What is HEIC? Everything You Need to Know in 2026
What is HEIC?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It's a file format that Apple adopted as the default image format for iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 11 in 2017. HEIC uses the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) compression standard, also known as H.265, to store images. If you have ever AirDropped photos to a Windows-using friend and watched them struggle to open the files, HEIC is the reason.
The format was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and standardized as part of the MPEG-H Part 12 specification. While Apple popularized HEIC by making it the default camera output on hundreds of millions of iPhones, the format itself is an open standard that any device manufacturer can adopt.
Why Does Apple Use HEIC?
The main reason Apple chose HEIC is file size. HEIC images are roughly 50% smaller than equivalent JPEG files while maintaining the same visual quality. When you're taking hundreds of photos on your iPhone, this space savings adds up significantly. For a 128GB iPhone, switching from JPEG to HEIC effectively doubles the number of photos you can store.
Beyond file size, HEIC offers several technical advantages:
HEIC vs JPEG: A Quick Comparison
To understand why HEIC matters, it helps to see how it stacks up against the format it was designed to replace:
| Feature | HEIC | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| File size (same quality) | ~1.5 MB | ~3.0 MB |
| Color depth | 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Multiple images per file | Yes | No |
| Non-destructive edits | Yes | No |
| HDR support | Yes | Limited |
| Browser support | Safari only | Universal |
| Year introduced | 2015 | 1992 |
For a full breakdown, see our HEIC vs JPEG comparison.
The Compatibility Problem
Despite its technical superiority, HEIC has one major drawback: compatibility. Many devices, apps, and websites still don't support HEIC natively:
This compatibility gap is the single biggest reason people need to convert HEIC to JPG on a regular basis.
How to Convert HEIC to Other Formats
The easiest way to convert HEIC files is using an online converter like PhotoFormatLab. Our converter processes files entirely in your browser — no uploads needed, completely private. Your photos never leave your device, which means there is zero risk of your personal images ending up on someone else's server.
Converting to JPG
JPG is the universal choice. Every device, browser, and application supports it. Choose JPG when you need maximum compatibility for sharing photos via email, social media, or messaging apps. Use our HEIC to JPG converter to convert single files instantly, or our batch converter to process entire folders at once.
Converting to PNG
Choose PNG when you need lossless quality or transparency support. PNG files are larger than JPG but preserve every pixel exactly as-is, making them ideal for screenshots, graphics, or archival purposes. Our HEIC to PNG converter handles this in seconds.
Converting to WebP
WebP is the best choice for web usage. It offers smaller file sizes than both JPG and PNG while maintaining excellent quality. Most modern browsers support WebP, making it the optimal format for website images. Try our HEIC to WebP converter for the best balance of quality and file size.
Choosing the Right Quality Setting
When converting to a lossy format like JPG, the quality setting matters:
PhotoFormatLab defaults to 90% quality, which is ideal for the vast majority of use cases.
How to Stop Your iPhone from Taking HEIC Photos
If you'd rather avoid HEIC entirely, you can change your iPhone's camera settings:
Note that this will increase the storage space used by your photos, since JPEG files are larger than HEIC. On average, expect to use roughly twice as much storage for the same number of photos. You will also lose access to some advanced features like Live Photos with depth data stored in a single container.
An alternative approach is to keep HEIC as your camera format for the storage benefits and simply convert to JPG when you need to share. This gives you the best of both worlds: efficient storage on your device and universal compatibility when sharing.
Understanding HEIC File Extensions
You might see several file extensions associated with HEIC images:
All of these can be converted using the same process. PhotoFormatLab accepts all HEIC and HEIF variants.
Privacy and Security Considerations
One thing many people overlook when converting HEIC files is privacy. HEIC photos from your iPhone contain EXIF metadata including GPS coordinates, camera settings, timestamps, and sometimes even the serial number of your device. When you upload photos to an online converter that processes files on a server, all of that metadata is potentially exposed.
PhotoFormatLab processes everything locally in your browser using WebAssembly. Your files are never uploaded anywhere, so your metadata and personal photos remain completely private. This is especially important for sensitive photos like documents, identification cards, or images of your home.
The Bottom Line
HEIC is a technically superior format that saves significant storage space on your Apple devices. However, its limited compatibility means you'll often need to convert HEIC files to more universal formats like JPG, PNG, or WebP when sharing images outside the Apple ecosystem. Convert HEIC to JPG instantly in your browser, or use our batch converter to process hundreds of HEIC photos at once. You can also compress your images after conversion to further reduce file sizes without changing formats.
Want a deeper dive? Read our HEIC vs JPEG comparison, learn how to open HEIC files on Windows, or check out our complete image format comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is the broader standard, while HEIC specifically refers to HEIF files that use HEVC compression. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. All HEIC files are HEIF files, but not all HEIF files are HEIC.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
There is a small quality loss when converting to JPG because JPEG uses lossy compression. However, at 90% quality the difference is imperceptible to the human eye. If you need zero quality loss, convert to PNG instead.
Can I convert HEIC files in bulk?
Yes. PhotoFormatLab's batch converter lets you drag and drop hundreds of HEIC files at once and download the converted results as a single ZIP file.
Why are my HEIC files so much smaller than JPGs?
HEIC uses the HEVC codec, which is roughly 25 years newer than JPEG's compression algorithm. Modern compression techniques like advanced prediction, larger transform blocks, and better entropy coding allow HEVC to achieve the same visual quality at roughly half the file size.
Do Android phones use HEIC?
Some Android phones, particularly Samsung flagships running Android 10 or later, offer HEIC as an option. However, JPEG remains the default on most Android devices. If you receive HEIC files from an Android user, you can convert them the same way.
Will HEIC ever become universally supported?
Browser support for HEIC has been slow because the HEVC codec requires licensing fees, which discourages open-source adoption. Royalty-free alternatives like WebP and AVIF are more likely to become the universal web standards. For the foreseeable future, converting HEIC for sharing will remain necessary.