it for you. Below are both routes.
Step 1: Install the HEIF Image Extensions (free)
This is the piece that teaches Windows how to read the HEIF/HEIC container itself. It costs nothing.
- Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
- Search for HEIF Image Extensions (publisher: Microsoft Corporation).
- Click Get, then Install.
On its own this extension is not always enough, because the container still relies on the HEVC video codec to unpack the actual image data. That is the second piece.
Step 2: Add HEVC video decoding
There are two ways to get the HEVC codec, depending on your hardware.
The free OEM route
Microsoft publishes a listing called HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer. When your PC's graphics hardware supports HEVC (most Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA GPUs from the last several years do), this version is free. It is not always easy to find by searching the Store app directly; the reliable way is to open the Store link that Microsoft surfaces from within the Photos app when you try to view a HEIC file. If Photos offers a prompt to download the codec, follow it, because that link points at the free device-manufacturer edition.
The paid route
If the free listing is unavailable for your machine, the general HEVC Video Extensions package sells for about $0.99 in the Microsoft Store. It is the same decoder and works regardless of GPU. For a one-off need it is often faster to skip the purchase and convert the file instead, which is covered further down.
Step 3: Open the file in Photos, Paint, or a browser
Once both extensions are installed, HEIC support becomes system-wide. You can:
- Double-click a .heic file to open it in the Photos app, which now renders it like any JPEG.
- Open it in Paint or Paint 3D and use File → Save as to export a PNG or JPEG copy.
- Drag the file into Microsoft Edge or another Chromium browser, which can display HEIC once the system codec is present.
If a program you use still refuses the file, right-click it, choose Open with, and pick Photos explicitly. You can also tick Always use this app to change the default association.
File Explorer thumbnails and previews
After the extensions are in place, File Explorer will start generating thumbnail previews for HEIC files, and the Preview pane (toggle it from the View menu, or with Alt + P) will show the image. If thumbnails stay grey, they are often just cached. Open a Command Prompt and run ie4uinit.exe -show, or clear the thumbnail cache through Disk Cleanup, then reopen the folder.
The no-install shortcut: convert to PNG in your browser
If you only have a handful of HEIC photos, or you are on a locked-down work PC where you can't install Store apps, converting is the simplest path. Our free HEIC to PNG converter runs entirely inside your browser. Your images are decoded on your own machine and never uploaded to a server, so it works without codecs, accounts, or admin rights. Drop the files in, and download standard PNGs that open in any Windows program. It also handles the related HEIF to PNG case.
Troubleshooting when the extensions still don't work
- Photos updated but HEIC still fails. Reboot. Codec registration sometimes only takes effect after a restart.
- The HEVC listing shows a price you didn't expect. Your GPU may not be recognised as HEVC-capable. Either buy the $0.99 package or convert the file instead.
- An enterprise-managed PC blocks the Store. Ask IT, or use the browser converter, which needs no installation.
- The file opens as a broken image. The download may be incomplete or the photo may use an unusual HEIC variant. Our companion guide on HEIC files that won't open walks through those cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HEIC codec really not free on Windows?
The HEIF Image Extensions are always free. The HEVC decoder is free when your PC maker has licensed it for your hardware (the "from Device Manufacturer" edition); otherwise Microsoft charges about $0.99 for the general version. Converting to PNG avoids the question altogether.
Will installing these extensions change my existing photos?
No. They only add the ability to read and display HEIC files. Your original photos are untouched, and nothing is re-saved unless you deliberately export a copy.
Can I make Windows stop creating HEIC files in the first place?
HEIC comes from the camera, not from Windows. If the photos originate on an iPhone, you can switch the camera to JPEG in the iOS Camera settings. That doesn't help with files you already have, but converting existing HEIC images to PNG solves it immediately.
