Images · .heic
What Is a HEIC File?
A .heic file is the photo format iPhones and iPads use by default.
- Extension
- .heic
- Full name
- High Efficiency Image Container
- Type
- Image
- MIME type
- image/heic
- Developed by
- MPEG (HEIF standard), adopted by Apple in 2017
Free HEIC Tools
These run in your browser. Your HEIC files are never uploaded.
About HEIC Files
HEIC is Apple's name for photos saved in the HEIF format with HEVC compression. Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC because the files are about half the size of a JPG with the same quality. A HEIC file can also hold extras, such as Live Photo frames, depth data for portrait mode and wide-colour information. The catch is compatibility: Windows, many websites and older apps can't open HEIC without extra software. When you share a photo from an iPhone, iOS often converts it to JPG automatically, but files copied by cable or exported from iCloud stay HEIC.
How to Open a HEIC File
- Windows
- Install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then open the file in Photos. Some PCs also need the HEVC Video Extensions.
- Mac
- Double-click to open it in Preview or Photos.
- iPhone & iPad
- HEIC photos open in the Photos app.
- Android
- Android 10 and later open HEIC files in Google Photos and most gallery apps.
HEIC File Questions
How do I stop my iPhone from taking HEIC photos?
Go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPG. Photos you already took stay HEIC.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
Very little at a high quality setting. JPG files will be larger than the HEIC originals, because JPG compression is less efficient.
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
HEIC is a HEIF file that uses HEVC compression. In practice, .heic and .heif files open in the same apps and convert with the same tools.