HEIC File Extension: Everything You Need to Know

The .heic extension shows up on photos from iPhones and causes compatibility problems in some other apps. Here's a complete guide to understanding, opening, and converting .heic files.

Convert .heic Files to JPG

Quick Reference: .heic Files

Full name:High Efficiency Image Container
Developed by:MPEG (adopted by Apple)
First appeared:iOS 11, September 2017
Compression:Usually HEVC (H.265)
Typical file size:Varies by image and settings
Mac support:macOS High Sierra+
Windows support:HEIF extension; HEVC may also be required
Android support:Decoder available from Android 8; apps vary

What Is the .heic Extension?

The .heic file extension commonly appears on photos from supported iPhones and iPads using the High Efficiency camera setting. The saved format depends on the camera settings and capture mode; not every iPhone photo is a HEIC file.

The "container" aspect of HEIC means a single .heic file can hold:

  • The main photo (still image)
  • Auxiliary images or image sequences supported by the container
  • Depth map data (for Portrait mode photos)
  • Multiple exposure images (for HDR)
  • EXIF metadata, which may include date, location, and camera settings
  • Color profile information

These are container capabilities, not a list of information guaranteed to be present in every HEIC file.

Format and platform support were last checked in September 2026 against Apple's HEIF and HEVC guidance, Android supported media formats, and Microsoft's extension guidance. For the container and supported image encodings, see Nokia's HEIF technical overview.

Programs That Open .heic Files

Windows

  • Microsoft Photos (with HEIF Image Extensions; HEVC may also be required)
  • IrfanView (with HEIF/HEIC plugin)
  • XnView MP
  • Adobe Photoshop CC 2018+
  • GIMP (with HEIF plugin)

Install HEIF Image Extensions first. Microsoft says some HEIC files also require the paid HEVC Video Extensions.

Mac

  • Preview (built-in, macOS High Sierra+)
  • Photos (built-in)
  • Safari
  • Adobe Photoshop CC 2018+
  • Affinity Photo
  • Pixelmator Pro

HEIC is fully native on Mac — no additional software needed.

Android

  • Google Photos (support depends on the Android and app version)
  • Samsung Gallery (One UI 3.0+)
  • Files by Google (preview support varies by device)

Android exposes HEIF decoding from Android 8, but manufacturers and apps do not all expose it in the same way.

Linux

  • GNOME Files (with heif-gdk-pixbuf plugin)
  • gThumb (with libheif)
  • Shotwell
  • GIMP (with HEIF plugin)

Run 'sudo apt install libheif-examples' for command-line HEIC support.

How to Change iPhone's Default Photo Format

If you want your iPhone to save photos as JPG instead of HEIC, the setting is in Camera settings:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap Camera.
  3. Tap Formats.
  4. Select Most Compatible (saves as JPG) instead of "High Efficiency" (saves as HEIC).

This only affects new photos. Existing HEIC photos on your iPhone remain in HEIC format. To convert existing photos, use ConvertHEIC.org or Mac Preview.

Trade-off: JPG is usually easier to share, but the output can be larger or smaller than the HEIC source depending on image content and encoder settings. Keep HEIC for the original and create JPG only when the destination needs it.

Converting .heic to Other File Formats

.heic → .jpg

ConvertHEIC.org (free, browser-based) or Mac Preview

Best for: Sharing, web upload, email, printing

.heic → .png

Mac Preview: File → Export → PNG; or IrfanView on Windows

Best for: Transparency, graphics, lossless editing

.heic → .pdf

Mac Preview: File → Export as PDF; or Print → Save as PDF

Best for: Documents, archival, cross-platform sharing

.heic → .webp

XnConvert (free, cross-platform) or command-line tools

Best for: Web images — smaller than JPG with good quality

.heic → .tiff

Mac Preview: File → Export → TIFF; professional quality

Best for: Professional print, publishing workflows

.heic → .bmp

IrfanView on Windows; Paint (open JPG → Save As BMP)

