HEIC Viewer
Open HEIC / HEIF photos from your iPhone in any browser — Windows, Mac, Linux, Android. No codec install. No upload.
Drop a HEIC / HEIF photo to view it
From any iPhone / Android — never uploaded
How to view a HEIC photo on Windows or Android
Drop your HEIC or HEIF file onto the page. ToolChop loads the HEIC decoder in your browser, decodes the photo locally, and displays it with the original dimensions. The first photo can take a second while the decoder loads; subsequent photos open in milliseconds.
Why a local HEIC viewer matters
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11 — so HEIC files are almost always personal photos. Uploading personal photos to a random web tool just to look at them is a needless privacy risk. ToolChop runs the decoder in your browser. DevTools → Network confirms no request fires when you drop a photo.
Why Windows can't open HEIC by default
Microsoft does not include a HEIC codec in Windows. The HEIF Image Extensions package in the Microsoft Store costs $0.99, requires a Microsoft account, and only handles HEIF (not all HEVC variants). A free Apple-provided codec works only when the iCloud for Windows app is installed. ToolChop avoids both.
What you can do
- View HEIC and HEIF photos from any iPhone
- Inspect width, height, and file size
- Toggle Fit-to-width vs Actual size
- Save a JPG copy (smaller, universally compatible)
- Save a PNG copy (lossless)
- No codec install, no account, no upload
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a HEIC file online for free?
Drop your HEIC or HEIF file onto ToolChop. The decoder runs in your browser and shows the photo with its width, height, and file size. You can also save a JPG or PNG copy with one click. No account, no install, no daily limit.
Does ToolChop upload my photo?
No. The HEIC decoder runs entirely in your browser — your photo never leaves your device. This is important for HEIC because the format is the default on iPhones, so the files you view here are usually personal photos.
Why is the privacy story for a HEIC viewer important?
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11 — meaning HEIC files are almost always personal photos (people, places, screenshots of private apps). Uploading personal photos to a random website just to look at them is a needless data path. ToolChop runs the decoder locally so the photo stays on your device.
Why won't HEIC files open in Windows Photos?
Windows does not include a HEIC codec by default — Microsoft sells one for $0.99 in the Microsoft Store, and a free Apple-provided codec works only with the iCloud app installed. ToolChop avoids both: open the HEIC right in your browser instead, with no install.
Does this work on Android phones?
Yes. ToolChop runs in mobile Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. If you received HEIC photos via AirDrop substitute, email, or message from an iPhone user and Android cannot preview them, drop the file on this page to see it.
What is the difference between HEIC and HEIF?
HEIF is the container format (High Efficiency Image File Format). HEIC is HEIF with HEVC-compressed image data, which is the variant Apple uses. ToolChop opens both — the `.heif` and `.heic` extensions are handled the same.
Can I save the photo as JPG or PNG?
Yes. Once decoded, click Save as JPG for a smaller file optimized for sharing and web, or Save as PNG for a lossless copy. The conversion uses the same in-browser decoder; nothing is sent to a server.
Why is the first photo slower to load?
The first HEIC decode loads the WebAssembly decoder (~700 KB), which the browser caches. Subsequent photos open in milliseconds. ToolChop shows the decode time below the photo so you can see this clearly.
Is there a file size limit?
Only your browser's memory. HEIC photos from iPhones are typically 1–4 MB; ToolChop comfortably handles larger panoramas and burst captures. If a file is unusually large the decode takes longer but the page does not crash.
Why does the photo appear rotated incorrectly?
HEIC files store rotation in an EXIF orientation tag, which most browsers respect automatically when the image is rendered. ToolChop relies on that built-in rendering — so if the photo looks rotated, the original orientation flag is unusual. The Save-as-JPG output bakes the correct orientation in.
Does ToolChop work offline?
After the first load, the page and the HEIC decoder are cached by your browser. Visit once with a connection, and the viewer continues to work without internet on later visits.
Why use ToolChop instead of installing the Microsoft HEIC codec?
Two reasons. First, the Microsoft HEIF Image Extensions cost $0.99 and require a Microsoft account. Second, even with the codec installed, every HEIC file you open hits a closed-source system component — whereas ToolChop runs the decoder in your browser sandbox and never reads anything else on your computer.