Convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPG or PNG -- free, private, runs in your browser
Read more: How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Any Device
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a modern image format based on the HEVC (H.265) video codec. Apple adopted HEIC as the default photo format starting with iOS 11 in 2017. Compared to JPG, HEIC files are roughly 50% smaller at equivalent visual quality, which saves significant storage space on your device and in iCloud backups.
HEIC also supports features that JPG cannot: transparency, 16-bit color depth, image sequences (used for Live Photos), and non-destructive edits stored as metadata. The format stores both the image data and auxiliary information -- such as depth maps from Portrait mode -- in a single file.
Windows and Android do not natively support HEIC in all applications. Here are the most common approaches:
| Feature | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | HEVC-based, ~50% smaller | DCT-based, widely supported |
| Quality at same size | Higher | Lower |
| Transparency | Supported | Not supported |
| Color depth | Up to 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Browser support | Safari only (native) | All browsers |
| Compatibility | Apple ecosystem, limited elsewhere | Universal |
| Editing | Non-destructive edits in metadata | Destructive re-encoding |
| Live Photos | Stores image + video in one file | Still image only |
Live Photos on iPhone are stored as a HEIC still image paired with a short video clip. This converter extracts and converts the still image portion. The video component (the motion part you see when you long-press) is a separate MOV file that is not included in the HEIC container processed here.
Yes. The entire conversion process runs in your browser using a JavaScript HEIC decoder. Your photos are never uploaded to any server. No data leaves your device. You can verify this by disconnecting from the internet after the page loads -- the tool will continue to work.
All modern browsers work: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari on both desktop and mobile. The HEIC decoding library (heic2any) is pure JavaScript and does not rely on native HEIC support from the browser or operating system.
Converting to JPG involves lossy compression, so there is a small quality reduction. At the default setting of 92, the difference is virtually invisible to the human eye. If you need perfect quality preservation, choose PNG as the output format -- it is lossless but produces larger files.
This tool processes one image at a time for maximum reliability and to keep memory usage manageable (HEIC decoding is memory-intensive). After downloading one converted image, click "Change Image" to convert the next one.
HEIC uses HEVC compression, which is computationally expensive to decode. The JavaScript decoder running in your browser is doing the same work that dedicated hardware (like the chip in your iPhone) normally handles. Expect 2-5 seconds for a typical 12-megapixel photo, depending on your device.