What is a HEIC File?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is the default photo format that Apple introduced on iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 11 in 2017. Under the hood, HEIC uses the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) compression standard developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group. The main advantage of HEIC over the older JPG format is file size: a HEIC photo typically takes up about half the storage space of an equivalent JPG photo while preserving the same level of visual detail. This is why Apple switched to HEIC by default, allowing users to store roughly twice as many photos on their devices without buying extra storage.
Despite its technical advantages, HEIC has a major practical problem: compatibility. JPG has been the universal image standard for over 30 years and is supported by every operating system, web browser, photo editor, and online platform in the world. HEIC is not. Windows does not open HEIC files natively without an additional codec from the Microsoft Store. Most photo editing software, social media platforms, and content management systems do not accept HEIC uploads. Email clients on non-Apple devices often cannot display HEIC attachments inline. Converting HEIC to JPG, PNG, or PDF solves all of these compatibility problems instantly.
How to Convert HEIC to JPG, PNG or PDF
- Select your output format at the top of the tool: JPG for photos, PNG for lossless quality, or PDF for documents.
- If you selected JPG, adjust the quality slider. 85 percent is the recommended starting point and produces results that are visually identical to the original for almost all photos.
- Click the upload area or drag and drop your HEIC or HEIF files directly into the tool. You can select multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- Click Convert Now. The conversion runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No file is sent to any server.
- Download each converted file individually or use the Download All button to save all converted files at once.
JPG vs PNG vs PDF: Which Format Should You Choose?
The right output format depends on how you plan to use the converted photo.
- Convert HEIC to JPG when you want to share photos by email, post them on social media, upload them to a website, or use them in any context where file size matters. JPG is the most universally compatible image format and produces the smallest file size. The quality slider lets you balance file size against sharpness. At 85 percent quality, the result is visually indistinguishable from the original HEIC file for the vast majority of photos.
- Convert HEIC to PNG when you need a pixel-perfect copy with no compression loss. PNG uses lossless compression, meaning every single pixel in the output is identical to the original. This matters for images that contain text, sharp geometric shapes, logos, or screenshots. PNG files are larger than JPG files, but they will never degrade no matter how many times you open, edit, and save them.
- Convert HEIC to PDF when you need to attach a photo to a professional document, send it to a printer, or include it in a report. PDF is the standard for document exchange and is accepted by every office application, email client, and print service. Each HEIC file is converted to a single-page PDF with the photo filling the page at its original dimensions.
Is HEIC the Same as HEIF?
HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is the compression standard and HEIC is the specific file container format that Apple uses to store HEIF images on its devices. In everyday use the two terms refer to the same thing. Both the .heic and .heif file extensions are supported by this converter. If your iPhone photo has a .heif extension instead of .heic, it will convert just as well.
Apple devices can also store HEVC-encoded video in .heic containers alongside still images. This converter handles still HEIC photos. If you have a file that contains an image sequence or motion photo, only the primary still frame will be extracted during conversion.
Why Can't Windows Open HEIC Files?
Windows 10 and Windows 11 do not include native HEIC support by default because Microsoft requires a licensed codec from Apple to decode the HEIF format. The HEVC Video Extensions add-on from the Microsoft Store adds this support, but it costs money in some regions and requires a manual installation step that many users are not aware of. Converting your HEIC photos to JPG before sending them to Windows users eliminates this problem entirely and requires nothing from the recipient.
Beyond Windows, HEIC compatibility gaps exist across many platforms. WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and most other website builders do not accept HEIC image uploads. Google Docs and Microsoft Word do not embed HEIC images. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all require JPG or PNG uploads. Converting on this tool before uploading saves you from upload errors and rejected files.
Does Converting HEIC to JPG Reduce Quality?
Converting HEIC to JPG involves recompression, which means some image data is discarded. However, at the default quality setting of 85 percent, the difference is invisible to the human eye under normal viewing conditions. You would need to zoom in to 400 percent or more and compare side by side to see any difference. For photos that will be displayed on a screen, shared on social media, or printed at standard sizes, 85 percent JPG quality is perfectly sufficient.
If you need an absolutely lossless conversion, choose PNG as your output format instead. PNG conversion from HEIC preserves every pixel exactly with no recompression loss. The trade-off is larger file size: a PNG converted from a HEIC photo will be several times larger than an equivalent JPG. For most practical purposes, JPG at 85 percent is the best balance of quality and file size.
How to Convert HEIC on iPhone Without a Computer
You do not need a computer to use this tool. Open this page in Safari on your iPhone or iPad, tap the upload area, and select photos from your Camera Roll or Files app. The conversion runs in your mobile browser just as it does on a desktop. Converted files save directly to your Downloads folder in the Files app. From there you can share them, attach them to emails, or upload them to any app that does not support HEIC.
Alternatively, iOS 16 and later lets you copy HEIC photos and paste them as JPG in some apps. You can also change your iPhone camera settings to capture in JPG by default: go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and select Most Compatible. This records new photos as JPG instead of HEIC, though it uses more storage space per photo.
Privacy and Security
This tool runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. When you drop a HEIC file into the upload area, it is read directly from your device memory using the browser File API. The image data is processed locally using the heic2any library and jsPDF. At no point is any data sent to OnlineToolsPlus servers or any third-party service. The converted file is generated in memory and downloaded directly to your device. No copy of your photo is retained after you close or refresh the page.
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Last updated: May 31, 2026
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