Best for: Legacy software compatibility

.HEIC File Extension Questions

What is the .heic file extension?
.heic is a filename extension commonly used for HEIF images created by Apple devices since iOS 11. These files often use HEVC compression and can store photos efficiently, but the size difference from JPG depends on the image and the settings used to create both files.
What programs open .heic files?
On Mac, Preview and Photos can open many .heic files. On Windows, install Microsoft's HEIF Image Extensions and, when Windows requests it, the HEVC Video Extensions. Android has platform HEIF decoding support from Android 8, but actual viewing still depends on the device and app. Linux applications generally need libheif support.
How do I change a .heic file extension to .jpg?
Simply renaming .heic to .jpg does NOT work — the file format itself must be converted, not just the extension. Use ConvertHEIC.org to properly convert the image data from HEIC format to JPG format. On Mac, you can also use Preview: File → Export → Format: JPEG. Renaming does not change the image data and can prevent apps from recognizing the file correctly.
How do I stop iPhone from saving photos as .heic?
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats and select 'Most Compatible' instead of 'High Efficiency'. Your iPhone will then save new photos as JPG (.jpg) instead of HEIC (.heic). Note: this doesn't change existing HEIC photos — only new photos taken after the setting change.
Why does my iPhone email photos as .heic but they arrive as .jpg?
Apple says shared media may be converted to a compatible format when the receiving device does not support the original. The result depends on the sharing method and recipient. Check the attachment, or export a JPG explicitly when it is required. The Photos transfer setting concerns importing by USB, not a guarantee for every message or email.
What is the difference between .heic and .heif extensions?
.heic commonly identifies HEIF images using HEVC compression. HEIF is the broader container format and is not limited to one image encoding. The filename extension alone does not establish which features a file contains or whether a particular app can open it.
Can I convert .heic to other formats besides JPG?
Yes. From a .heic file you can convert to: JPG (most compatible, good compression), PNG (lossless, larger files), WebP (modern web format, smaller than JPG), TIFF (professional printing), BMP (uncompressed). For JPG conversion, use ConvertHEIC.org for free browser-based conversion. For other formats, use Mac Preview, IrfanView, or XnConvert.
Is .heic the same as .hevc?
.heic is an image-container filename extension, while .hevc usually identifies an H.265/HEVC video bitstream. HEIC images commonly use HEVC compression, but a Live Photo stores its motion as a paired video resource rather than treating every HEIC as a video file.

Convert .heic Files to JPG in Your Browser

Select the file in a current browser, create a JPG copy locally, and verify it in the destination that rejected the HEIC.

Convert .heic Files to JPG

Understand the file before changing it

What the HEIC file extension means and how to use it

This explanation is for anyone who found a .heic or .heif filename and wants to know what it contains, why an app rejects it, and what to do next.

The HEIC file extension identifies an image stored in a HEIF-based container commonly used for iPhone photos. It is a real image format, not a broken JPG filename. When a device or website does not support it, convert the image data to JPG rather than renaming the suffix.

Why the extension becomes important

  • A transferred iPhone photo ends in .heic and has no thumbnail on the receiving device.
  • An upload form accepts .jpg but blocks the HEIC file extension.
  • A file manager shows both .heic and .heif files and you need compatible copies.
  • A recipient asks you to resend the image in a format their app recognizes.

Handle an unfamiliar HEIC file safely

  • Keep the original filename and extension until you have verified the file type.
  • Never make a fake JPG by changing .heic to .jpg in File Explorer or Finder.
  • Create a separate JPG copy for sharing, then open that copy in the destination app.
  • Retain the HEIC source when it is the only original version of the photo.

Extension changes are not conversions

A filename suffix tells software what format to expect, but editing the suffix does not rewrite the image. This converter accepts HEIC, HEIF, and ZIP input and produces real JPG files. It does not convert the source into a new HEIC file or replace an archival original.

Are .heic and .heif exactly the same extension?

They are different filename extensions associated with the HEIF family. Software support can vary, so this converter accepts both as image inputs.

Can I change the HEIC file extension to JPG?

Not by renaming it. You need to decode the HEIC image and export new JPG image data.

Does a .heic suffix mean the file is damaged?

No. It identifies the file format. If the file is complete but an app does not support HEIC, use a compatible viewer or create a real JPG copy.

Need a real JPG rather than a renamed file?

Convert the HEIC or HEIF image data in your browser and download a separate JPG copy.

Convert the HEIC File

Identify or Open an HEIC File

Format
What Is HEIC?
Apple's image format explained clearly
Open
Open HEIC Files
Open HEIC on Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux
Compare
HEIC vs JPG
Compare quality, size, and compatibility