You captured all the major milestones: blowing out candles, icing-smudged grins, balloons in every direction. But now that the party’s over and the photographs are on your hard drive, something’s amiss. Half of them won’t open. You click, and nothing happens. No preview, no picture, just a file that won’t play ball.
Here’s the problem. If you captured those pictures using an iPhone or iPad, they were stored as HEIC files. That’s Apple’s standard image format. It’s efficient, high-quality, and great if you’re within the Apple bubble. But move those images over to a Windows computer or attempt to open them up in older software, and nothing functions anymore.
That’s because HEIC is not entirely supported outside of Apple’s world. It’s not a duff photo. It’s file compatibility. The solution? Knowing how HEIC does what it does, why it’s the culprit, and what you can do to open those files without driving yourself crazy or losing your memories.
What is a HEIC file, anyway?
HEIC stands for High-Efficiency Image Container. It’s created based on a compression technology that allows photos to take up less space without compromising their quality. Apple launched it as the standard format for photographs taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11.
So if your photos came from an Apple device, it’s likely that they’re in HEIC format. The thing? Not every platform speaks to HEIC. Windows, Android, and some photo editors continue to expect JPEGs or PNGs. That incompatibility is what causes the file not to open or display correctly.
How to open HEIC files on Windows or older devices?
Three primary solutions exist:
- Install HEIC codecs
On Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can download and install the “HEIF Image Extensions” and “HEVC Video Extensions” from the Microsoft Store. This adds native HEIC file support. It’s typically free, although some versions may cost a small amount.
- Use a HEIC-compatible image viewer
A few third-party programs can open HEIC files without additional plugins. These are a good idea if you don’t need to alter your system configuration.
- Convert the file to a more universal format
If you just want to have universal compatibility without needing to install anything, the simplest solution is to convert the file, usually to JPEG or PNG. They’re supported on all devices, software, and operating systems.
That’s where a handy HEIC to PNG converter comes in. PNG retains image quality and functions everywhere from Windows and Linux to design programs and web uploads. You simply upload the HEIC file, convert it, and open it anywhere you prefer.
Why won’t HEIC files open on your device?
If you’re on a Windows laptop or desktop, you may notice a gray box instead of the picture. Or an error message of “file format not supported.” That’s because HEIC needs additional codecs to open on non-Apple platforms, and those don’t always get installed by default.
Even the latest releases of Windows will prompt you to install an extension. Sometimes it succeeds. Sometimes it fails. And if you’re sending HEICs via email or posting them to some apps, they may never load.
Some apps just don’t recognize the format. They weren’t programmed to. And unless you make the file conversion or get the necessary software installed, your device remains in the dark.
How to know if you have a HEIC problem?
Check for these symptoms:
- The file is .heic or .heif
- No preview or thumbnail appears after transfer
- Error messages when you attempt to open the file
- It works on your iPhone, but doesn’t work on your PC
If these ring true, you’re not experiencing corruption or data loss. You’re simply viewing a file that your system can’t decode yet.
Changing the phone settings to prevent HEIC problems in the future
If you don’t want to go through this once more, there’s a choice for that.
You can have your iPhone store images in JPEG instead of HEIC. It’ll consume more memory, but you’ll get rid of all the compatibility problems.
How to do it:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Camera
- Choose Formats
- Select Most Compatible
From this moment on, your phone will store photos in JPEG. It will not modify your existing HEIC photos, but new photos will be easier to open on other devices.
The Bottom Line
HEIC files are not broken. They’re just being misunderstood. What’s coming across as a tech problem is most often simply a format conflict. The photos are there, they are great, you just have to be able to speak their language or interpret them into a language that your device understands.
Whether you like to tweak your phone settings, install the right software, or just convert files when you need to, the answer is simple. Your child’s birthday memories shouldn’t be stuck in an inaccessible folder. And now they won’t.
