iFixImg
FormatsJul 25, 2026 · 5 min read

What is HEIC? How to Open and Convert HEIC Files on Windows & Mac

Since iOS 11 (2017), iPhone saves photos in HEIC format by default. The format is genuinely better than JPEG — smaller files, better quality. The problem is that Windows, most Android apps, and a huge portion of web software can't open HEIC files natively. Here's what HEIC is and how to deal with it.

What is HEIC?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is Apple's implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) standard, which uses the HEVC (H.265) video codec to compress still images. The same compression technology used for 4K video is applied to photos — which is why HEIC files are roughly half the size of an equivalent JPEG at the same visual quality.

A typical iPhone portrait photo is around 3–4MB as HEIC. The same photo as JPEG would be 6–8MB. For someone with 10,000+ photos, that is a meaningful storage difference.

Why can't Windows open HEIC?

HEIF/HEIC is a standard developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), but Apple was the first to adopt it widely. Microsoft added basic HEIC support to Windows 10/11 through the HEVC Video Extensions codec, but it costs $0.99 on the Microsoft Store and isn't installed by default. Without it, Windows Photos and most apps show an error.

The free workaround is to convert the HEIC to JPEG before sending it to anyone on Windows or uploading to a service that doesn't support HEIC.

How to convert HEIC to JPG

Option 1: iFixImg (free, in your browser)

Drop the HEIC file into iFixImg's converter. It converts to JPG or WebP entirely in your browser — your photos never leave your device.

Convert HEIC to JPG — no upload, private, freeConvert HEIC →

Option 2: On your iPhone — stop saving as HEIC

If you want photos to transfer as JPEG by default, you have two options on iPhone:

A) Change the camera format permanently:

Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible

This saves future photos as JPEG instead of HEIC. It uses more storage but solves the compatibility problem permanently. Existing photos stay as HEIC.

B) Auto-convert on transfer (recommended):

Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic

This keeps HEIC on your iPhone (saving storage) but automatically converts to JPEG when you cable-transfer to a computer. Best of both worlds.

Option 3: On Mac using Preview

Mac opens HEIC natively in Preview. To export as JPEG:

1. Open the .heic file in Preview
2. File → Export
3. Change "Format" dropdown to JPEG
4. Adjust quality slider (85 is a good default)
5. Click Save

Option 4: Batch convert on Mac via terminal

If you have a folder full of HEIC files from AirDrop or an import:

# Convert all HEIC files in current folder to JPEG
for f in *.heic *.HEIC; do
  [ -f "$f" ] || continue
  sips -s format jpeg "$f" --out "${f%.*}.jpg"
done

sips is a built-in macOS command — no installation needed.

HEIC vs JPEG — should you convert everything?

Keep your originals as HEIC on your iPhone. The storage savings are real, and iCloud handles HEIC perfectly. Only convert when you need to:

  • Share with someone on Windows who can't open HEIC
  • Upload to a website or service that rejects HEIC
  • Edit in software that doesn't support HEIC (older Photoshop versions, etc.)
  • Send via email where HEIC might be blocked by the recipient's server

For web use, convert to WebP instead of JPEG — it's 25–35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality, and all modern browsers support it.

References: HEIF Standard (Nokia) · Apple — About HEIF and HEVC