If you've ever sent an iPhone photo to a friend or colleague only to hear "I can't open it," the culprit is almost certainly HEIC format. This article explains what HEIC is, why Apple adopted it, and what you can do about it.
What Is HEIC?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is an image format introduced by Apple with iOS 11 in 2017.
When you go to Settings → Camera → Formats on your iPhone and select "High Efficiency," all photos you take are saved in HEIC format. In many countries, iPhones ship with this setting enabled by default, which means most iPhone users are shooting in HEIC without realizing it.
Why Did Apple Switch from JPG to HEIC?
The reason is simple: smaller file sizes.
HEIC achieves roughly the same image quality as JPG at about half the file size. For smartphone users who take thousands of photos, this translates to significant storage savings.
For example, a photo that would be 5 MB as a JPG becomes roughly 2–3 MB in HEIC. Across 1,000 photos, that's a difference of 2–3 GB — a meaningful amount on a phone with limited storage.
The technical foundation of HEIC is H.265 (the same codec used for video compression), which is far more efficient than the JFIF standard JPG relies on.
| Format | Compression | Compatibility | Transparency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEIC | ◎ Excellent | △ Apple-centric | ○ | iPhone photo storage |
| JPG | ○ Standard | ◎ Universal | × | Web, print, email |
| PNG | △ Lower | ◎ Universal | ◎ | Logos, screenshots |
Why Can't Windows Open HEIC Files?
HEIC is a relatively new format, and Windows and Android do not support it by default.
When you try to open a HEIC file in Windows Photos, you'll see an error like "You need an app to open this file." While Microsoft offers a free "HEIF Image Extensions" package in the Microsoft Store that adds HEIC support, it's an extra step that most users don't know about.
Android devices have a similar problem — many stock gallery apps can't open HEIC files either.
This is the root cause of the widespread need to convert HEIC files to JPG.
What Happens When You Send HEIC Files?
The experience varies depending on what the recipient is using:
- iPhone to iPhone — No problem; HEIC is displayed natively
- iPhone to Android — May not display; depends on the device and app
- iPhone to Windows PC — Can't open without the HEIF extension installed
- Uploading to print services — Many services don't accept HEIC
- Posting to marketplace apps — Some apps auto-convert; others don't
How to Convert HEIC to JPG
There are a few ways to handle HEIC files:
Change the iPhone camera setting
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. Future photos will be saved as JPG. This doesn't affect photos already taken.
Transfer via AirDrop or iCloud
When transferring photos from iPhone to a Mac or PC through certain methods, iOS may automatically convert to JPG for compatibility — though this behavior depends on your settings.
Use a browser-based conversion tool
Tools like FileConv convert HEIC to JPG or PNG directly in your browser. No software to install, no files sent to a server. You can convert multiple files at once and download them immediately.
Summary
- HEIC is Apple's high-efficiency image format, introduced in iOS 11 (2017)
- Roughly half the file size of JPG at near-identical quality
- Not natively supported on Windows or Android, driving the need for conversion
- Three main solutions: change iPhone settings, use transfer auto-conversion, or use a browser tool
HEIC vs. HEIF: Are They the Same?
You'll often see both terms used, but they refer to slightly different things:
- HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) — The container format specification defined as an ISO standard. It's a flexible "wrapper" that can hold still images, image sequences, and more using different codecs
- HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) — Apple's specific file extension for HEIF files encoded using H.265 (HEVC). The
.heicfiles on your iPhone fall into this category
In practice, most people use HEIC and HEIF interchangeably, and that's fine. HEIF is the broader standard; HEIC is Apple's version of it.
What Happens to Live Photos in HEIC?
iPhone Live Photos are stored as two files: a still image (.heic) and a short video clip (.mov). When you convert a Live Photo's HEIC file to JPG using a tool like FileConv, only the still image portion is converted. The motion (video) component is not included in the output.
If you need to preserve the Live Photo motion, share the photo directly from your iPhone, or use a dedicated app that supports Live Photo export.
Is It Fine to Keep Shooting in HEIC?
From a storage efficiency standpoint, keeping HEIC is the smart choice. Your iPhone uses significantly less space per photo without sacrificing quality.
The only times conversion becomes necessary:
- Moving photos to a Windows or Android device
- Uploading to a print service or marketplace app
- Editing in software that doesn't support HEIC
- Sharing with someone whose device can't open HEIC
If you primarily view your photos on an iPhone or Mac, there's no reason to change. Convert only when you need to use photos outside the Apple ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HEIC only for Apple devices?
Not technically. HEIF is an ISO open standard, not an Apple-proprietary format. However, Apple is by far the biggest adopter, which is why HEIC is strongly associated with iPhones. Other camera manufacturers have started supporting HEIF too, but iPhone remains the most common source.
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
The quality difference is negligible in practice. Converting to JPG at high quality preserves nearly all visible detail. Since JPG uses lossy compression, avoid re-saving the same JPG multiple times — each save introduces a small amount of additional compression. Convert once and keep the result.
If I change iPhone settings to JPG, do my existing HEIC files get converted?
No. Changing Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible only affects new photos. Photos already stored as HEIC remain as HEIC. To convert existing photos, use FileConv's batch conversion feature — you can drop in multiple files at once and download them all as JPG.