HEIC Files From Your iPhone: What They Are and How to Convert Them
My sister sent me photos from her new iPhone. I tried to open them on my Windows laptop — nothing. The files had a .heic extension and Windows Photo Viewer had no idea what to do.
This is a common surprise for anyone who gets photos from an iPhone running iOS 11 or later.
What Is HEIC?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. Apple switched to it in 2017 because it stores photos at roughly half the file size of JPEG with the same visual quality.
That's great for iPhone storage. It's not great for compatibility — most non-Apple devices and many online services still don't support it.
The Problem in Practice
The simplest fix: convert to JPEG.
How to Convert HEIC to JPG (Browser Method)
1. Open the HEIC to JPG converter on this site
2. Drag your HEIC file(s) into the upload area
3. Click Convert
4. Download the JPG files
No app installation. The conversion happens in your browser, so your photos never leave your device.
Batch Converting Multiple Files
If you have a whole trip's worth of photos to convert, use the bulk convert option. You can drop a folder of HEIC files and download a ZIP of JPEGs.
Should You Switch Your iPhone to Save as JPEG?
You can change iPhone camera settings to save JPEG directly: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible.
The tradeoff: photos will take about twice as much storage space. If you have a 256GB phone, it's probably fine. If you have 64GB, HEIC is worth keeping.
What About Quality?
Converting HEIC to JPEG at high quality (90%+) produces files that are visually identical to what you see on your iPhone screen. The conversion is not lossy in any meaningful way at these settings.