HEIC to JPG
Why won't my HEIC photo open, and how do I convert it to JPG or PNG?
HEIC is the format iPhones save photos in by default. It makes smaller files than JPG, but Windows, many Android apps and most upload forms do not read it. This guide shows how to open it, whether to convert to JPG or PNG, and how to switch the iPhone to JPG.
A HEIC file is a photo in the High Efficiency Image Format, the default on iPhone 7 and later. Windows, many Android apps and most upload forms cannot read it. Convert it to JPG to use it anywhere, or to PNG for lossless pixels. Setting the iPhone camera to Most Compatible saves new photos as JPG from the start.
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is Apple's variant of HEIF, the High Efficiency Image File Format that MPEG standardized as ISO/IEC 23008-12. Apple added support in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra in 2017. Apple says HEIF compresses better than JPEG, so a photo takes less space on the device and in iCloud Photos while keeping the same visual quality. The catch is reach: a format only helps when the software on the other end can decode it.
Why does my HEIC photo not open on Windows, Android or a website?
Opening it takes a decoder, and not every system ships one. Macs and iPhones have it built in. Windows needs the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (apps.microsoft.com/detail/9pmmsr1cgpwg). Android added HEIC support in version 10 on devices with the matching hardware, while older phones, many apps and plenty of web forms still reject the file. A form that turns down an iPhone photo as an unsupported file type is usually refusing HEIC.
Should I convert HEIC to JPG or PNG?
Pick JPG for almost everything: sharing, email, uploads and printing. Pick PNG when you want no further loss of detail, for example before editing. The table sums up the three formats.
| Format | Compression | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| HEIC | Lossy, smaller files | The photo stays in Apple apps and iCloud Photos |
| JPG | Lossy, opens everywhere | You share, upload, email or print the photo |
| PNG | Lossless, much larger files | You want exact pixels for editing and the size does not matter |
At quality 92, the setting the converter uses for JPG, the result looks the same as the HEIC in normal viewing. A PNG made from a HEIC keeps every decoded pixel, but it cannot add detail the HEIC never had, and it comes out far bigger than the JPG.
How do I convert HEIC to JPG in a browser?
- Open the Grabivo HEIC to JPG converter, or the HEIC to PNG converter if you want PNG, and drop your photos on the box. You can add up to 20 at a time, each up to 64 MB.
- Press Convert to JPG. Safari decodes HEIC by itself. Chrome, Edge and Firefox load a bundled decoder the first time a HEIC file needs one.
- Download the JPGs. Each photo shows its new name and size.
The work happens in your browser tab. The photos are not uploaded, and the originals stay as they were. Convert only photos you took or have permission to use.
How do I convert HEIC on an iPhone or a Mac?
- To make new photos JPG, open Settings on the iPhone, tap Camera, tap Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos and videos then use JPEG and H.264. Photos you already took stay HEIC.
- To convert one on a Mac, open it in Photos or Preview, choose File > Export and pick JPEG or PNG.
- AirDrop, Messages and email may send a more compatible format on their own when the receiving device cannot read HEIC. Importing to a PC may also produce JPEG unless you turn on Settings > Apps > Photos > Keep Originals.
Apple describes all of this on support.apple.com/en-us/116944.
Does converting lose quality, location or Live Photo data?
JPG is lossy, so a conversion costs a little detail, though at quality 92 it is hard to see. PNG keeps every decoded pixel. The converter draws the photo and writes a new file, so the EXIF block, including any GPS position, is not copied into it. For a Live Photo you get the still image only, because the video half is a separate track.
Questions
How do I open a HEIC file on Windows?
Install the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then open the photo again. If you would rather not install anything, convert the file to JPG in your browser first. That converter needs no account and no install.
Is HEIC better than JPG?
For file size, yes: Apple says HEIF keeps the same visual quality in less space. For compatibility, no, because JPG opens on practically every device, app and website. Keep HEIC while the photos stay on Apple devices and convert to JPG when you share them.
How do I stop my iPhone from saving photos as HEIC?
Open Settings, tap Camera, tap Formats and choose Most Compatible. The option appears only on iPhones and iPads that can capture HEIF. Photos taken before the change remain HEIC.
Is it safe to convert HEIC photos online, or are they uploaded?
With this converter nothing is uploaded: your browser reads the file, converts it on your device and hands you the result. That holds for this tool only, so check any other converter before you give it private photos.
Can I convert several HEIC photos at once?
Yes. Add up to 20 files in one go, each up to 64 MB, and download the converted files when the job finishes.