Can't Open HEIC on Mac | Why & Fix

Struggling to open HEIC files on Mac? We'll guide you on fixing this problem with detailed tutorials.

The HEIC image format is the default image format for iPhones. If your Mac runs macOS High Sierra (10.13) or later, Photos and Preview apps should support HEIC natively.

So, why can HEIC photos not be opened on a Mac? Outdated macOS versions and file corruption can cause this. You cannot upgrade the Photos or Preview apps individually, so you must update macOS versions.

You may also have chosen an unsupported image viewer or editor to open HEIC files on Mac. We'll show you how to open HEIC images on Mac and fix the HEIC images that cannot be opened with any image viewer.

If you have already tried Photos, Preview apps, or another photo editor like Adobe Photoshop but still cannot open the HEIC images, just jump to the HEIC repair solution 橙色锚点 directly.

How to Open HEIC File on Mac

Usually, when transferring HEIC photos from an iPhone to a Mac, you'll apply Airdrop and view the photos with the Photos or Preview app. Now, you can check the following tutorials to learn more.

⭐Open HEIC with Photos App:

Step 1. Click on the Photos app icon from Dock to launch the application. If the Photos app is not pined on the Dock, find it with Launchpad.

Step 2. Then, find "File"> "Import" from the menu bar. You can select and add HEIC images you want to open on Mac. Click "Review for import" to open them.

⭐Open HEIC with the Preview App

Step 1. Put all the HEIC images you want to open in a folder first, making things easier.

Step 2. Select them, right-click, and choose "Open With"> "Preview(default)".

You can share these methods on social media to help more readers. If you want to open HEIC in Windows, try Adobe Photoshop.

How to Fix Can't Open HEIC on Mac

This method is workable for HEIC photos you cannot open on Mac with viewers, the HEIC image shows 0kb or half greyed-out. In these situations, your HEIC files may be corrupted or damaged.

With professional photo repair software, you can solve image corruption issues without effort. For users who have no photo repair experience, we recommend EaseUS Fixo Photo Repair. This tool is super simple to operate. You just upload your images, and the repair process will be started automatically.

Download the trial version now!

This software can repair corrupted HEIC files on Mac and fix other common image formats, such as JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, CR2, etc. With the help of the EaseUS photo repair software, you can fix the HEIC image not opening, the HEIC photo grainy, blurry, pixelated, or other issues with advanced AI tech.

Now, check the following guide and repair the HEIC files that cannot be opened on a Mac.

Step 1. Add the Corrupted Images

Launch EaseUS Fixo on your Mac, go to the "Photo Repair" tab and click the "Add Photo" button to add the corrupted images, including JPEG, PNG, JPG, CR3, CR2, NEF, NRW, RAF, etc.

Step 2. Repair the Corrupted Images

Select an image and click the "Repair" button to start the single image repairing process. If you want to repair all the corrupted images, click "Repair All".

Step 3. Save the Repaired Images on Your Mac

Click on the eye icon to preview the repaired images and click "Save" to save them on your Mac. Choose "Save All" to save all the repaired images. Click "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

Don't forget to share this HEIC repair tool on social media and help more friends!

How to Get Rid of HEIC Format on Mac/iPhone

Suppose you don't want to upgrade to macOS or apply for another photo editor. You can get rid of the HEIC format on your Mac or iPhone. Check the following two ways:

1. Change iPhone Camera Settings. You can change the camera settings on your iPhone to take JPG photos instead of HEIC images. To do this, go to "Settings"> "Cameras"> "Formats", and choose "Most Compatible".

2.  Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac. It's simple to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac with the Photos app. After importing your HEIC images, you can use the "Export" feature to export them in JPG or JPEG easily.

You can also use other image converters to convert HEIC to JPG or other formats. If you encounter corruption issues during the HEIC conversion, don't forget to apply EaseUS Fixo Photo Repair!

HEIC Not Opening Mac FAQs

Check more information about .heic images not opening on Mac in this part:

1. Why can't my MacBook open HEIC files?

An outdated macOS operating system and HEIC file conversion/transition issues can cause your MacBook to not open HEIC files. You can try to update macOS, apply other photo viewers, or repair corrupted HEIC files to resolve the problem.

2. Can I convert HEIC to JPEG on Mac?

Yes, you can convert HEIC to JPEG on a Mac with the Photos app or other third-party image converters. You can do this in Photos by "Export" the HEIC images in JPEG.

3. How do I open a corrupted HEIC file on a Mac?

The built-in photo viewers cannot open a corrupted HEIC photo on your Mac. You'll need a professional photo repair tool like EaseUS Fixo Photo Repair to fix the corruption issues and reopen the HEIC file.