ConvertFast

What is a HEIC file?

The short version: it’s a photo from an iPhone (or a recent Android or camera) saved in the High Efficiency Image format. It looks as good as a JPG at roughly half the size, but lots of software outside Apple’s world can’t open it.

Where HEIC comes from

Apple switched the iPhone camera to HEIC with iOS 11 in 2017. The file is a HEIF container (an MPEG standard, ISO/IEC 23008-12) holding images compressed with HEVC, the same codec used for 4K video. A single file can also hold a thumbnail, a depth map for Portrait mode and, with Live Photos, a link to the short video clip.

How to open a HEIC file

On Windows

Install “HEIF Image Extensions” and “HEVC Video Extensions” from the Microsoft Store, then Photos can open them. If you just need the pictures to work everywhere, convert them to JPG instead.

On a Mac or iPhone

Photos and Preview open HEIC natively. In Preview, File → Export lets you save a single photo as JPEG or PNG.

On Android

Android 9+ and Google Photos can show HEIC; older phones, many gallery apps and web upload forms can’t.

In a browser

Safari shows HEIC images. Chrome, Edge and Firefox generally don’t display them, which is why this site ships its own decoder (libheif compiled to WebAssembly) to read them.

Why do sites reject HEIC uploads?

Web servers usually process uploads with libraries that expect JPG, PNG or WebP, and browsers other than Safari can’t display HEIC back to other users. So portals for job applications, schools, marketplaces and print shops simply list “JPG or PNG”. Converting before uploading is the reliable fix.

Should I keep the HEIC originals?

Yes, if you have space. The HEIC is the higher-quality original and it keeps the photo’s date, location and camera details. Converted copies from ConvertFast deliberately leave that metadata out.

More detail on the compression itself: HEIC vs JPG.

Convert HEIC now

HEIC questions

Is HEIC the same as HEIF?

HEIF is the container standard (ISO/IEC 23008-12). HEIC is a HEIF file whose images are compressed with HEVC (H.265). Apple uses the .heic extension; some Android phones and cameras write .heif.

Can Windows 11 open HEIC files?

Only with Microsoft’s HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions installed from the Microsoft Store (the HEVC one is sometimes paid). Without them, Photos shows an error. Converting to JPG avoids the question.

Can Android open HEIC?

Android 9 and later can decode HEIF, and Google Photos displays it. Many third-party apps and upload forms on Android still don’t, which is when converting helps.

Does HEIC have better quality than JPG?

At the same file size, yes, noticeably. At the same quality, HEIC files are about half the size. HEIC also supports 10-bit colour and depth maps, which JPG cannot store.

How do I stop my iPhone saving HEIC?

Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. The camera then saves JPG (and H.264 video). To keep HEIC on the phone but get JPG on a computer, set Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic.