HEIC to PGM converter
Convert HEIC to PGM in seconds, free and unlimited. No upload, no sign-up, no watermark: your image never leaves your device.
Last updated
Quick answer: To convert HEIC to PGM, add the HEIC file to the iHateFiles HEIC to PGM converter and press Convert. The conversion runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded, and it is free with no sign-up, watermark or size limit. A straight swap between two raster formats, at full resolution.
Should you convert HEIC to PGM?
Do this when you are about to edit the file and want no further loss. Do not do it hoping to improve a HEIC: PGM preserves what it is given, including the damage.
HEIC is lossy and PGM is not
Moving from HEIC to PGM stops any further loss, but it cannot undo what HEIC already discarded: that detail was thrown away when the file was first written and is not in it any more. Expect the PGM to be considerably larger while looking exactly the same, because it is now storing the HEIC artefacts faithfully too.
PGM reduces the colour first
Before PGM compresses anything it reduces the image to greyscale. Flat colour, logos and line art survive that easily. A photograph coming from HEIC will band visibly, and no quality setting changes it, because the limit is the format rather than the encoder.
Expect a much larger file
PGM stores every pixel exactly, including the compression artefacts the HEIC already has. The file will grow, sometimes by a factor of ten, without looking any better. Do this when you need to edit without further loss, not to improve the image.
HEIC and PGM side by side
| HEIC | PGM | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Transparency | No | No |
| Animation | No | No |
| Written here | No | Yes |
What usually goes wrong
About the HEIC. This is the single most common conversion people need: a photo taken on an iPhone that no one else can open. Converting to JPG solves it, at the cost of some file size.
About the PGM. Converting a colour image to PGM throws the colour away for good. Keep the original if you might want it back.
How to convert HEIC to PGM
- Add your HEIC file. It is read from your disk and stays there.
- Check the settings. The output format is already set to PGM.
- Press convert and the PGM file is saved back to your device.
Questions
How do I convert HEIC to PGM?
Open this page, add your HEIC file, and press convert. The file is decoded and re-encoded by your own browser and saved back to your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Is this HEIC to PGM converter free?
Yes, completely. There is no account, no sign-in, no watermark and no daily limit, because there is no server doing the work. Your own device does it.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. There is no upload endpoint. The conversion runs inside this browser tab, so your file never leaves your device. You can open your browser's network panel and watch: nothing carrying your file is sent.
Is there a file size limit?
No fixed limit. Because the work happens on your machine there is no server quota. The only ceiling is your own device's memory, which for video means very large files may be slow.
Will converting to PGM lose quality?
PGM compresses without loss, but it first reduces the image to greyscale, discarding all colour. Flat colour and line art come through unchanged; a photograph will band and lose subtlety.
Can I convert several HEIC files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like and they are converted one after another, then offered as a single ZIP.