Why Windows 10 doesn't open HEIC photos
Windows 10 ships without a HEIC decoder. When you transfer photos from an iPhone over a cable or via email, the files arrive as .heic — the iPhone's default format since iOS 11. The built-in Photos app shows a placeholder error; Mail, Outlook, and most browsers refuse to display the thumbnail; image editors like Paint and Paint 3D cannot open it at all.
Microsoft sells a HEIF Image Extensions package in the Store for $0.99. It adds preview support to File Explorer and Photos, but does not extend HEIC reading to other applications. If you need to attach the photo to an email, upload it to a job portal, or edit it in older software, you still need a JPG.
The simplest fix: convert to JPG in your browser
JPG is the universal compatibility format. Every Windows program from 1995 onwards reads it. LocalJPG converts HEIC to JPG entirely in your browser through WebAssembly — no installer, no admin rights, no upload. Open the page, drop the .heic file, the .jpg downloads to your usual Downloads folder.
The conversion preserves your photo's EXIF metadata: date taken, GPS coordinates, camera model. The JPG behaves like the original when you sort by date in Photos or upload it to Google Photos / OneDrive.
Why the browser path beats Microsoft Store and online converters
- Faster than the Store extension. The Microsoft Store option adds preview-only support and still struggles on photos over 5 MB. The browser converter decodes the same file in under a second.
- Private by design. Online converters like CloudConvert upload your photo to a server in Germany or the US, convert it there, and email you a link. Your photo sits on their disk. LocalJPG never touches a server — verify it yourself by disconnecting Wi-Fi after the page loads; conversion still works.
- No bulk limit, no signup. Drag a folder of 50 photos — they convert one after another. The first single file is free; only the bundled ZIP download is paid.
- Works on locked-down corporate laptops. No install means no admin prompt, no IT ticket. A static page in a browser passes through most corporate DLP filters that block outgoing file uploads.
Step-by-step
- Transfer the HEIC file from your iPhone to the Windows 10 PC — cable, email attachment, OneDrive, or AirDrop to a nearby Mac then forward by email all work.
- Open localjpg.com in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
- Drop the .heic file onto the page, or click to browse.
- Wait for the green check — usually under a second per photo.
- Click Download JPG. The .jpg saves to your Downloads folder.
Frequently asked
Do I need to keep the original HEIC?
Up to you. The JPG is independent — the original isn't referenced or required.
Does conversion lose quality?
JPG at quality 85 (LocalJPG's default) is visually indistinguishable from the source HEIC. The output file is roughly the same size or slightly larger because JPG compresses less efficiently than HEIC.
Will Windows 11 work the same way?
Yes — see HEIC to JPG on Windows 11. Windows 11 has slightly better HEIC support out of the box but the same gaps for editors and uploaders.
Related: HEIC to JPG converter · HEIC to JPG on Windows 11 · Why iPhone photos don't open on Windows · What is HEIC?