How to open HEIF images in Windows: different alternatives to avoid dying in the attempt

If you have a phone that takes pictures in HEIF format or that you record videos in high efficiency, HECV, and you use Windows, surely you have encountered a problem. It is impossible to open these files on PC, either natively or with third-party applications. So let’s see how yes that HEIF images can be opened on PC with either Windows 10 or Windows 11.

This was not the case at first, as Windows 10 was natively supported in its early days. Later, in a more than debatable move, Microsoft separated the codec and made it available to those interested, upon payment, in the App Store. But next to the official option, there are other options.

High efficiency format

To put us in the background, the HEVC codec allows access to high definition video minimizing size and the bandwidth required for transmission. The images with HEIF format come to be the same but in photo format. A high-efficiency storage system offered as an option by some mobiles, the latest iPhone or Samsung terminals, among others.

By the way, HEIC is just a variation of HEIF introduced by Apple in their operating systems. In fact, they are both exactly the same.

If we focus on photographs, HEIF is the new standard format that replaces the traditional JPEG. HEIF is the acronym for High Efficiency Image File Format and becomes a container for images (and audio) that allows you to store sequences of images (JPEG only allows one at a time), which for example allows you to record for a time before and a time after taking the photo and thus, for example, choose the sequence or do something similar to a long exposure.

The truth is the new format is prey to incompatibilities in Windows operating systems and in versions prior to iOS 11. And in the case of Windows, correcting this incompatibility is possible in several ways. We will see different methods, leaving for the end the one that I consider most effective.

Use Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive

If you want to open a HEIC file and use Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive, you can do it without problem and you will only need a connection to the network. These platforms integrate compatible viewers.

These cloud storage services support the new file format highly efficient so that you only need to select the image and click on the eye icon to preview it.

Use free apps or web converters

Along with the use of the cloud, you can also use free apps What iMazing HEIC Converter available in the Microsoft Store or the Apowersoft HEIC to JPG Converter. In the first case, we are faced with a very accessible application.

Simply drag and drop, allowing users to reformat HEIC files as JPEG or PNG. With the second we can use the application or use the web converter. And is that there is also the option to use online converters, where there are multiple options like the previous ones or This other to cite just a few examples.

All these methods are valid, but it would be much more practical to do it natively, and if possible, saving the 0.99 euros that Microsoft asks for the codec in the Microsoft Store and that can be downloaded at this link.

The first method is to access this link from the Microsoft Store. Is about an extension designed for manufacturers to install codecs in their products before they go on sale. In this way it is already pre-installed and the user does not have to do anything. The problem is that currently it can only be downloaded with a gift code.

The main advantage of installing the codec over converters or viewers is that any installed photo application will be able to open HEIF images. Even Photoshop becomes compatible and opens them without problem.

Or change settings on mobile

So, can we just go through the checkout and download Microsoft’s codec for HEIF images? Yes, but for the more adventurous they can browse forums and websites where this codec can be downloaded for free.

Also, if you don’t mind that a photo or video takes up more space, you can always disable images in high efficiency In the configuration of the mobile, which in the case of iOS goes through accessing the “Settings” and within them look for “Camera” and in “Formats” choose the most compatible type (jpeg) instead of HEIC.

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How to open HEIF images in Windows: different alternatives to avoid dying in the attempt

was originally published in

Engadget Windows

by
Jose Antonio Carmona

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