Look for the best free heic to jpg converter for windows 10 pc?

For large batches, a desktop HEIC to JPG converter is more recommended as it will be much safer and faster than online HEIC converter. Here is the one I am using for two years:

https://www.microonn.com/convert-heic-to-jpg-without-quality-loss

I understand your frustration with HEIC support on Windows 10, especially with high-quality images from your iPhone 16 Pro Max. Looking for a free, reliable HEIC to JPG converter that supports batch processing and preserves image quality? Here are some of the best options available as of 2025:

1. IifanView

Pros: Free for personal use, supports batch conversion, high-quality output, widely trusted.
How to use: Download IifanView and the necessary plugin pack from the official site. Open your HEIC files, then go to File > Batch Conversion, select JPG as output format, and process multiple images at once.
Note: Ensure you install the HEIC plugin to enable HEIC support.

2. XnV1ew MP

Pros: Free for personal use, supports batch conversion, retains image quality, easy to use.
Features: Supports HEIC files, batch processing, and provides options for quality settings.
How to use: Open XnV1ew MP, add files or folders, select Batch Convert HEIC to JPG, choose JPG, and set quality to maximum.

Alright, so you've got NConvert or any similar tool for converting heic to jpg on your Windows PC. While tools like NConvert are great for batch processing, setting up scripts or commands for large batches can be a bit tricky if you’re not familiar. It’s not as simple as just drag-and-drop sometimes. Command-line tools are fast but don’t give you a preview before converting, so you might end up converting some images and then realizing the quality or settings weren’t right.

Sometimes, support for the latest formats or updates can lag behind, especially with newer image formats or features. If you’re not used to command-line stuff, it can feel a bit intimidating at first when converting heic to jpg. You need to learn some commands and parameters, which might be frustrating if you prefer a GUI.

In short, if you’re just doing quick conversions, it’s super efficient. But for more control or if you’re picky about quality and file size, you might hit some snags.

You're thinking about converting HEIC to JPG on your Windows machine using PowerShell — that’s pretty neat because it’s free and straightforward. But honestly, HEIC is a more modern format that often offers better compression and image quality. When you convert to JPG, you’re basically losing some of that efficiency and quality. It’s a lossy process, so images might look a bit worse or less sharp, especially if you’re doing multiple conversions.

Your method relies on the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. If those aren’t installed properly, your script won’t work at all — no warning, just errors. Also, some older Windows versions or updates might not fully support HEIC decoding. So, converting HEIC to JPG can be a pain. While PowerShell is super handy, it’s not really designed for heavy image processing. Using [System.Drawing] and Windows.Media namespaces is kind of a hack. For batch conversions or large files, this can be slow or crash unexpectedly because PowerShell isn’t optimized for heavy lifting here.

This script handles one image at a time. If you want to convert a whole folder of HEIC files, you’d need to write a loop. Plus, metadata (like EXIF info) might get lost during conversion, which can be a problem if you're dealing with photos that have important info.

While PowerShell and Windows built-ins are free, some third-party codecs or extensions might have licensing issues or limitations. Always make sure you're using trusted sources. PowerShell scripts like this don’t have robust error handling. If a file is corrupt or not a valid HEIC, the script might just fail without giving you a clear message — frustrating if you’re converting dozens of images.

When you upload your photos to a third-party website, you're basically handing over your personal images. There's no guaranteed privacy policy, so your pics could be stored, misused, or even leaked. Not cool if those photos are private or sensitive. Many online converters compress images heavily to save bandwidth, which can mess up the quality. You might end up with blurry, pixelated, or color-shifted photos. Plus, HEIC has features like transparency and HDR that a JPG can't fully keep, so your converted image might look different or less vibrant.

Sometimes these HEIC to JPG converter tools remove info like where or when the photo was taken, which can be a pain if you need that data for organizing or professional purposes. Free online tools often have limits—like max file size, number of files, or daily conversions. If you're doing a big batch, you'll probably hit a wall or have to pay. Also, they can be slow, crash, or go offline unexpectedly, messing up your workflow. And if your HEIC files are from the newer iPhones, some online HEIC to JPG converters might just refuse to work due to compatibility issues.

From my experience, offline software like dedicated apps or desktop converters tend to be way more reliable, faster, and safer because you don’t have to upload sensitive images to the web. They also usually handle batch conversions better and preserve image quality. So, if you deal with a lot of HEIC files or want peace of mind, an offline tool is the way to go.

Use PowerShell + Windows.Media as a free way to convert heic to jpg on Windows 11 and Windows 10. This approach uses ​​PowerShell​​ and the built-in ​​System.Drawing​​ and ​​Windows.Media​​ namespaces to decode and convert HEIC images to JPG. 

Prerequisites​​

1. HEIF Image Extensions​​ (Install from Microsoft Store). Without this, Windows cannot natively decode HEIC files.
2. PowerShell 5.1 or later​​ (built into Windows 10/11).

