How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 | Complete Guide

Part 1: What Is A HEIC File?

If you're an iPhone 11 or later model user, you must be familiar with HEIC files. All the high-quality images you take on your iPhone get saved in HEIC file format. HEIC is a default image file format for iPhone and doesn't save the clicked photo in image formats like JPG, contradicting other mobile devices.

Unfortunately, devices other than iOS, for instance, Windows 10, will struggle to open the HEIC files. It is why we're going to show how to open .heic files on Windows 10.

Part 2: How to Open HEIC File in Windows 10 Without Downloading

Since opening the HEIC files on Windows isn't straightforward, you'll need to get prior knowledge of launching the HEIC file on Windows 10.

Here's how to open HEIC Files on Windows 10.

Step 01Right-click on the HEIC file after finding it. Next, you'll need to select the ''Photos'' icon after hitting the 'Open with'' option.

Step 02Now, you'll see a message asking you to '' The HEIC Image Extension is required to display this file''. Tap the Download icon and install the HEIF image Extension on your Windows 10.

Step 03Tap on Yes if you receive the message saying ''Did you mean to switch applications''. After doing so, you should be in the Microsoft Store on the path to downloading the HEIF Image Extensions.

Step 04Install the HEIF Image Extensions after hitting the '' Get'' icon. Once the plugin gets installed, you can leave the Microsoft Store App.

Step 05After installing the HEIF Image Extension, you'll need to navigate to the location where the HEIC file is stored in File Explorer. Now, all you need to do is double-click on that file, and then you should be able to open the HEIC image in your Photos app.

Part 3: How to Open HEIC File in Photoshop

As discussed above, HEIC is the default file format for iOS devices; most web browsers and popular platforms won't support the HEIC file format, including Photoshop. However, after knowing that if you're a paid Photoshop user, you can open the HEIC file on Photoshop, you'll be pretty surprised.

Thus, it implies that you can open HEIC file format photos on your macOS High Sierra and Windows 10.

Here's how to open a HEIC file in Photoshop on Windows 10.

Step 01If you're an active paid subscription user, you'll need to install HEIF Extension to open the HEIC file on Photoshop. To do it, you'll need to navigate to the HEIF image Extension and tap on the ''Get'' icon to install the HEIF Image Extensions on your PC.

Step 02After installing the HEIF Image Extensions, you'll need to open Photoshop and then try importing the HEIC File. After importing the HEIF image to Photoshop, you'll be able to edit the photos at your will.

Step 03Tap on Yes if you receive the message saying ''Did you mean to switch applications''. After doing so, you should be in the Microsoft Store on the path to downloading the HEIF Image Extensions.

Step 04Install the HEIF Image Extensions after hitting the '' Get'' icon. Once the plugin gets installed, you can leave the Microsoft Store App.

Step 05After installing the HEIF Image Extension, you'll need to navigate to the location where the HEIC file is stored in File Explorer. Now, all you need to do is double-click on that file, and then you should be able to open the HEIC image in your Photos app.

Here are the steps of opening the HEIC file in Photoshop on Mac

Apart from opening the HEIC file in Photoshop on Windows, you can also launch the HEIC file in Photoshop on Mac.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to get it done.

Step 01Launch Photoshop on your Mac and then select the ''Edit''icon. Next, select ''Camera Raw'' after hitting the Preferences icon.

Step 02Navigate to the ''JPEG and Tiff Handling'' icon after hitting File Handling. Next, you'll need to select Automatically open all supported JPEGS and HEICS or Automatically open JPEGs and HEICS with settings.

Step 03Now, you can import the HEIC file on Adobe Photoshop on your Mac PC and edit the image file according to your preference.

Extra Tip: How to Convert HEIC Image on Windows 10/11

If you find it hard to open HEIC files, you can choose to convert HEIC to other formats. The HEIC image converter feature in HitPaw Video Converter also falls into the category of remarkable multi-talented tools going around. Initially, it was only used to convert video and audio files, but later, a downloading feature was added that took the world to a storm. Then, the video editing feature arrived, and people wondered how good the HitPaw Video Converter had turned. The latest addition to the HitPaw Video Converter is its ability to convert photos into a different format.

You heard it right; now you've got the luxury to import any photo and convert it into your desired format.

1. Features of HitPaw Video Converter:

• It allows you to convert video and audio files into 1000+ formats.
• It allows you to convert the images into multiple image formats.
• You can convert the video and audio files to lossless quality.
• Batch convert HEIC images at a lightening speed.
• You can also convert iTunes Music, Apple Music, podcasts, and audiobooks to AAC, M4A MP3, etc.
• The presence of hardware acceleration features speeds up the conversion process.

2. Steps of converting an image into another format using HitPaw Video Converter

Step 01Install HitPaw Video Converter on your Windows after downloading it from the official webpage.

Step 02After launching the HitPaw Video Converter, you'll need to tap on Toolbox and then hit "Image Converter" feature to add your HEIC images. HitPaw Video Converter enables you to batch convert HEIC photos simultaneously.

Step 03Once the images are uploaded, you'll need to select the image format you'd like to convert the photo into.

Step 04Next, you'll need to tap on the "Convert All" icon to initiate converting the images into your preferred image format. Once the conversion process gets completed, you'll need to export the converted file to your PC.

Conclusion

Knowing how to open a HEIC file in Windows 10 is important if you want to edit or store the HEIC files on your PC. We were keen to introduce you to the excellent ways to help you know how to open HEIC file on Windows.

Apart from this, we've also recommended HitPaw Video Converter which can convert HEIC images to other common image formats. So, wherever you're to convert an image, opting for HitPaw Video Converter will make complete sense.