Top 12 HEIC Viewer for Windows and Mac [Comprehensive Review in 2025]

JPG, PNG, and other common image formats are supported on nearly all desktop platforms, and most image viewers can open them without issue. However, this is not the case for HEIC files. Since Apple made HEIC the default image format on its devices, many users have struggled to find apps that can open these files.

The good news is that there are now several HEIC viewers available for both Windows and Mac computers. These apps can easily open any file with the .heic extension. Let's take a look at some of the best options in the post below.

Part 1: What is a .heic File?

HEIC is the newest image format from Apple, designed to save space while keeping your photos looking great. If you're using an iPhone or Mac, you'll probably come across this format. It reduces the file size of your images without sacrificing quality, making it more efficient for storing photos.

Part 2: Top 12 HEIC Viewers for Windows and Mac

1. Coolmuster HEIC Converter

If you want to view and convert HEIC files on computer conveniently, try Coolmuster HEIC Converter. This popular tool lets you view and convert HEIC files into JPG/JPEG/PNG on PC and Mac without quality loss. The drag-and-drop features allow you to add HEIC images directly to the target area. It also supports batch adding of files/folders to convert them simultaneously.

Key Features:

• View and convert HEIC files effortlessly.
• Support batch conversion to save your time.
• Convert HEIC files to PNG/JPG/JPEG without quality loss.
• Preview of files before conversion.
• Keep EXIF info.
• Adjust the image quality before the image conversion.

Free Download for PC

 

Free Download for Mac

How to view HEIC files on Windows 10/11 for free:

Video Tutorial:

Pros:

• Efficient HEIC to JPG/PNG conversion.
• Batch conversion.
• Customizable output.
• Preserve metadata.

Cons:

• The trial version only supports to convert 10 HEIC images.

2. Apowersoft Photo Viewer

Have you tried opening your HEIC files on Windows, but all was futile? Then, consider using a HEIC file reader such as Apowersoft Photo Viewer. This is an amazing app that reads HEIC files on a Windows PC. Apart from supporting HEIC format, it also supports PNG and GIF. The app's intuitive interface helps you to navigate the features seamlessly. It is also equipped with efficient computing technology that gives you many viewing options.

Key Features:

• Support various file formats like HEIC, PNG, JPG, BMP, etc.
• Take up a small disc space.
• View large images.

Pros:

Cons:

3. Google Photos

Google Photos is a free HEIC viewer that lets you view HEIC files on any platform or device. Apart from viewing files on HEIC, it also lets you back up important documents to the cloud. You can access these files and documents on any device anywhere, provided you have an internet connection. Additionally, you can convert your HEIC photos to JPG using the built-in HEIC to JPG converter on the app. (Click here to learn more about how to convert HEIC to JPG in Google Photos.)

Key Features:

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4. Dropbox

Dropbox is yet another HEIC photo viewer app that allows users to view and share files conveniently. You can upload files from an iPhone and access them on another device or platform like Windows. You will be able to view the files even if the platform isn't compatible with the HEIC format.

Key Features:

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5. Microsoft Photos App

Microsoft Photos is a HEIC opener app that allows users to manage photos on their PCs effectively. The new user interface is intuitive and works excellently with the Windows operating system. However, functionalities like viewing, organizing, and sharing photos from your desktop, iCloud, and OneDrive are only possible on Windows 11.

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6. iMazing HEIC Converter

Are you looking for an app for opening HEIC files? iMazing is a good HEIC photo converter, as it lets you view and convert HEIC files to JPG and PNG. Its simple design makes it easy to use, even for amateurs. This tool is totally free and takes little space on your PC. So, your PC's operation won't be affected in any way.

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7. FastStone Image Viewer

FastStone has gained popularity among users because of how easy it is to navigate and operate. Its excellent image browsing capabilities are one of its major strengths. On its intuitive user interface, you can use the thumbnail browser to scroll through the collection of your HEIC images. This makes it easy to locate specific photos on the app and saves you time.

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8. iMobie HEIC Converter

iMobie is a HEIC file viewer that you can use either online or download on your desktop and view HEIC files. It has a simple user interface, which lets you navigate the features with ease. The app also lets you convert the files into PNG and JPG formats. More than that, batch conversion lets you convert files quickly.

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9. HEIC Image Viewer Decoder

HEIC Image Viewer Decoder is another popular iPhone photo viewer for Windows you can use to view HEIC and other photo formats like HEIF on your browser. It decodes these formats and saves them in various formats. The best part? You will not need any additional codecs to use the tool. It works on multiple Windows versions, including 10 and 11.

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10. HEIC Image Viewer, Converter

HEIC Image Viewer, Converter is yet another HEIC photo opener for Windows users. It supports myriad file formats and is rather easy to use. One distinctive characteristic of this app is that it can convert a large batch of files without issues. It saves the files as JPG and PNG after directly decoding HEIC images.

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11. HEIC Viewer, Print, and Convert

HEIC Viewer, Print, and Convert is a powerful tool on Windows today. This app will help you to view photos with embedded EXIF data. With this app, you will also be able to edit, print, and convert such images. Its user-friendly interface will also ensure you have a seamless experience and guarantee excellent results.

