What the HEIC format is
HEIC (or HEIF) is the format iPhones and iPads have used to save photos since iOS 11. It offers similar quality to JPG at roughly half the file size, which saves space on the phone.
The catch is compatibility: many websites, programs and Windows or Android devices cannot open it.
Convert HEIC to JPG step by step
- Keep the photos on your phone or move them to your computer.
- Open the “HEIC to JPG” tool.
- Choose or drop the photos; you can load several at once.
- Leave JPG as the format and quality at 90%, which looks the same to the naked eye.
- Tap Convert and download each photo, or all of them in a ZIP.
How to avoid the problem on the iPhone
If you prefer new photos to be saved as JPG directly, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose “Most Compatible”. The downside is that they take more space. Photos you already took stay in HEIC, so you will still need to convert them.
What happens to quality and photo data
At 90% quality the difference is almost imperceptible. Live Photos are converted as a still image, without the video part. The result also does not keep data such as GPS location or camera model, which protects your privacy when you share the photo.
Tips
- If the site you will upload to limits file size, convert first and then compress the image.
- If you have many photos, convert them in smaller batches so an older phone is not overloaded.
- To send several photos as a single file, turn them into a PDF with the JPG to PDF tool.
Frequently asked questions
Are HEIC and HEIF the same?
HEIF is the container format and HEIC is the variant Apple uses for photos. For conversion it makes no difference.
Does it work on Android and PC?
Yes, in any modern browser. The first time it downloads a small decoder (about 1.5 MB), then it runs fast.
Are the photos uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion happens in your browser, on your device.