HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format, introduced with iOS 11 in 2017. It uses HEVC compression to store photos at roughly half the size of an equivalent JPG. HEIC is Apple's specific version of the broader HEIF standard. Files with .heic or .heif extensions are essentially the same format.

Is HEIC the same as HEIF?

Yes and no. HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the general standard published by MPEG in 2015. HEIC is Apple's specific implementation of that standard, using HEVC compression. In practice, the .heic and .heif extensions are interchangeable — both are supported by every conversion tool, including this one.

Is HEIC the same as JPEG?

No. HEIC and JPEG are two entirely different image formats. HEIC uses modern HEVC compression and supports up to 16-bit color. JPEG uses the older JPEG compression standard from 1992 and supports 8-bit color. HEIC produces smaller files with better quality, but JPEG has universal compatibility. Converting HEIC to JPEG gives you the best of both worlds.

How do I convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone?

You can convert a single photo by opening it in Photos, tapping Share, and selecting Save to Files. For entire albums, this free online converter is faster — open Safari, tap Select Files, and upload multiple HEIC files at once. Alternatively, change your iPhone camera to shoot in JPG by going to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and selecting Most Compatible.

How do I convert HEIF files to JPG?

HEIF and HEIC files are handled identically by this tool. Upload your .heif file using the button above, and the converter will produce a JPG in seconds. No signup, no software installation, no per-file limits. The .heif and .heic extensions both contain the same underlying HEVC-compressed image data.

What is the difference between HEIF and HEIC?

HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the general standard published by MPEG in 2015. HEIC is Apple's specific implementation of that standard using HEVC compression. In practice, the extensions are interchangeable — both are supported by every conversion tool, including this one.

Why does my iPhone save photos as HEIC instead of JPG?

Apple switched the iPhone's default camera format to HEIC in iOS 11 because it saves storage — up to 50 percent smaller than JPG at the same visual quality. You can change this by going to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and selecting Most Compatible. This forces the camera to save future photos as JPG instead. Photos already saved as HEIC can be converted using this tool.

How do I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11?

Windows 11 does not open HEIC files natively. The easiest fix is this free online converter — no software to install, works in any browser. If you prefer a desktop method, install the free HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then open the HEIC file in Photos and use the three-dot menu and Save as JPG.

How do I convert HEIC to JPG on Mac?

On macOS, open the HEIC file in Preview by double-clicking it, then choose File, Export, and select JPEG from the format dropdown. For batch conversion of an entire album, use this free online converter instead — drag and drop as many files as you need, and download all converted JPGs together.

Can I open HEIF files on Windows?

Windows 10 and 11 do not include native HEIF support. To open HEIF files on Windows without installing software, use this free online converter — it processes the file in your browser and gives you a JPG that opens in every Windows application. Alternatively, install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store.

Will converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?

The conversion is visually lossless at normal viewing sizes. HEIC and JPG use different compression algorithms, so converting technically re-encodes the image, but the visible quality remains the same. If you need true zero quality loss and do not require universal compatibility, convert HEIC to PNG instead — PNG is lossless.

Can I convert multiple HEIC files at once?

Yes. Batch conversion is fully supported — upload your entire album at once with a 200 MB limit per file, and download all converted JPG files together. There is no per-session limit. Batch conversion is the fastest way to fix a folder of iPhone photos that Windows or Android cannot open. Also works for the alias extension .heif.

How do I open an HEIC file on Windows?

Windows 10 and 11 do not include HEIC support by default. You have three options: convert the HEIC file to JPG using this free online tool which is instant and requires no software, install the free HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, or install a dedicated app like IrfanView or GIMP.

Does Canva support HEIC files?

Canva does not natively support HEIC files in all plans. If you want to use a HEIC photo in Canva, convert it to JPG first using this free tool — the resulting JPG will import into Canva without issues. This also applies to Figma, Adobe Express, and most other design tools.

What is the fastest way to convert HEIC to JPG?

The fastest way is using this free online converter. Upload your HEIC files with up to 200 MB each, click Convert, and download the JPGs in seconds. No signup, no software installation, no waiting. For batch conversions of an entire iPhone album, just drag and drop all files together — the entire batch processes server-side in seconds.

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About HEIC to JPG conversion

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) and HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) are the same image format with two interchangeable extensions — Apple's default photo format on every iPhone and iPad since iOS 11 (2017). The two terms refer to identical image data: HEIC is Apple's specific implementation of the broader HEIF standard published by MPEG in 2015, and files named .heic or .heif contain the same content. Apple chose this format because it stores photos at roughly half the size of an equivalent JPG while maintaining better image quality.

