Do HEIC photos from a phone fail to open in Windows Photos? HEIF Image Extensions adds native support for HEIF images so the Photos app can open and display them without first converting them.
HEIF and HEIC photos
HEIF is an image format used by devices including iPhones. Its files commonly use the .HEIF or .HEIC extension. HEIF Image Extensions adds Windows support for opening these photos in the Photos app, so they can be viewed there in their original format.
HEIF uses compression associated with HEVC encoding. This allows a photo to take up less storage than a JPEG while retaining comparable image quality. Keeping photos in HEIF can therefore be useful on devices that save images in this format by default.
Opening photos in Windows Photos
After the extension is installed, open a HEIF or HEIC photo with the Photos app to view it in Windows. The extension supplies the format support that the app needs; it is not a separate photo library or editing interface.
- Use it to view HEIF photos received from a phone or camera.
- Keep compatible images in their original format instead of converting them just to open them in Photos.
HEIC codec dependency
HEIC files also need the HEVC video codec on the system. The extension covers HEIF image support, while HEVC is an additional requirement for opening HEIC files.
Pros
- Enables native viewing of HEIF photos in Windows Photos
- Supports the HEIF and HEIC image formats
- Works with photos from devices such as iPhones
Cons
- HEIC files require the HEVC video codec to be installed as well
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11
What photo formats does HEIF Image Extensions support?
It adds support for HEIF images, including files with the .HEIF and .HEIC extensions.
Where can I view photos after installing the extension?
Open them in the Windows Photos app.
Can I open HEIC files with the extension alone?
HEIC files also require the HEVC video codec.