Why Convert HEIC Files?
iPhones save photos in HEIC format by default. While this works on Apple devices and macOS, it may not be supported on Windows PCs, many web services, or social media platforms. Converting to JPG or PNG ensures compatibility across all environments.
JPG or PNG: Which Should You Choose?
JPG is ideal for photos and keeps file sizes smaller — great for social media and print. PNG uses lossless compression with no quality degradation and supports transparency, making it suitable for icons, logos, and screenshots where exact color accuracy matters.
Practical Limits and What This Tool Cannot Do
HEIC/HEIF processing happens via JavaScript using the heic2any library, so it is software-decoded and slower than native apps. Converting many files at once (50+) can spike memory use and crash the browser. Live Photos (HEIC paired with a video clip) are converted to still images only — the video portion is not extracted. 10-bit HDR HEIC (HLG/PQ) is converted to 8-bit SDR, so tone mapping will alter the look.
Trade-offs to Keep in Mind
HEIC-to-JPEG conversion gives up HEIC's efficient compression, so file size grows by 1.5–2× at comparable quality. PNG is lossless but inflates size 5–10×. Companion data such as portrait-mode depth maps is dropped during conversion. Carrying over EXIF metadata (capture time, GPS) depends on the underlying library and is not guaranteed.
Real-world Q&A
Q: Conversion is too slow. High-resolution HEIC files (12MP+) take several seconds to decode. Process them in batches of about 10 files. Q: Windows can't open HEIC files. Install the free HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store to view HEIC files in Windows Explorer. For web uploads, however, converting to JPEG/PNG is the safest bet.
HEIC/HEIF Trends
Apple made HEIC the default in iOS 11 (2017), so the majority of iPhone photos are HEIC. HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is an MPEG-H container that uses H.265 (HEVC) for highly efficient compression. Since 2023, AVIF (AV1-based) adoption has been growing — Google's Pixel phones now use Ultra HDR (AVIF + gain map). Native HEIC support in browsers is still limited, but Safari (macOS/iOS) handles it natively.