What is a HEIF file?
HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image File Format. It was created by the Moving Picture Experts Group and first released in 2015. HEIF is the container standard and HEIC is the name Apple gives files that use it with HEVC compression. Android phones that shoot in this format usually label the file .heif.
HEIC 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 from Samsung, Sony and other Android cameras that support it |
| MIME type | image/heif |
Which format should you convert HEIF to?
- HEIF to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- HEIF to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- HEIF to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- HEIF to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
HEIF 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 HEIF file
Whether a HEIF 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 HEIF 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 | HEIF Safari on Apple devices shows it; Chrome, Edge and Firefox cannot. |
Want the technical details? See what a .heif file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
HEIF compared with other image formats
How HEIF stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEIF | Lossy | Yes | 2015 | photos from Samsung, Sony and other Android cameras that support it |
| 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 HEIF converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your HEIF files on the box, or press Choose HEIF 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. Nothing is uploaded at any point.
Tips for converting HEIF files without losing quality
HEIF 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 HEIF files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common HEIF conversion, to JPG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.heif 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.
HEIF converter FAQ
What is a HEIF file?
HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image File Format, an alternative extension for a image format created by the Moving Picture Experts Group in 2015. HEIF is the container standard and HEIC is the name Apple gives files that use it with HEVC compression. Android phones that shoot in this format usually label the file .heif.
How do I open a HEIF file?
HEIF Safari on Apple devices shows it; 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 HEIF conversion?
HEIF 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 HEIF files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your HEIF files never leave your device.
Is the HEIF converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many HEIF files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert HEIF files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your HEIF files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several HEIF files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.