Key Features:

Pros:

• Support viewing HEIC files and other formats like PNG.
• Batch conversion.
• Convert multiple file types.
  • Dynamic photo editing features aren't available.
  • Store photos in an organized manner.
  • Have a search function to search for photos conveniently.
  • Integrate with third-party apps.
  • Allow you to store various files on the cloud.
  • Convert HEIC photos automatically when downloading.
  • Let you view the file from any device.
  • Work across platforms.
  • Highly secure.
  • Limited free storage.
  • Can't access files with a slow network.
  • Support multiple operating systems.
  • Automatic back up and synchronization.
  • Online file viewing.
  • Support digital signatures.
  • Easily share photos with other users.
  • Access the photos anytime, whether on desktop, mobile, or web.
  • Let you arrange your files however you want.
  • Superb app integration.
  • Limited search function.
  • Not very secure.
  • Mark-up feature to customize drawings.
  • Multi-window and multi-screen features to improve productivity.
  • Import from external drive, mobile device, and camera.
  • Multi-view feature to view, edit, and compare images.
  • Back up photos on OneDrive so you can access them across different devices.
  • Enjoy photos with a distraction-free, edge-to-edge view.
  • Create more vivid and powerful photos using the built-in editing apps.
  • Crash sometimes.
  • Available for Windows users only.
  • Support drag-and-drop of files.
  • Preserve EXIF data during conversion.
  • Adjust the quality and resolution.
  • Convert HEVC files to JPG.
  • No subscription or purchase is required.
  • Easy to use.
  • Support color profiles such as wide-gamut.
  • Customize the resolution ratio.
  • Not support batch conversion.
  • Cannot trace the conversion history.
  • Image browsing and management capabilities.
  • Thumbnail browser to browse images.
  • Organize images into folders.
  • Batch conversion of images.
  • Add tags and descriptions to images.
  • Easily rotate, resize, and crop images.
  • Batch processing saves you time.
  • Come with additional features like image comparison tools, histogram display, and slideshow mode.
  • Not free.
  • Interface looks outdated.
  • Batch conversion mode.
  • Preview feature supported.
  • High-quality conversions.
  • Drag and drop feature.
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Online and desktop versions.
  • Limited features in the free version.
  • Windows-based.
  • View HEIC images in thumbnail format.
  • Come with a variety of viewing modes.
  • Let you flip, rotate, and crop HEIC images.
  • View HEIC files without hitches.
  • Convert batch images.
  • Friendly user interface.
  • Convert files at a high speed.
  • Only for Windows users.
  • Open and view both HEIC/HEIF images.
  • Directly decode HEIC images in your browser.
  • Save files in a variety of formats.
  • Use HTML 5 technology.
  • Do not save or share data with third parties.
  • Easy to use and free.
  • No limit to the number of HEIC image files you can view on Google Drive or your PC. (Convert HEIC to JPG on Google Drive?)
  • Need an internet connection to work.
  • Allow you to view, edit, print, and convert HEIC files.
  • Edit EXIF data to change the image format.
  • Convert images to multiple formats, including TIFF, PSD, PNG, GIF, JPG, and BMP.
  • Intuitive user interface.
  • View and edit photos taken with any camera.
  • Convert videos to HEIC.
• Cons:
  • Only works on Windows.

  12. CopyTrans HEIC

  CopyTrans is a HEIC file reader that enables you to view and edit HEIC files however you want. What makes it stand out is that you can use it even when offline. It also enables you to insert HEIC files into Microsoft Office programs effortlessly. Once you have the converted files ready, you can download them at will. (You can read this CopyTrans HEIC review to learn more about it.)

  

  Key Features:

  • No subscription or purchase is needed.
  • Convert HEIC photos to JPG.
  • Insert HEIC contents on Microsoft Office programs.
  • Browse through the HEIC files gallery.

  Pros:

  • Light and fast.
  • Help other image viewers like IrfanView and FastStone Image Viewer to recognize HEIC content.
  • Preserve the metadata of the viewed image.

  Cons:

  • Have to first install Windows Photo Viewer to be able to use the tool.
  • Only JPEG format can be exported.

  Part 3: FAQs about HEIC Viewer

  Q1: Is HEIC high quality?

  Yes, HEIC offers better image quality compared to JPG. It not only keeps the file size smaller (about half the size of JPG) but also maintains a higher quality of the image.

  Q2: Can Windows 10 open HEIC photos?

  Yes, since the April 2018 Update, Windows 10 can open HEIC photos from iPhones and iPads. If you're using an older version of Windows 10, you can install the free HEIF Image Extension from the Microsoft Store.

  Q3: Which is better, HEIC or JPEG?

  HEIC offers superior image quality and smaller file sizes than JPEG. However, JPEG is still more widely supported across various devices and platforms.

  Conclusion

  We have shared the top 12 programs to open the HEIC files on a PC or Mac computer. These awesome tools can enable you to open HEIC files and also help you with additional features such as converting and management. A powerful HEIC files viewer that can't go unnoticed is the Coolmuster HEIC Converter. You can view and convert your HEIC files without a problem.

  Related Articles:

  Top 12 Best HEIC to JPG Converter on Windows/Mac/Online [Latest Update]

  [100% Success] How to Print HEIC Photos Easily and Quickly?

  HEIF/HEIC Image Viewer: How to Open/View HEIC Images on Windows/Mac/Android? [Free]

  How to Open HEIC Files in Photoshop? [Quick and Easy Guide]