What Is a HEIC File?How to Open and Convert HEIC
Everything you need to know about HEIC — why iPhone uses it, how it compares to JPG, how to open it on Windows and Mac, and how to convert it to a universally compatible format.
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhone since iOS 11. Based on the HEIF standard and compressed with HEVC, it achieves roughly half the file size of JPG at comparable quality. However, its compatibility is limited — Windows and many websites can't open HEIC directly, so you'll often need to convert it to JPG before sharing across devices.
Why Does iPhone Use HEIC?
Apple switched to HEIC by default starting with iOS 11 in 2017, primarily to save storage space. HEVC encoding cuts file size to roughly half that of JPG at similar quality, effectively doubling the number of photos you can store. HEIC also supports transparency, HDR, multi-frame sequences (Live Photos) and higher bit depths — technically a full generation ahead of JPG.
What's the catch?
The downside of being cutting-edge is compatibility. HEVC involves patent licensing, which means many Windows applications, Android devices and websites don't recognize HEIC by default — resulting in the all-too-familiar problem of photos looking fine on your iPhone but failing to open when sent to someone else.
HEIC vs JPG: Key Differences
| Dimension | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| File size | About half the size at similar quality | Larger |
| Quality / Bit depth | 10-bit, better HDR rendering | 8-bit |
| Compatibility | Great on iPhone/Mac; poor on Windows/web | Universal across virtually all devices |
| Transparency | Supported | Not supported |
| Patent / Openness | HEVC requires licensing | Open, no restrictions |
How to Open HEIC on Windows and Mac
Mac / iPhone
Natively supported — Preview and Photos open HEIC directly. To export, choose "Export as JPEG" from the File menu.
Windows 10 / 11
You'll need to install the "HEIF Image Extensions" from the Microsoft Store (some setups also require the HEVC Video Extensions) before the Photos app can preview HEIC files. The simplest approach is to just convert HEIC to JPG.
Android / Web uploads
Most Android apps and websites don't recognize HEIC. Convert to JPG before uploading or sharing for the most reliable results.
HEIC: Pros and Cons
- Roughly half the file size of JPG at similar quality — saves storage space
- 10-bit / HDR support for richer highlights and shadows
- Supports transparency and multi-frame Live Photos
- Not natively supported on Windows, Android or most websites
- HEVC involves patent licensing
- Requires conversion before sharing or uploading — an extra step
When Should You Convert HEIC to JPG?
Sending to others / uploading
The recipient's device or website may not support HEIC — JPG is the safest choice.
Editing in older software
If your photo editor doesn't support HEIC, convert to JPG first.
Keeping for personal archiving
If you only view photos on your own Apple devices, keeping HEIC saves space without sacrificing quality.
Convert & Learn More
HEIC FAQ
HEIF is the container standard; HEIC specifically refers to HEIF images encoded with HEVC — which is what Apple uses. In everyday usage, a .heic file is an iPhone photo.
There's one lossy re-encode involved, but the visual difference is usually negligible. JPG is 8-bit, so HDR and high bit-depth detail gets compressed — but for sharing and uploading, it's more than adequate.
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats → select "Most Compatible." All future photos will be saved as JPG. Existing HEIC files still need to be converted.
Not with Widantoo. HEIC conversion happens entirely in your browser — your photos are never uploaded, stored or transmitted.