What is a HEIC file? Why won't it open?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) has been the default photo format on iPhone and iPad since iOS 11. HEIC files are about half the size of JPG at the same quality, but Windows, many photo editors, websites and e-commerce platforms still cannot read them. When you copy photos from an iPhone to a computer or receive them by email, .heic files often cannot be viewed.
Converting to JPG makes your photos open everywhere: Windows PCs, WhatsApp, Facebook, online stores, WordPress and printers.
How to convert HEIC to JPG
- Drag and drop or click to choose your .heic files. You can pick hundreds of photos at once.
- Keep quality at 90 for near-original photos, or lower it to 75-80 if you need lighter files to send.
- Click “Download all” to get a ZIP file with all the JPG photos.
For lighter photos to post on the web, choose the WebP format and scale to 1600px wide in Settings.
Make your iPhone shoot JPG instead of HEIC
If you do not want to convert every time, you can make your iPhone shoot JPG directly: go to Settings → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible. Note that JPG photos take up almost twice the storage.
Another option is Settings → Photos, and under “Transfer to Mac or PC” choose Automatic. Your iPhone will convert photos to JPG when you copy them over a cable.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
At a quality of 90, the JPG is nearly identical to the original. The JPG file will be larger than the HEIC because JPG compresses less efficiently.
Is the GPS location in my photos kept?
No. The JPG files contain no EXIF data such as GPS location, capture time or camera model. This protects your privacy when you share photos.
Can Live Photos be converted?
Yes. The tool takes the main frame of the Live Photo and saves it as a still JPG.
Why is the first conversion a bit slow?
The first time, your browser needs to download the HEIC decoder (about 800 KB). From the second photo on, conversion is instant. Recent versions of Safari read HEIC natively, so nothing needs to be downloaded.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. All processing happens in your browser. Your photos never leave your device, even when you process hundreds of files.