What is a HEIC file?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the photo format iPhones and iPads have used by default since iOS 11. It stores a photo in roughly half the space of a JPG at similar quality, which is why Apple switched to it.
The catch is compatibility. Many Windows PCs need an extra extension to open HEIC, older Android phones can't show it, and plenty of websites — job portals, government forms, online shops — reject it outright.
We tested it: two real iPhone photos
We converted two 12-megapixel iPhone HEIC photos in Chrome on an ordinary laptop:
| Photo | HEIC | JPG | Resolution | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo 1 | 704 KB | 1.14 MB | 3024×4032 (unchanged) | 3.7 s |
| Photo 2 | 1.43 MB | 2.38 MB | 4032×3024 (unchanged) | 3.1 s |
The JPGs are about 1.7× the size of the HEIC files. That's normal: HEIC is roughly twice as efficient, and the converter saves JPGs at high quality (92%) so nothing visible is lost.
Need a smaller file for a form? Convert here first, then use one of the compress-to-KB tools.
When to convert HEIC to JPG
- An upload form says "JPG or PNG only" and won't take your iPhone photo.
- You're sending photos to someone on Windows or an older Android phone.
- You want to print photos at a shop or kiosk that doesn't read HEIC.
- You're adding photos to a document, slide deck or website builder.
Stop your iPhone saving HEIC
If you always need JPG, go to Settings → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPG. Existing photos stay HEIC, so convert those here.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
Only very slightly. We save at high JPG quality and keep the full resolution, so the difference isn't visible at normal viewing size. The JPG will be larger than the HEIC, though — that's the trade-off for compatibility.
Can I convert many HEIC photos at once?
Yes. Select or drop a whole batch and download them together as a ZIP file.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, so your photos never leave your phone or computer.
What about Live Photos?
The still image is converted to JPG. The short video part of a Live Photo isn't included.