How to Convert HEIC to PNG on Windows (3 Free Methods)

If you've ever transferred photos from an iPhone to a Windows PC, you've probably met the .heic file — and watched Windows shrug at it. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format: great quality at half the file size of JPEG, but poorly supported outside the Apple ecosystem.

PNG, on the other hand, opens everywhere: every browser, every editor, every website upload form. Here's how to convert HEIC to PNG on Windows 10 and 11, free, with three methods from easiest to most hands-on.

Method 1: Convert in Your Browser (No Install, No Upload)

The fastest option — no software to install, works on any PC including locked-down work computers:

1. Open FileOnTap's HEIC to PNG converter in Edge, Chrome, or Firefox.
2. Drag your .heic file onto the page.
3. Download the converted PNG.

The conversion runs entirely inside your browser — the file is decoded and re-saved on your own machine, nothing is uploaded to a server. That makes it safe even for sensitive photos, and you can verify it yourself by watching the network tab in devtools. Free, no account, no watermark.

(Disclosure: I built FileOnTap.)

Method 2: Photos App + HEIF Image Extensions

If you'd rather use built-in Windows tools:

1. Install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (free).
2. Double-click your .heic file to open it in the Photos app.
3. Click the … (three dots) menu in the top toolbar → Save as.
4. Choose PNG as the format, pick a folder, and save.

This works well one image at a time. The downside: it takes a Store install, and the components occasionally need reinstalling after major Windows updates.

Method 3: Paint (Quick and Dirty)

Once HEIF Image Extensions is installed, Paint can do the job too:

1. Right-click the .heic file → Open with → Paint.
2. File → Save as → PNG picture.

Fast for a single file, but note that Paint strips EXIF metadata (camera info, location, timestamps). If metadata matters to you, use Method 1 or 2 instead.

Stop HEIC at the Source (iPhone Setting)

If you're tired of converting altogether, tell your iPhone to stop creating HEIC files:

Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible

New photos will be saved as JPEG instead. (Existing HEIC files still need converting with one of the methods above.)

Which Method Should You Pick?

	Browser (FileOnTap)	Photos app	Paint
Install anything	No	HEIF extension	HEIF extension
Keeps metadata	Yes	Yes	No
Works on locked-down PCs	Yes	No	No
Batch conversion	One at a time	One at a time	One at a time

For a quick, private, no-install conversion, the browser method wins. For viewing HEIC files regularly on your own PC, installing the HEIF extension is worth the one-time setup.

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Found this useful? FileOnTap also converts HEIC to JPG/WebP and images to PDF — all in your browser, all free: fileontap.com.