What is HEIC?
A plain-English definition, and the tools that work with it.
HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container) is the format Apple devices use to save photos. It stores images at high quality in roughly half the size of a JPG, but it isn't supported everywhere, which is why non-Apple devices often can't open.heic files.
- HEIC saves storage on your phone by compressing more efficiently than JPG at the same quality.
- Support is still patchy: many Windows PCs, older apps and upload forms can't open HEIC, so you convert to JPG to share.
- You don't need to disable HEIC on your device: just convert the specific photos you need in a universal format.
Tools for HEIC
Free, private and in your browser. No sign-up.
HEIC to JPG
Convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPG (or PNG) in your browser, so they open everywhere. Free, private and instant. Nothing is uploaded.
Image Compressor
Shrink JPG, PNG and WebP images without a visible quality drop. Set the quality yourself, or compress to an exact target size like 100 KB. Free, entirely in your browser.
Image Resizer
Resize any image to exact pixel dimensions with an optional aspect-ratio lock and ready-made social presets, free and fully in your browser.
PNG to JPG
Convert PNG images to JPG in your browser: pick a background color for transparent areas, set the quality, and download a much smaller file.
HEIC problems we solve
Hit one of these? Here's the fix.
- My iPhone photo is a HEIC that won't openThat '.heic' file isn't broken: it's just a format non-Apple devices don't recognise. Convert it to JPG and it opens anywhere.
- My image file is too largePhone photos are often 3–8MB. Compress (and if needed resize) to hit a 100KB or 50KB upload limit while still looking clean.
Frequently asked questions
Related terms
- JPG (JPEG)JPG (also written JPEG) is the most common photo format. It uses lossy compression to make photographs small by discarding detail your eye barely notices, which is why it's ideal for pictures but poor for sharp graphics, text or transparency.
- PNGPNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format that supports transparency. Because it never degrades on save and keeps sharp edges, it's the go-to format for logos, icons, screenshots and any graphic with text or a transparent background.
- WebPWebP is a modern image format from Google that makes photos and graphics significantly smaller than JPG or PNG at similar quality. It's designed for the web to speed up page loads, and supports both lossy and lossless compression plus transparency.
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Problems we solve
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