Windows HEIC conversion guide
How to Convert HEIC to PNG on Windows 10 & 11
You can convert HEIC to PNG on Windows 10 or Windows 11 without installing a desktop converter. FileOnTap decodes the HEIC file locally in your browser. If you prefer a Windows app, install the required HEIF support first and then save or export the image as PNG from a compatible editor.
Use FileOnTap HEIC to PNG. The converter runs in your browser, so you do not need to upload the photo to a conversion server.
Option 1: Convert HEIC to PNG in your browser
This is the simplest route when Windows Photos cannot open the HEIC file or the required codec is not installed. FileOnTap uses its own browser-side HEIC decoder, so the conversion does not depend on Windows having native HEIC support.
- Open HEIC to PNG in your browser.
- Choose or drag in up to 10
.heicor.heiffiles. - Conversion starts automatically after selection. Wait while the browser converts files one at a time.
- Download each generated PNG, or choose Download All (.zip) after processing finishes.
The converter supports up to 10 files per batch and processes them sequentially in your browser. Standard HEIC and HEIF still images are supported, while Live Photo video content is not exported.
Option 2: Add HEIC support to Windows first
Windows 10 and Windows 11 can open many HEIC and HEIF files after the required image components are installed. Microsoft provides HEIF image support through the Microsoft Store, and some HEIC files may also require HEVC support depending on how the image was encoded.
After installing the needed support, close and reopen the app before testing the image again. If Windows Photos still reports an unsupported format, the problem may be codec availability, the specific HEIC encoding, or the application rather than the filename itself.
Option 3: Save the image as PNG from a Windows editor
Once Windows can decode the HEIC image, open it in a compatible image editor and save or export a PNG copy. For example, if Paint opens the HEIC successfully on your system, use its Save as workflow and choose PNG as the output format.
This method depends on Windows being able to decode the source HEIC first. If Paint or Photos cannot open the file, the browser-local FileOnTap method avoids that dependency.
Why convert HEIC to PNG on Windows?
PNG can be useful when a graphics application, upload form, design workflow, or image-processing tool requires PNG input. The converted PNG stores the decoded image pixels without another lossy JPEG encoding step.
For ordinary photographs, the drawback is size. PNG files can be much larger than HEIC or JPG. If you only need a widely compatible photo for email, uploads, or older software, HEIC to JPG is often the smaller and more practical choice.
Why not just rename .heic to .png?
A filename change does not convert the image data. Renaming photo.heic to photo.png leaves the file encoded as HEIC, so software expecting a real PNG may reject it. You need a real decode-and-encode conversion step.
What if Windows cannot open the original HEIC?
If opening HEIC files is the underlying problem, see How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 & 11. That guide explains Windows Photos, HEIF/HEVC support, and when conversion is the simpler workaround.
Keep the original HEIC after converting
A PNG copy may not preserve every EXIF field, depth value, or Apple-specific photo feature. Keep the source HEIC if you might need the original metadata or want an archival copy of the photo.
Browser batch limits and privacy
FileOnTap accepts up to 10 files per batch, 50 MiB per input. The HEIF header safety check rejects images above 45 megapixels when dimensions are available. ZIP includes successful results only, up to 100 MiB combined output. Larger results can be downloaded individually; phone memory may impose lower practical limits.
The selected photo contents stay in your browser. The website still loads assets and sends usage analytics; this is not a guarantee of offline operation or zero tracking. See the privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need HEIF or HEVC extensions for FileOnTap? No. The browser tool uses its own decoder. Native apps may need HEIF Image Extensions plus HEVC support; availability and possible Store pricing vary. On managed devices, follow your IT policy.
Why does a file still fail after installing an extension? Restart the app, confirm the source is not empty or damaged, and check whether its encoding is supported. An unsupported variant is different from a missing codec. For browser memory errors, use fewer or smaller files and retry the failed item.
How do I export from Paint? Once Paint can open the HEIC, choose File > Save as > PNG picture, choose a new filename and save. This depends on your Windows and Paint versions being able to decode the input.
Sources
Microsoft: HEIF/HEVC extension errors; Microsoft: HEIF codec.