The problem is universal compatibility. Windows 10 and Windows 11 cannot open HEIC or HEIF files without installing the paid HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Most email clients, website upload forms, and government portals reject HEIC and HEIF files outright. Older Android phones, versions of Photoshop before 23.2, older versions of Figma, and Microsoft Office cannot open these files without a plugin. If you have ever transferred iPhone photos to a Windows PC, tried to attach them to an email, or uploaded them to a website and got an error, this is why.

JPG (also written JPEG) has been the universal photo standard since 1992. Every operating system, browser, email client, photo editor, and printing service can open a JPG. When you convert HEIC or HEIF to JPG, you get a file that works everywhere — on any device, in any application, for any purpose.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone

Open the Photos app, tap Share, and select Save to Files. Alternatively, change your camera settings by going to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and selecting Most Compatible — this forces all future photos to save as JPG. For converting existing photos in bulk, use our free online converter to process your entire library at once.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac

Open the HEIC file in Preview by double-clicking it, then choose File, Export, and select JPEG from the format dropdown. For batch conversion of an entire album, drag and drop all your files into this converter — it processes server-side and downloads all results as a batch.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows

Windows 10 and 11 do not open HEIC files natively. Install the free HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store to enable native viewing, or use this free online converter to convert files instantly without installing anything. For most users, online conversion is faster and does not require paid codecs.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Android

Modern Android browsers such as Chrome, Samsung Internet, and Firefox can upload HEIC files directly to this converter. Just open the page, tap Select Files, and choose your HEIC photos. Android 9 and later devices can display HEIC natively in some apps, but converting to JPG ensures universal sharing.

Batch Convert HEIC to JPG

Upload your entire album at once — up to 200 MB per file — and download all converted JPGs together. There is no per-session limit. Whether you have 5 photos or 500, the entire batch processes in seconds.

HEIC vs JPEG — Which Is Better?

HEIC is technically superior — better compression with up to 50 percent smaller files, higher color depth with 16-bit versus 8-bit, and support for transparency and animated sequences. JPEG is better for universal compatibility: every device, application, and website opens JPG without issues. If you are sharing photos with others, uploading to a website, or using Windows, JPG is the safer choice. If you are storing photos only on Apple devices, HEIC saves significant storage space.

What Is the Best HEIC to JPG Converter?

The best converter is free, requires no signup, has no watermarks, no file limits, and preserves quality. ConvertFileBox meets all four criteria — plus files are automatically deleted from our servers within 1 hour for privacy. No ads, no premium upsells, no surprises.

Whether you call it HEIC, HEIF, or Apple's proprietary photo format, the same solution applies: convert to JPG for universal compatibility. Files are processed securely on our servers and automatically deleted after 1 hour.

Also available: JPG to HEIC Converter

HEIC vs JPG: at a glance

Property	HEIC	JPG
Compression	lossy	lossy
Transparency	Yes	No
Animation	Yes	No
Color depth	up to 16-bit	24-bit
Created by	MPEG	Joint Photographic Experts Group
Introduced	2015	1992
Best for	iPhone photos, Apple ecosystem	photographs, email attachments, web thumbnails

HEIC uses HEVC compression (the same technology behind 4K video) for smaller files and better quality at equivalent file sizes. JPG uses the older JPEG standard, which is less efficient but universally supported. HEIC supports 16-bit color (16.7 million+ colors per channel) while JPG is limited to 8-bit. HEIC files are roughly 50% smaller than equivalent JPGs. However, converting HEIC to JPG slightly increases file size while guaranteeing compatibility with every device, application, and website. At typical photo quality settings, the visual difference between the two formats is imperceptible.

Common use cases

Converting iPhone photos to JPG before transferring them to a Windows PC
Batch converting an entire iPhone photo library to universally-compatible JPG
Uploading HEIC or HEIF photos to websites, forms, and portals that reject these formats
Sharing iPhone photos with Android users who cannot open HEIC or HEIF files
Editing HEIC or HEIF photos in older versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, or GIMP
Attaching iPhone photos to email where HEIC and HEIF files are rejected by clients
Converting HEIF files from non-Apple cameras or apps that use the .heif extension
Standardizing a mix of .heic and .heif files into a single universally compatible format
Archiving iPhone photo libraries in a universally readable format for the long term
Opening HEIF files on Windows without installing paid HEVC codecs
Preparing iPhone photos for use in Canva, Figma, or Adobe Express which do not fully support HEIC
Converting HEIC photos before uploading them to social media, marketplaces, or job application portals

Converting camera raw photos from a Canon EOS system rather than an iPhone? Use our dedicated CR3 to JPG converter.