HEIC files open instantly on Apple devices and stubbornly refuse to open almost everywhere else. Here’s how to view them on every platform — and the universal fallback when you just need to see the photo.
Can’t open it and don’t want to install anything? Convert it with the HEIC to JPG converter in your browser. Your photos aren’t uploaded, and the JPG opens on any device.
Which devices open HEIC natively?
| Device / app | Opens HEIC? |
|---|---|
| iPhone, iPad (iOS 11+) | Yes |
| Mac (macOS High Sierra+) — Photos, Preview, Quick Look | Yes |
| Windows 10/11 — Photos | With HEIF + HEVC extensions |
| Android 9 and later | Most gallery apps, Google Photos |
| Chromebook | Varies by ChromeOS version |
| Safari | Yes |
| Chrome, Edge, Firefox (as a web page image) | No |
| Google Drive / Google Photos (web) | Preview: yes |
| Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP 2.10+ | Yes (Photoshop on Windows needs the system codecs) |
How to open HEIC files on Windows
Windows needs two Microsoft Store add-ons: HEIF Image Extensions (free) and HEVC Video Extensions (a small charge, or free on some PCs). Once installed, HEIC files open in Photos and show thumbnails in File Explorer. Full step-by-step instructions for Windows 11 and 10 are in How to open HEIC files on Windows, and alternative apps are compared in Best free HEIC viewers for Windows.
Still getting an error? See Can’t open HEIC files on Windows? How to fix it.
How to open HEIC files on Mac
Just double-click. Preview opens HEIC files, Photos imports them, and pressing Space in Finder shows a Quick Look preview. If you need a copy for someone else, convert it to JPG on your Mac.
How to open HEIC files on Android
On Android 9 or later, try your phone’s gallery app or Google Photos first — most can display HEIC. If a file still won’t open (common on older phones and in some file managers), convert it to JPG in Chrome. The details, including Samsung settings, are in How to convert HEIC to JPG on Android.
How to open HEIC files on a Chromebook
Some ChromeOS versions preview HEIC in the Gallery app, others don’t. Google Drive and Google Photos in the browser can display them either way. To actually use the photos, convert them — see How to convert HEIC to JPG on a Chromebook.
How to open HEIC files in Photoshop
- Mac: File → Open works with HEIC out of the box.
- Windows: Photoshop uses the Windows codecs. Install the HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions, restart Photoshop, then open the file. If you can’t install them, convert to PNG (lossless) or TIFF first and open that instead.
How to open HEIC files online
- Google Drive: upload the file and click it to preview.
- Google Photos: upload and view.
- Convert it: a browser converter like ConvertHEICto turns it into a JPG you can open anywhere, without uploading the photo to a server.
How to open HEIC on older devices
The same applies to Chromebooks with older ChromeOS versions — see How to convert HEIC to JPG on a Chromebook.
Old versions of Windows, Android and photo software will never support HEIC. Converting is the only practical option. For every conversion method, see How to convert HEIC to JPG on any device.
Why is HEIC so hard to open?
HEIC uses the HEVC video codec, which is patent-licensed, so many companies don’t include it for free. That’s the whole reason for the inconsistent support — the full background is in What is a HEIC file?