What is a HEIC file?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It was created by the Moving Picture Experts Group, adopted by Apple and first released in 2017. iPhones save photos as HEIC because it is roughly half the size of an equivalent JPG. The catch is compatibility: Windows needs an extra codec, and most upload forms and older software reject it.
HEIF is the same format under another extension.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Colour | up to 16-bit colour |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | Safari on Apple devices shows it; Chrome, Edge and Firefox cannot |
| Common uses | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
| MIME type | image/heic |
Which format should you convert HEIC to?
- HEIC to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- HEIC to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- HEIC to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- HEIC to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
HEIC is already lossy, so converting it to a lossless format makes the file bigger without improving it; pick a lossless target only if a program requires one.
How to open a HEIC file
Whether a HEIC file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If HEIC is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | Safari on Apple devices shows HEIC; Chrome, Edge and Firefox cannot. |
Want the technical details? See what a .heic file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
HEIC compared with other image formats
How HEIC stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| GIF | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | short looping animations, reactions and simple graphics |
How to use the HEIC converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your HEIC files on the box, or press Choose HEIC files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to PSD uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting HEIC files without losing quality
HEIC is lossy, so some detail was already discarded when the file was made. Converting it cannot bring that back. Converting to a lossless format preserves what is left exactly but makes the file larger; converting to another lossy format adds a small extra loss, which is invisible at sensible settings.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert HEIC files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common HEIC conversion, to JPG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.heic output.jpgChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
HEIC converter FAQ
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container, an image format created by the Moving Picture Experts Group, adopted by Apple in 2017. iPhones save photos as HEIC because it is roughly half the size of an equivalent JPG. The catch is compatibility: Windows needs an extra codec, and most upload forms and older software reject it.
How do I open a HEIC file?
Safari on Apple devices shows HEIC; Chrome, Edge and Firefox cannot. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common HEIC conversion?
HEIC to JPG is the conversion people search for most. The image is decoded and written as a baseline JPEG at 90 percent quality.
Does converting HEIC files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to PSD uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the HEIC converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert HEIC files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your HEIC files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several HEIC files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.