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How to View HEIC Photo Files

HEIC (High Efficiency Image File Format) is an image container format developed by Apple to store photos and images. It offers significantly better compression compared to formats like JPEG, while retaining excellent image quality.

However, since HEIC is relatively new, it may not be supported across all devices and operating systems yet. So you may need to take some extra steps to properly view HEIC files depending on your device.

What is the HEIC File Format?

  • HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is an image file format that uses HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) to compress photo images.
  • Apple started using HEIC as the default image format in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra in 2017.
  • HEIC files take up 50% less storage space compared to JPEG files, with no loss in image quality.
  • In addition to photos, HEIC files can also store image sequences, HDR data, depth maps, alpha channels, thumbnails and other media in a single file.
  • HEIC files typically have the .heic file extension. Some variations are .heifs and .heicseq.

Benefits of the HEIC File Format

Some key benefits of using the HEIC file format include:

  • Smaller file sizes – HEIC uses better compression algorithms leading to much smaller files compared to JPEG. This saves storage space on devices.
  • Lossless compression – HEIC is a lossless format, meaning no image quality is lost during compression. The files retain full image fidelity.
  • High dynamic range – HEIC has wider color gamut and dynamic range support compared to JPEG. This allows richer, more vivid images.
  • Live photos support – A single HEIC file can contain a short video or burst mode photo sequence taken with the Live Photos mode on iPhones.
  • Editable metadata – HEIC format allows editing of metadata like geotags, timestamps, etc. without re-compression.

Devices and Apps that Support HEIC

HEIC files can be directly viewed on:

  • Apple devices running iOS 11 or later
  • Macs running macOS High Sierra or later
  • Microsoft apps and devices with HEIC extensions installed
  • Some third-party apps like Google Photos, Adobe apps, etc.

Most other devices would require additional software support to properly display HEIC images.

How to View HEIC Files on Windows

Since HEIC is an Apple proprietary format, it is not natively supported on Windows. But you can easily add HEIC support by:

1. Install HEIC Codec from Microsoft Store

  • Open Microsoft Store on your Windows 10 or 11 PC
  • Search for “HEIF Image Extensions”
  • Click on the result and install the free extension

2. Associate HEIC with Photos App

  • Right-click on a HEIC file, select Properties
  • Under Open With, choose Photos app
  • Click Apply to set Photos app as default for HEIC

3. View HEIC Files

  • Double click on any HEIC file to open it in Photos app
  • Photos app can now display HEIC images properly

You can also edit or export the HEIC photos to other formats like JPEG from within the Photos app.

How to View HEIC on Mac

Since HEIC is the default image format on Apple devices, you can directly view HEIC files on macOS without any additional software.

Using Preview App

The Preview app included with macOS has full native support for HEIC format.

To view HEIC files on your Mac:

  • Double click on the HEIC file to open it in Preview
  • Or right-click and select Open With > Preview

You can view the HEIC image, edit metadata, annotate or draw on the image, crop/rotate, export as JPEG, etc.

Using Photos App

The Photos app on macOS also fully supports the HEIC format. You can:

  • Import HEIC files from your iPhone/iPad via USB or wirelessly
  • Open HEIC files in Photos app directly
  • Organize, edit and share the HEIC photos stored in your library

So use either Preview or Photos app conveniently view, manage and edit HEIC files on your Mac.

How to View HEIC on iPhone and iPad

As you would expect, all Apple mobile devices have full native HEIC support via the Photos app.

To view HEIC files on your iPhone or iPad:

  • Transfer the HEIC images to your device storage via AirDrop, cloud services, USB, etc.
  • Open the Photos app on your iPhone/iPad
  • Select the Albums tab and choose the folder containing your HEIC files
  • Tap on a thumbnail to view the full HEIC photo

You can zoom, edit, share or set the HEIC photos as wallpaper directly within the Photos app itself.

How to View HEIC on Android Devices

Since HEIC is an Apple proprietary format, Android devices do not support it natively. But many Android gallery apps have added HEIC support in recent years.

Some ways to view HEIC files on Android include:

Using Google Photos

  • Install the latest Google Photos app from Play Store
  • Give storage permission so it can access your device storage
  • Google Photos can now automatically recognize and display HEIC files from your folders

Using Third-party Gallery Apps

Many Android gallery apps like Piktures, Simple Gallery Pro, etc. have added HEIC support. You can view HEIC files from within these apps.

Convert HEIC to JPEG

If you want to permanently convert the HEIC images instead of just viewing them, you can use online HEIC to JPEG converters to change them to the standard JPEG format supported across devices.

How to Print HEIC Photos

When you need to get physical prints made from HEIC files, you have a couple of options:

Print from Windows Using Photos App

If you have installed the HEIC codec on your Windows 10/11 device as explained above, you can:

  • Open the HEIC photo in Photos app
  • Click Print to send the image directly to your printer

Convert to JPEG First

Since photo printing labs and services would not be able to process the HEIC file format, you can:

  • First use an online tool to convert the HEIC images to JPEG
  • Then upload the JPEG files to the printing service as usual

So with the help of native apps or extensions on some devices, and converters on others, you can easily view, edit and print your HEIC images across platforms and devices.

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