FormatDrop
Image Format

HEIC

High Efficiency Image Container

HEIC is the default photo format used by every iPhone and iPad since iOS 11 (2017). It produces files roughly 50% smaller than JPEG at comparable quality, which is why Apple adopted it. The catch: almost nothing outside the Apple ecosystem can open it.

What is HEIC?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container — it's the file container format, while the actual image compression uses HEVC (H.265), the same codec used in modern video streaming. Apple introduced HEIC as the default camera format in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra to take advantage of HEVC's dramatically improved compression efficiency over the older JPEG standard. A HEIC file stores images using HEVC compression, which can achieve about 50% better compression than JPEG at the same perceived quality. HEIC also supports features that JPEG doesn't: 16-bit colour depth (vs. 8-bit for JPEG), HDR images, transparency (alpha channel), image sequences (used for Live Photos), and lossless compression. Under the hood, HEIC is a profile of the ISO Base Media File Format — the same container used by MP4 video files — which is why .heic and .mp4 files share some structural similarities.

HEIC pros and cons

Advantages

  • 50% smaller file size than JPEG at equivalent quality
  • Supports 16-bit colour depth (vs. 8-bit for JPEG)
  • Supports transparency and HDR
  • Stores Live Photo sequences and burst photos in one file
  • Default on iPhone — no action needed to use it

Limitations

  • Not natively supported on Windows without a paid codec
  • Android cannot open HEIC without third-party apps
  • Most web services and social platforms reject HEIC uploads
  • Older versions of Photoshop and many image editors cannot open it
  • Requires more CPU to decode than JPEG

When should you convert HEIC files?

Convert HEIC to JPG or PNG whenever you need to share photos with Windows users, upload to web services, use images in design software, or send via messaging apps that don't support HEIC. If you're editing in Photoshop (versions before 2021), sending to a print shop, or uploading to e-commerce sites, converting to JPG is the safest approach. Convert to PNG if you need lossless quality or transparency. For the web, converting to WebP gives you modern compression with near-universal browser support.

Convert HEIC files

HEIC→JPG
HEIC→PNG
HEIC→PDF
HEIC→WEBP
HEIC→GIF

All FormatDrop conversions run entirely in your browser — no file upload, no server processing. Your files stay on your device.

HEIC FAQ

How do I open a HEIC file on Windows?
Windows 10 and 11 don't include a HEIC codec by default. Your options: (1) Install the 'HEIF Image Extensions' codec from the Microsoft Store (it costs $0.99), (2) Use a third-party app like IrfanView or XnView that includes their own HEIC decoder, or (3) Convert the HEIC to JPG first using FormatDrop, which works instantly in any browser without installing anything.
Can I change my iPhone to save photos as JPG instead of HEIC?
Yes. Go to Settings → Camera → Formats and select 'Most Compatible'. This changes the camera to shoot JPEG instead of HEIC. Note that this uses more storage space (roughly double per photo). An alternative is to keep HEIC on-device but have iOS automatically convert to JPG when sharing: Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic.
Is HEIC better than JPG?
In technical terms, yes — HEIC achieves smaller file sizes at higher quality. A HEIC photo from an iPhone is typically half the size of an equivalent-quality JPEG while looking just as good or better on screen. However, JPEG has vastly better compatibility: every piece of software ever written can open a JPEG. For photos you want to keep on Apple devices, HEIC is fine. For anything you need to share, use, or edit on non-Apple platforms, JPEG's compatibility wins.

More formats

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