HEIC file format (.heic)
Apple photo format. Read-only. Convert it to JPG or PNG.
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What is a HEIC file?
In short: A HEIC file (.heic) is an image file in the HEIC format. HEIC wraps High Efficiency Video Coding, the compression behind 4K video, around a still photograph. It can be converted to JPG, PNG or WEBP for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
Standardised in 2015 as HEIF, and adopted by Apple in 2017 as the default camera format on iPhone.
HEIC wraps High Efficiency Video Coding, the compression behind 4K video, around a still photograph. It is about half the size of a JPG that looks the same, and the container can hold several images at once, which is how Live Photos and depth data are stored.
What HEIC is good at
- Roughly half the size of an equivalent JPG
- Sixteen bits per channel, so gradients do not band
- Holds bursts, depth maps and edits alongside the image
Where HEIC falls short
- Windows needs a codec installed, and many websites reject it
- Encoding is patent-encumbered, which is why support is uneven
- Almost nothing outside the Apple ecosystem writes it
When to use HEIC
Leave HEIC on for photographs staying on your phone, and convert to JPG the moment you need to send one somewhere else.
How to open a HEIC file
iOS, macOS, and Windows with the HEIF extension installed. Most websites will not accept an upload.
| Windows | Photos needs the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, and the HEVC extension on top of that, which is a paid download. |
|---|---|
| macOS | Opens natively in Preview and Photos — it is the iPhone’s own format. |
| Linux | Needs libheif installed; GIMP and Eye of GNOME will then read it. |
| Phone | Native on iPhone. Android has read HEIC since version 10. |
| In a browser | Safari displays HEIC. Chrome and Firefox do not, which is the usual reason for converting one. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
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.
Questions
What is a HEIC file?
Apple photo format. Read-only. Convert it to JPG or PNG. Files use the .heic extension.
How do I open a HEIC file?
HEIC is not widely supported any more. The reliable route is to convert it to a current format, which this page can do in your browser without uploading it.
Can I convert HEIC for free?
Yes. Every conversion here is free and unlimited, because your own device does the work rather than a server we have to pay for.
Is HEIC lossless?
No. HEIC is a lossy format, so saving discards some detail to save space.