Forum Discussion
HEIC image extension not working on Windows 11, are there any heic extension alternatives?
- Feb 28, 2025
I had the same issue—my HEIC photos suddenly stopped opening on Windows 11, showing "Unable to open this file." Reinstalling HEIF Image Extensions didn’t help, and paying for HEVC Video Extensions is just absurd!
I found a better solution—TuneBro HEIC Converter. It opens HEIC files without extra extensions and allows batch conversion to JPG/PNG with no quality loss. No more Windows HEIC headaches—highly recommend!
I followed this tutorial: https://www.reddiite.com/bulk-heic-to-jpg
Hey there! It sounds like you’re in a bit of a bind with those HEIC images on your Windows 11 machine. No worries, you have a few HEIC image extension alternatives to work with that should help you open those files without converting them every time. Here’s a rundown of some options:
1. CopyTrans HEIC for Windows
This is a fantastic free tool that not only lets you open HEIC files directly in Windows but also allows you to convert them to JPEG images in File Explorer if you need to. Here’s how to use it:
- Download CopyTrans HEIC from the official website.
- Install it on your PC. The installation is straightforward.
- After installation, you should be able to open HEIC files directly by double-clicking them in Windows.
2. IrfenView
To get the best HEIC image extension alternatives. IrfenView is an excellent image viewer that supports a wide range of file formats, including HEIC, with the proper plugins installed. You can use it to view your HEIC files easily.
- Download IrfenView from the official site.
- Make sure to also download the IrfenView Plugins (available on the same page) to ensure HEIC support.
- Install both, and you should be able to open HEIC files without a problem.