Step-by-Step Guide for Converting HEIC to JPG

1. Load Required Assemblies.​​ PowerShell needs access to .NET libraries for image processing:

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing

System.Drawing​​: Provides classes like Image for basic image operations.

​​System.Windows.Forms​​: Ensures compatibility with Windows imaging components.

2. Load the HEIC File​ from Windows.

$heic = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile("input.heic")

​​[System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile()​​ reads the HEIC file into memory. Behind the scenes, Windows uses the ​​HEIF extensions​​ to decode the file.

3. Start converting HEIC to JPG images.

$heic.Save("output.jpg", [System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Jpeg)

Save()​​ converts the image to JPG using the specified format.

​​[System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Jpeg​​ ensures the output is in JPEG format.

4. Releases the memory used by the image objects.

$heic.Dispose()

For more flexibility, use a GUI HEIC to JPG converter​​. But if you want a pure PowerShell approach, this works!

Always opt for a desktop HEIC to JPG converter! The online HEIC converter has many issues. One major issue is privacy and security risks, as users must upload their photos to third-party servers. HEIC files often contain personal or sensitive images, and many online converters lack transparent data retention policies, raising concerns about unauthorized access or misuse. Additionally, some platforms may inject hidden metadata or watermarks into converted files. Without end-to-end encryption, these tools can expose users to data unsafe places.

Another problem is loss of quality and compression artifacts. HEIC supports advanced features like higher dynamic range and transparency, which JPG cannot fully replicate. Many online free HEIC to JPEG converter apply aggressive compression to reduce file size, leading to visible artifacts, color shifts, or reduced sharpness. Some tools also strip metadata (e.g., location, timestamps) during conversion, which can be problematic for archival or professional use.

Limited functionality and reliability are also common issues. Most free online HEIC to JPG converters impose restrictions on file size, batch processing, or daily usage, forcing users to upgrade to paid plans. Server downtimes, slow processing speeds, or abrupt failures can disrupt workflows, especially with large batches. Moreover, HEIC files from newer iPhones or specific iOS versions may fail to convert due to compatibility gaps in outdated converter algorithms. Unlike offline software, web-based tools depend entirely on internet connectivity.

nconvert, a free command-line based HEIC to JPEG converter for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Developed by XinView, it supports over 500 file formats, including popular ones like HEIC, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and RAW, making it an essential utility for photographers, designers, and developers. 

NConvert excels in automating repetitive tasks such as resizing, cropping, rotating, and adjusting color depth with precision and speed. Its lightweight, scriptable nature allows seamless integration into workflows, enabling users to process large volumes of images efficiently without a graphical interface.

Step 1: Download the Windows version of nconvert.

Step 2: Extract the zip package and add the nconvert.exe to system PATH.

Step 3: Open the Command Prompt utility from Windows and enter into the folder where heic images are saved.

Step 4: Input the following command to convert heic to jpg on Windows 11/10.

nconvert -out jpeg -q 90 -o "output.jpg" "input.heic"

Explanation of parameters:

• -out jpeg → Output format (JPG).
• -q 90 → Quality (1-100, 90 is recommended).
• -o "output.jpg" → Output filename.
• "input.heic" → Input HEIC file.

Unlike many GUI-based HEIC to JPG converters, NConvert prioritizes performance and scalability, making it ideal for server-side processing or large-scale projects. In addition to basic image conversions, nconvert offers advanced features like watermarking, metadata editing, and format-specific optimizations.

HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container) is an image format introduced by Apple in 2017 as part of iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra. It uses ​​HEIF​​ as its container and ​​HEVC (H.265)​​ compression for storing images.

​​Why Doesn't Windows 10 Natively Support HEIC?​​

Licensing & Patents:​​ HEIC relies on ​​HEVC (H.265)​​, which is patented and requires licensing fees. Microsoft did not include native HEIC support in Windows 10 to avoid paying these fees.

Additional Software Needed:​​ Windows 10 can open HEIC files ​​only if​​ you install the ​​HEIF Image Extensions​​ and ​​HEVC Video Extensions​​ from the Microsoft Store (some versions require payment). Alternatively, you need a dedicate heic to jpg converter. in order to open .heic files in Windows 10.

How to Open HEIC Files in Windows 10?​

Download ​​"HEIF Image Extensions"​​ (free) and ​​"HEVC Video Extensions"​​ (may cost $0.99) from the Microsoft Store. After installation, File Explorer and Photos app will support HEIC.

On iPhone, go to ​​Settings > Camera > Formats​​ and select ​​"Most Compatible"​​ to save photos as JPEG instead of HEIC. This will convert heic to jpg on iPhone automatically.

HEIC is a superior format for storage efficiency and features, but Windows 10 lacks native support due to licensing and Apple's ecosystem dominance. Users can enable HEIC support via Microsoft Store add-ons or third-party heic to jpg converters.