Viewing HEICHEVC & HEIF Files On Windows

File sharing across operating systems is natural and often involves native file formats. Apple devices can create HEIFHEIC & HEVC files that can be shared with Microsoft Windows users. It is possible to convert these files to formats Windows can natively view before or after sharing.

If however the files are not convertedwhat is required for Windows 10 & 11 apps to view these files? Microsoft offers a free plugin (for now) from the Microsoft Store for HEIF files that allows the images to be viewed in any image application. Howeverno such free plugin exists for HEIC & HEVC files. One must either purchase a plugin or resort to viewing the files in a single application.

What is Apple's recommended method of natively handling these files on Windows without incurring cost or being cumbersome?

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Feb 182023 7:13 AM

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4 replies

MrHoffman

Level 10

146,803 points

Feb 182023 8:18 AM in response to PaulDurham

PaulDurham wrote:

What is Apple's recommended method of natively handling these files on Windows without incurring cost or being cumbersome?

You’d want to ask Apple that.

Locally… Update the target platform for supportor convert the files to compatible formats for the target platformsame as any other similar case of cross-platform file compatibility.

When porting files around platformsif the particular target platform supports only {JPEGPNGBMPcrayonswhatever}you’ll have to convert the files into the appropriate {JPEGPNGBMPcrayon} formateither at export or at import. (I’m familiar with one platform where support for crayons would be a step uptoo.)

At exportApple devices will export JPEG when requestedso you can use iPhone or iPad without getting HEIF / HEIC / HEVC / H.265 in the mix. And Apple tools can convert existing files to JPEG or such.

To add supportMicrosoft purportedly have some free plug-insthough the reviews there seem spotty. Here is a write-up on acquiring HEIF / HEIC / H.265 (free) from Microsoft: https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-11-hevc-heic-codecs/

Also check with Microsoftand request better-integrated support.

MrHoffman

Level 10

146,803 points

Feb 182023 11:47 AM in response to PaulDurham

PaulDurham wrote:

Apple must have though through this and have an answer. :-)

You continue to re-state a benefit of selecting and using Apple platforms as a problem for Apple to solve for Microsoft and other platforms. I doubt Apple will spend much (any?) effort updating Windows for HEIF support and related image and video codecs.

Apple tends to adopt newer features and newer hardware and retire older features earlier (q.v. USB-Aand the consternation around its retirement on Apple hardware)while Microsoft tends to be slower to adopt and slower to retire (q.v. the COM serial ports were common until fairly recently).

Some folks want to run older hardware and keep older appsand Microsoft is better there.

Here? Apple would prefer folks currently using Windows acquire and install macOS on an a Mac M1 or M2and install and boot Microsoft Windows Arm in the Parallels hypervisor for those apps not migrated from Windows to macOSnot yet replacedor not yet retired.

Or you can continue with Microsoft Windows of courseand can use the provided JPEG and older file formatsand can also encourage Microsoft to add support for HEIF and related into Windows 11:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

PaulDurham Author

Level 1

13 points

Feb 192023 7:39 AM in response to MrHoffman

I am not selecting the Apple platform. I am receiving the files from a source I have no control or influence overand the files are in the mentioned formats. Think of me as a journalist (I am not one) and I receive the files in whatever format the sender choosesand I have no control over the format.

Anywayit seems this is a problem for which no free solution has been thought of by both camps. I'll live with it. Maybeif the newer file formats become ubiquitous like JPEGMicrosoft will deem it worthy of a free solution.

PaulDurham Author

Level 1

13 points

Feb 182023 11:10 AM in response to MrHoffman

Hi MrHoffman,

The linked HEVC Video Extension used to be free in the Microsoft Store. Microsoft have since removed this download. The free HEIF extension is still free and does work. Without both extensions installedone cannot work with the HEIC format. Yesone can convert the files before or after transfer to Windows but I'd like to avoid this step. Apple must have though through this and have an answer. :-)

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Viewing HEICHEVC & HEIF Files On Windows