How to Transfer HEIC Photos from Your iPhone to a PC [Concrete Guide]
Last Updated on September 21, 2025 by Peter Wood
When you transfer the HEIC photos from iPhone to a PC, you should find the HEIC convert to JPEG automatically. Is there a method to transfer the original files to your computer with the original data? Whether you need to keep the HEIC file format or manage the iPhone photos on Windows and Mac, you can learn more details from the ultimate guide.
Part 1: How to Transfer iPhone HEIC to Windows PC
1. How to Set up iPhone to Transfer the Desired Photos to PC
Photos taken with the built-in camera on an iPhone 8 or above are saved as HEIC files automatically. To ensure maximum interoperability, Apple allows iOS users to revert to the more traditional JPEG photo format.
Step 1: Make sure you have already taken the photos in HEIC file format on your iPhone. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down the list and tap on the Photos option to tweak the settings.
Step 2: Under the TRANSFER TO MAC or PC option in the Photos settings page. Choose the Keep Originals button to transfer your HEIC photos from your iPhone to the PC.
2. How to Set up Windows to Transfer Photos from iPhone
When you need to transfer the HEIC photos from iPhone to a PC, you can make sure the HEIC is the output photo format. To begin the process, you need to connect the iPhone to a PC through a USB cord.
Step 1: Turn on and unlock your phone. If the device is locked, your PC will be unable to locate it. To access the Photos app on your PC, you need to click the Start button and then choose the Photos option.
Step 2: After selecting the Import option and choosing the From a USB device, follow the on-screen directions. You can choose to import and where to keep them. Allow for detection and transfer of iPhone HEICs to PC.
Note: Since HEIC is not a compatible format of Windows PC natively, you have to install HEIF Photo Codec on your computer beforehand or choose a professional HEIC toolkit instead.
Part 2: How to View, Edit, and Convert iPhone HEIC on a PC
When it comes to HEIC photos, however, there are some limits to managing them on a PC. Even if you have installed the codec, you can only preview one HEIC photo at a time. Moreover, you cannot edit the HEIC photos. What is the best alternative to open, convert, and manage HEIC images?
WidsMob Viewer Pro is the ultimate method to manage the transferred HEIC photos from iPhone on PC and Mac. It not only supports the HEIC files, JPEG, HEVC, and MP4 videos. You can view the HEIC in different modes and check the EXIF information. Moreover, you can apply photo filters, choose favorite photos, and make a slideshow accordingly.
- Open the HEIC and HEIF in single/multiple-layer(s) in different modes.
- Select, move, and delete the desired HEIC transferred from your iPhone.
- Apply photo filters, batch resize the photos, and create a photo slideshow.
- Convert the HEIC to JPEG, PNG, and BMP files within a batch process.
Step 1: Launch WidsMob Image Viewer Pro on your computer after installation. You can simply drag and drop the HEIC from your iPhone to your PC. If you have already set it up as the default HEIC viewer, you can simply open any media file to browse HEICs in thumbnails. It also enables you to browse photos, videos, and PDFs.
Step 2: Once you have connected your iPhone to the computer, you can also navigate to the folder with the Apple HEIC from the left library-based menu, in which you can open all HEIC files within the same folder. It enables you to compare two similar images, sort out the desired HEIC files by date, and more.
Step 3: If you need to transfer the desired HEIC photos, you can simply drag-n-drop the image to another sub-folder or press the Ctrl + C button to copy the image. After that, you can paste the HEIC photo into another folder. Moreover, you can also double-click the HEIC files and delete the unwanted ones from your computer.
Part 3: FAQs about How to Transfer iPhone HEIC to PC
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The new standard file format High-Efficiency Image Format is designed for Apple. As for the advanced and current compression technologies allow for reduced file sizes while maintaining a higher quality image than JPEG/JPG. That is why you need to transfer iPhone HEIC to PC.
For the most part, HEIC is a more superior format. You receive high-quality photographs at a fraction of the size of JPEGs. But there are compatibility concerns that you need to address. However, HEIC files can be easily converted to JPG if and when necessary.
Using an online converter is an option if you don't want to install any software on your computer. You can download another format by uploading the HEIC file on the website. However, you may face security concerns, so you need to go to trusted sites.
Conclusion
You can transfer HEIC files from an iPhone to a PC in a number of ways. Transferring media files between Apple devices is typically done through the use of cable. When you need to convert HEIC to JPEG, edit photos, and manage HEIC files transferred from an iPhone to your PC, WidsMob Viewer Pro is the versatile solution you should take into consideration.