Why does my iPhone save photos as HEIC?
Apple devices commonly use HEIF containers with HEVC image coding because they can keep good visual quality in less storage than older formats. HEIC is a common file extension for those still photos.
Tools
HEIC to JPG / PNG Converter
Convert iPhone HEIC and HEIF still photos to JPG or PNG in your browser. Process up to 10 files and download them individually or as a ZIP.
Choose HEIC or HEIF still photos and convert them to JPG, or optionally PNG, entirely in your browser. The decoder handles one primary still image per file. HDR, wide-gamut colour profiles, depth data, motion-photo content and original metadata may not be preserved in the converted copy.
Photos are decoded and converted in this browser. The tool does not upload your files, file names or photo contents to a conversion server.
Drop HEIC or HEIF photos here
Up to 10 files · 20 MB each · 60 MB combined · 24 megapixels per displayed image · 16,384 px maximum on either side. 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes.
Primary HEVC still image only. AVIF, image sequences, video, audio and other HEIF codecs are not supported.
Choose HEIC or HEIF photos to begin.
The JPG or PNG does not retain source EXIF, XMP, GPS, camera details, Apple asset identifiers or embedded thumbnails.
For a Live Photo, select the HEIC still. Its paired MOV, motion and audio are not converted.
This converter makes widely compatible JPG or PNG copies of HEVC-coded HEIC and HEIF still photos. The decoder runs inside your browser, and each photo is handled in a separate temporary worker. Your source files, file names and photo contents are not sent to a conversion server.
How to use this tool
- Choose up to 10 HEIC or HEIF files. Each file can be up to 20 MB, with a combined batch limit of 60 MB.
- Choose JPG for a smaller, widely accepted photo file, or PNG when the decoded image contains transparency. JPG quality starts at 90%.
- For JPG, choose the colour used behind any transparent pixels. PNG keeps decoded transparency when it is present.
- Convert the files, review the dimensions and output sizes, then download each result or collect two or more completed files in a ZIP.
Ways to use it
- Open an iPhone photo in another app
- Create a JPG copy when a website, Windows application or older editing tool does not accept the original HEIC photo.
- Prepare HEIC photos for a form
- Convert several still photos to JPG before uploading them to a form that lists JPG as an accepted format. Check the form’s separate size limit before submission.
- Remove location and camera metadata
- The new JPG or PNG contains decoded pixels rather than the source EXIF, XMP, GPS, Apple asset identifiers or embedded source thumbnails.
Supported files and limits
- The tool supports the primary HEVC-coded still image in HEIC or HEIF files. It does not convert AVIF, HEIF image sequences, video, audio or every codec that a HEIF container can hold.
- A Live Photo includes a still image and separate motion media. This tool converts only the selected HEIC still; it does not retain the paired MOV, motion or audio.
- Additional top-level photos, bursts, depth maps, gain maps and thumbnails are not exported as separate images. Keep the original file when those parts matter.
- Output is an 8-bit browser image. HDR, 10-bit precision, Display-P3 fidelity and the original colour profile are not preserved exactly. PNG is lossless only relative to the decoded 8-bit pixels.
- Each displayed image is limited to 24 megapixels and 16,384 pixels on either side. Large photos may still exceed the memory available on a phone or tablet.
- Conversion does not guarantee a smaller file. PNG often becomes larger than HEIC, and a high-quality JPG may also exceed the source size.
Common questions
Should I choose JPG or PNG?
Choose JPG for ordinary photos and broad compatibility. Choose PNG when you need transparency or an 8-bit lossless copy of the decoded pixels. PNG usually creates a larger file.
Does the converter upload my HEIC photos?
No. The page loads the decoder code, then reads and converts the files in your browser. The tool does not send the selected photos or their file names to a conversion server.
Will location and camera details remain in the output?
No. The exported JPG or PNG does not retain the source EXIF, XMP, GPS, camera details, Apple asset identifiers or embedded thumbnails. Keep the original if you need that information.
Can it convert a Live Photo?
It can convert the HEIC still image that you select. A Live Photo’s motion and audio are stored separately, normally in a paired MOV file, and are not included in the output.
Why can the JPG or PNG be larger than the HEIC?
HEIC uses efficient HEVC compression. PNG preserves decoded pixels without lossy photo compression, while a JPG at high quality may also need more bytes for the same scene. A format change alone does not promise a smaller file.
Does PNG keep the original HEIC quality?
PNG avoids further lossy compression after the photo has been decoded, but the browser output is 8-bit and does not preserve the original HDR, 10-bit precision, gain map or colour profile exactly. It is not a lossless copy of the complete HEIC source.
Do I need to remove metadata again after conversion?
No. The JPG or PNG created here already omits the source HEIC metadata. Use the metadata viewer and remover when you need to inspect or clean an existing JPG, PNG or WebP file without re-encoding its image data.