What is a HEIC file?
HEIC — iPhone photo
Use the format HEIC
A concrete example
Convert a HEIC photo to JPEG for a form that refuses it.
Useful checks
Check the orientation and colors. Depth data and associated elements do not become a simple JPEG photo.
Choose a conversion
Keep the original and open the result in the software or on the device that will need to use it.
Your questions about this format
How to convert a HEIC photo from iPhone for free?
Choose your HEIC file in Images, then JPEG to share it widely or PNG if your usage requires it. Proceed to preparation, check the output, and start the conversion. Download and open the result. HEIC remains free; size limits and daily quota apply.
JPEG, PNG or WEBP: how to choose?
For a photo to send, start with JPEG. For a logo with transparency or sharp text, prefer PNG. For a web publication, WEBP can be interesting: compare the size and the rendering before publication. Converting a JPEG to PNG does not restore details lost earlier.
Why does my transparent background become opaque?
JPEG does not preserve transparency. Choose PNG or WEBP when the background must remain transparent and the proposed conversion allows it. If the background is already flattened in the original file, changing the format will not remove it.
Will my Photoshop layers or my vector drawing be preserved?
A JPEG or PNG output is a flattened image. It does not retain PSD layers or the editable objects of an SVG or an Illustrator file. Keep your working file and use the exported copy for sharing. Specialized creation formats are indicated by NoLimit.
What is it?
HEIC is the photo format used by iPhones since 2017. It cuts file size roughly in half compared to a JPEG of equivalent quality, which let Apple double the number of photos a phone could store without changing the hardware.
It's not just an image format — it's a container. A single file can hold several photos, a depth map, an animated sequence (Live Photos), or non-destructive edits kept alongside the original.
History & origin
The HEIF container was standardized in 2015 by MPEG. Apple adopted it widely with iOS 11 in 2017, using it to store images compressed with the HEVC codec — hence the .heic extension.
Its spread has been held back by the patents covering HEVC: Windows long required a paid extension to open these files, and many websites still refuse them.
Why it is useful
It's half the size of a JPEG at higher quality. It supports transparency, 10-bit color, and multiple images per file.
Within the Apple ecosystem, everything works seamlessly without the user having to think about it.
Limits & drawbacks
Outside that ecosystem, it's a constant source of headaches: a HEIC file sent to someone on Windows or Android often won't open, and many platforms reject it outright.
The patents behind it explain this lukewarm adoption — and the existence of the royalty-free AVIF as a response.
Practical tips
Always convert your HEIC files to JPEG before sharing them outside an Apple device, or before uploading them to a website.
To avoid the problem at the source: go to Settings, Camera, Formats, and choose "Most Compatible" — your iPhone will switch to JPEG, at the cost of larger files.
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Convert a HEIC