How to Transfer HEIC Photos from iPhone to PC

HEIC or High-Efficiency Image Format is an iPhone photo format used to store photos in a smaller size but with relatively higher quality. Picture taken by iPhone saved default as HEIC format after iOS 11.

Sometimes, you will want to transfer HEIC photos from iPhone to PC for backup, editing, and managing your iPhone photos. However, until now, only iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple devices can read and edit HEIC photos. So probably can’t read or edit your HEIC photos on your Windows computer after transferring.

Fortunately,  you don’t have to worry about that. This post will guide you on how to move HEIC photos to PC and help you convert them to JPG/PNG/JPEG format, so your PC can edit and read them. 

Fastest way to transfer HEIC Photos from iPhone to PC

To easily transfer iPhone photos to computer you can turn to a professional iOS data transfer software – FoneTool. With its help, you can easily export your iPhone HEIC photos from iPhone to Windows 11/10/8/7 computer with fast speed.

You can check some advantages of FoneTool.

● This tool uses a user-friendly interface. Anyone can export photos from iPhone to computer easily.
● FoneTool allows you to transfer all photos or selectively transfer photos to any location on your computer.
● If you need to edit HEIC photos on your PC. FoneTool is also a HEIC converter that can also help you to convert your HEIC pictures to JPG/PNG/JPEG format. 
● Besides the HEIC format, it also supports transferring most mainstream photo types, including JPG, PNG, ProRaw, and so on.

You can hit the download button, we will walk you through how to transfer pictures with this tool, and the steps to convert HEIC to JPG/PNG/JPEG following it.

Step 1. Run FoneTool. Choose “Phone Transfer” on the left interface.

Step 2. Move the cursor to the “iPhone to PC” option and click “Start Transfer”.

Step 3. Click the "Plus" icon to preview and select photos. Choose the HEIC you need. Click "OK", 

Step 4. Click "Start Transfer". You can choose a location path to save the selected photos on "Transfer Settings".

How to edit HEIC on PC - convert HEIC to JPG/PNG/JPEG

Step 1. Run FoneTool on the main interface. Click “Toolbox” on the left pane.

Step 2. Click “HEIC Converter”.

Step 3. Just drag and drop photos to the window, or click “Add Photos” to add your HEIC images.

Step 4. Then choose the format, quality, speed, and storage path according to your need. Click “Start Transfer”.

Other ways to transfer HEIC photos from iPhone to PC

You can also use the following methods to transfer HEIC to a computer. 

Import HEIC photos to PC with iCloud

If you are using the iCloud Photo library, you can download your HEIC photos on your computer. You can need enough iCloud storage space to store your images. Then enter the iCloud site to download your photos. Follow the guide below.

Enable iCloud Photos Library: Go to the “Settings” app on your iPhone > Click the Apple ID banner > Tap “iCloud” > “Photos” > Toggle on “Sync This iPhone”

Tip: The steps may be different on different iOS versions, you may see an iCloud Photo Library on iCloud, you can toggle on this option.

Then your iPhone will tell you that your photos will be synced to iCloud. Waiting for the process to get finished.

Download HEIC photos to PC from iCloud

Step 1. Go to www.iCloud.com on your web browser

Step 2. Sign in with your Apple ID. Choose Photos.

Step 3. Here you can view all your iCloud Photos. Choose the HEIC photos you want.

Step 4. Click the Download icon.

Step 5. There are "Unmodified Original" and "Most Compatible" options.

If you want to save the iCloud photos as JPG photos on computer, choose Most Compatible. If you want to keep the HEIC files, choose Unmodified Original.

Transfer HEIC photos to PC using Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer or Files Explorer is a tool for viewing and managing Windows files on computer. When you connect your iPhone to computer via USB cable, you can view your files on your computer via Windows Explorer. Then you can move your photos via copying and pasting.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer using USB cable.

Step 2. Double-click “This PC” on your computer to open Windows Explorer.

Step 3. There is a folder named by your iPhone name. Open it > Choose “Internal Storage” > “DCIM”.

Step 4. Here you can choose your photos. Choose the HEIC photos you need, and copy them to your PC.

Tip: If the iPhone DCIM folder not showing on your computer, you may need to update your Apple USB driver.

Transfer HEIC to Windows PC via Bluetooth

If your PC supports Bluetooth, you connect your iPhone to computer via Bluetooth to transfer pictures.

Step 1. Go to “Settings” on your iPhone. Make sure the Bluetooth is enabled.

Step 2. On your Windows PC, click the “Start” button > “Settings” > “Devices” > “Add Bluetooth & other devices”.

Step 3. You will see your iPhone device name. Choose it and click “Pair”. Then you may get a code to connect your iPhone and computer. Enter the code.

Step 4. After pairing, go to the Photos app and choose the HEIC pictures you need. Choose the Send option and choose Bluetooth to send these photos.

How to open HEIC photos on Windows 10 - Can't editing

There is HEIF Image Extensions helping you to view HEIC photos on Windows 10. but if you need to edit your HEIC photos, you will need to convert them to JPG/PNG/JPEG format.

Before getting started, please make sure you installed Windows 10 version 1809 or later version on your computer. You can type "winver" on your search box to know your system version.

Step 1.  Go to HEIF Image Extensions page on your web browser > Click Get to download and install it on your computer.

Step 2. Then follow the instruction to complete the installation. Then you can view your view HEIC photos on this PC.

Conclusion

FoneTool is a nice choice when you need to transfer HEIC photos from iPhone to PC. You can easily export your iPhone photos to Windows computer on its intuitive interface. And the HEIC Converter feature enables you to easily change HEIC to a compatible format on your PC.

In addition, as a comprehensive iOS data manager, FoneTool is also a duplicate photo cleaner. It helps you find and delete duplicate photos on iPhone or PC.