How to Convert HEIC to PNG: 5 Free Methods in 2026

Why Convert HEIC to PNG?

HEIC is Apple's default camera format — efficient and packed with data, but not universally supported. PNG is the go-to format when you need two things JPEG simply cannot provide: lossless quality and transparency support. That combination makes HEIC to PNG conversion the right choice in situations where HEIC to JPG falls short.

Converting HEIC photos to PNG makes sense when you are:

The key difference between HEIC to PNG and the more common HEIC to JPG conversion is quality: PNG is lossless, meaning every pixel from the original HEIC file is preserved exactly. JPG always discards some data to achieve its file size savings, making PNG the correct choice whenever visual fidelity is non-negotiable.

Method 1: PhotoFormatLab — Free Browser-Based Converter (No Upload Required)

The fastest way to convert HEIC to PNG free is using a browser-based tool that processes files locally on your device. PhotoFormatLab's HEIC to PNG converter does exactly that: your files never leave your computer, making it safe for personal photos, medical images, legal documents, or anything you would not want on a third-party server.

Step-by-step:

The tool handles multiple files at once, so you can batch convert an entire album of iPhone HEIC photos to PNG in a single session. There is no file size limit, no watermarks, no account required, and no waiting for uploads — because nothing is uploaded in the first place.

If you need transparency preserved from HEIC files that include an alpha channel, PNG is the only output format that will retain it. JPG drops the alpha channel entirely.

Method 2: Mac Preview (Built-In, Free)

Mac users do not need any additional software to convert HEIC to PNG. Preview, the built-in macOS image viewer, handles HEIC natively and exports to PNG directly.

Steps:

For batch conversion in Preview: open multiple HEIC files at once (select them in Finder, then open), switch to thumbnail view in Preview's sidebar, select all thumbnails with ⌘A, then go to File > Export Selected Images and choose PNG.

Preview is reliable and produces high-quality lossless PNG files, but it does not offer quality control settings — which for PNG is actually fine, since PNG compression is lossless regardless of the compression level slider.

Method 3: Windows — Paint + HEIC Image Extensions

Windows 11 does not open HEIC files out of the box, but Microsoft offers a free codec that adds HEIC support system-wide.

Step 1 — Install HEIC support:

Step 2 — Convert with Paint:

For bulk conversion on Windows, PhotoFormatLab's web tool is faster than doing files one by one in Paint. The browser-based approach requires no software installation and works on any Windows version with a modern browser.

Method 4: iPhone — Shoot in PNG-Compatible Mode

If you want to avoid conversion entirely, you can configure your iPhone to capture photos in a more compatible format from the start.

Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and switch from High Efficiency (HEIC) to Most Compatible (JPEG). This makes the camera save photos as JPEG by default.

For PNG specifically — iPhones do not shoot natively in PNG, but screenshots are always saved as PNG automatically. If you need a PNG from a photo (rather than a screenshot), conversion is the only path.

Another option: when you share a HEIC photo from Photos app to your Mac via AirDrop, iOS automatically converts it to JPEG during the transfer if the recipient device does not support HEIC. If you need PNG, the conversion step via PhotoFormatLab is still required after that.

Method 5: sips Command Line (macOS)

macOS includes a built-in command-line image processing tool called sips (scriptable image processing system). It handles HEIC to PNG conversion without any third-party software or browser.

Convert a single file:

```bash

sips -s format png photo.heic --out photo.png

```

Batch convert an entire folder:

```bash

for f in ~/Pictures/*.heic; do

sips -s format png "$f" --out "${f%.heic}.png"

done

```

This loop processes every HEIC file in your Pictures folder and saves PNG versions alongside the originals. Adjust the path and output directory to match your folder structure.

sips is fast, scriptable, and reliable for large batches. It does not require Xcode or any developer tools — it is available on every Mac out of the box.

HEIC vs PNG: Key Differences

Understanding what each format offers helps you decide which conversion approach fits your needs:

The most important line in that table: browser support. HEIC only renders in Safari. If you need to display an image on a website, in an email, or in any tool outside of Apple's ecosystem, HEIC is not a viable format. PNG is supported everywhere.

When Should You Choose PNG Over JPG for HEIC Conversions?

Most people default to JPG when converting HEIC because it produces the smallest file size. But PNG is the better choice in these specific situations:

Choose PNG when:

Choose JPG instead when:

For most everyday photo sharing from iPhone, HEIC to JPG is the right conversion. For design work, archiving, or any use case involving transparency, HEIC to PNG is the correct choice.

Related Conversions

Once you have your PNG files, you may also need:

For a deeper comparison of iPhone photo formats, see our HEIC vs JPEG comparison guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert HEIC to PNG for free?

Yes. Several free methods work without any software purchase. The fastest is PhotoFormatLab's HEIC to PNG converter, which is completely free with no file size limits, no watermarks, and no account required. Mac users can also use the built-in Preview app (File > Export > PNG) for free. On macOS, the sips command-line tool is also free and pre-installed.

Does converting HEIC to PNG preserve transparency?

Yes — PNG is one of the few formats that fully supports alpha channel transparency, so any transparency data in the source HEIC file will be preserved in the PNG output. This is the main advantage of PNG over JPG: JPG cannot store transparency at all, so converting HEIC to JPG drops any alpha channel data permanently.

Is PNG or JPG better for converted iPhone photos?

It depends on your use case. JPG is better for sharing, email, and social media because the files are 60-80% smaller. PNG is better when you need lossless quality, transparency, or plan to edit the image further. For everyday photo sharing, HEIC to JPG is the right conversion. For design assets, product photography, or images you intend to edit, HEIC to PNG is the correct choice.

How do I batch convert multiple HEIC files to PNG?

PhotoFormatLab's batch HEIC converter lets you drop multiple HEIC files at once and download them all as PNG in a single session. On Mac, Preview supports batch export (open multiple files, select all thumbnails, File > Export Selected Images). The macOS sips command-line tool is also excellent for scripted batch conversion of entire folders.

Why is my HEIC to PNG file so much larger than the original?

This is expected. HEIC uses efficient lossy compression, while PNG is lossless. A 2 MB HEIC photo from an iPhone can produce a 6-10 MB PNG because PNG preserves every pixel without compression loss. If file size is a concern, convert to WebP instead — WebP supports transparency like PNG but uses far more efficient compression, typically producing files 3-5x smaller than PNG at equivalent quality.

Is it safe to convert HEIC to PNG online?

It depends on the tool. Server-based converters (CloudConvert, Convertio, iLoveIMG) upload your files to remote servers before converting, which means your personal photos are transmitted over the internet and stored temporarily on third-party infrastructure. Browser-based tools like PhotoFormatLab convert entirely using WebAssembly on your own device — your files never leave your computer, making them safe for sensitive images including personal photos, medical records, and confidential documents.