How to load HEIC files in IrfanView under Windows 11?
The corresponding part in IrfanView FAQ is incorrect in most parts under Windows 11 (maybe it works under Windows 10). The HEVC Video Extensions (1st point) and HEIC Codec (2nd point) are blocked by either Microsoft Store app or Windows itself to protect PC. The HEIF Image Extensions (1st point again) are already installed under Windows 11, but having it doesn’t allow IrfanView to open HEIC files.
The only solution that actually worked is CopyTrans HEIC Codec (3rd point). After Installing it in Windows 11 the .heic files system association is reset. You have to select again that you want IrfanView to open this type of files. After doing this — bang! — you can finally browse HEIC files in IrfanView.
Even more, you can use powerful IrfanView batch tool to batch-convert all HEIC images back to JPG. You only have to type *.heic in File name field and All files (*.*) in Files of type and hit Add all. This is needed because IrfanView does not support HEIC files directly (it doesn’t recognize such file format, it is able to read it through Windows coded that you have just installed).
For the same reasons this is always one-way conversion. You can convert your HEIC files into JPG (PNG or any other type natively supported by IrfanView). But you cannot convert into HEIC.
IrfanView is unable to write files in this format.
If installing CopyTrans HEIC Codec does not resolve this issue for you then you can consider these articles:
- Full Knowledge about How to Open HEIC and Convert to JPG with IrfanView
- How to Open HEIC Files on Windows (or Convert Them to JPEG)
Or search the Internet for some other solutions.