Best Free HEIC Converters for Windows (2026)
Search “HEIC converter” and you’ll drown in nearly identical tools, many of them free-with-a-catch. This is an honest rundown of the options that are actually free and actually work on Windows 10 and 11 in 2026.
Disclosure up front: HEIC Batch Converter, listed first, is developed by the author of this site. The comparison table is factual, the competitors are genuinely good at what they do, and the recommendations tell you when not to use our app.
Quick comparison
| Tool | True batch | Offline | Output formats | Limits/watermarks | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEIC Batch Converter | ✓ Folders + subfolders | ✓ | JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP | None | Whole libraries |
| Windows Photos app | ✗ One at a time | ✓ | JPG, PNG, TIFF… | Needs codecs | Single files |
| CopyTrans HEIC | Right-click, small batches | ✓ | JPG | Free for personal use | Explorer integration |
| iMazing HEIC Converter | ✓ Drag-and-drop | ✓ | JPG, PNG | None | Simple drag-drop jobs |
| XnConvert | ✓ Powerful pipeline | ✓ | 500+ formats | Free for personal use | Power users |
| Online converters | Capped batches | ✗ Uploads required | JPG, PNG | 5-50 files typical | No-install situations |
1. HEIC Batch Converter: best for folders and libraries
HEIC Batch Converter (free, Microsoft Store) does one job: turn a folder full of HEIC files into JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP, fast. Point it at a source folder, and it converts everything inside, subfolders included, recreating the folder structure in the output.
- Genuinely batch-first: hundreds or thousands of files in one run, with a live per-file status table showing successes and failures.
- 100% offline: photos never leave your PC; it doesn’t even need Windows’ HEIC codecs installed.
- Practical details done right: JPG quality slider, duplicate-name handling (rename / replace / skip), and automatic keep/delete/move of originals after conversion.
- No catch: no watermarks, no file limits, no trial timer.
Skip it if: you only ever convert one file at a time (Photos is already on your PC), or you need advanced editing during conversion (see XnConvert).
2. Windows Photos app: best when you convert rarely
Already installed on every Windows 11 PC. Open a HEIC photo, click ⋯ → Save as, choose JPG. Done.
The two catches: it requires the HEIF/HEVC codecs to be installed (the HEVC one costs $0.99, details here), and there is no batch mode whatsoever. Converting 200 vacation photos this way is an afternoon of clicking.
3. CopyTrans HEIC: best Explorer integration
CopyTrans HEIC installs a Windows shell extension: HEIC thumbnails appear in File Explorer, and you get a right-click “Convert to JPEG” menu item. It also lets Windows print HEIC files directly. Free for personal use.
Batch conversion works by multi-selecting files, but it’s fiddly beyond a few dozen, output is JPG-only, and there’s no quality control. Great as a viewing fix; adequate as a converter.
4. iMazing HEIC Converter: simplest drag-and-drop
A free desktop app from the iMazing team: drag HEIC files onto the window, pick JPG or PNG, convert. Clean, no ads, keeps EXIF data.
Limitations: you drag files, not folders-with-structure; output options are minimal; and development attention is clearly on iMazing’s paid iPhone-manager product. For a quick one-off pile of files, though, it’s perfectly good.
5. XnConvert: best for power users
XnConvert is a veteran batch image processor (free for private use) that happens to read HEIC among 500+ formats. Beyond conversion it can resize, rename, watermark, rotate, and apply dozens of operations in a pipeline.
The cost is complexity: the interface is dense, and setting up a simple “folder of HEIC in, folder of JPG out” job takes noticeably more steps than a dedicated tool. If you already do bulk image processing, it’s excellent. If you just want your iPhone photos to open, it’s overkill.
6. Online converters: best when you can’t install anything
heictojpg.com, CloudConvert, Convertio and dozens of clones convert HEIC in the browser. On a locked-down work machine they may be your only option.
Know the trade-offs: your photos are uploaded to a third-party server, free tiers cap batches (typically 5-50 files), and multi-gigabyte libraries are impractical over a home connection. For private photos, prefer any of the offline tools above.
Recommendations by situation
- “I have years of iPhone photos on my PC”: HEIC Batch Converter. One run, folder structure preserved, nothing uploaded.
- “I convert a photo every few weeks”: Windows Photos app (install the codecs once) or CopyTrans HEIC for the right-click convenience.
- “I also need to resize/rename/watermark”: XnConvert.
- “I can’t install software right now”: an online converter, for non-sensitive photos only.
And if the actual problem is that HEIC files won’t open at all, start with the codec fix guide. You may not need a converter at all.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free HEIC converter for Windows?
For batch conversion of whole folders, HEIC Batch Converter (free on the Microsoft Store) is purpose-built: it converts HEIC to JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP offline with no file limits or watermarks. For single files, Windows' own Photos app does the job once codecs are installed.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows without installing anything?
Only via online converters, which require uploading your photos to a third-party server and usually cap batch size. If the photos are private or numerous, a small free local app is the better option.
Are free HEIC converters safe?
Apps distributed through the Microsoft Store run sandboxed and are vetted by Microsoft, which makes them the safest install route. Be more careful with converters downloaded from random websites, and with online tools, where safety depends on the operator's data practices.
Do any free converters keep my folder structure?
HEIC Batch Converter recreates the source folder's subfolder structure in the output folder automatically. Most single-file tools and online converters flatten everything into one download.