What is a HEIC file, and how do you open one?

A HEIC file is a photo saved in Apple's version of the HEIF image format, which uses HEVC (H.265) compression. iPhones have saved photos this way by default since iOS 11 in 2017. A HEIC photo is often much smaller than a JPG of similar quality, but plenty of Windows PCs, websites and upload forms still can't open it. To open one, use Preview or Photos on a Mac, add Microsoft's HEIF Image Extensions on Windows, or convert the file to JPG.

Below: what the format is, how it compares with JPG, and how to open it on each system. The last section shows how to stop your iPhone creating HEIC files.

What does HEIC mean on an iPhone?

HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image File Format. HEIC is the file extension Apple uses for HEIF images compressed with HEVC, the same codec iPhones use for high efficiency video. So when you see IMG_1234.HEIC in a folder, it's a normal photo stored in a newer container.

The setting that controls it lives in Settings > Camera > Formats. High Efficiency saves photos as HEIC. Most Compatible saves them as JPG. New iPhones ship with High Efficiency turned on, which is why most people meet the format without ever choosing it.

A HEIC file can hold more than one image plus extra data. Apple uses that for extras such as depth information in Portrait photos. For everyday use, though, you can treat it as a photo file like any other.

HEIC vs JPG: what's the difference?

Both formats are lossy, meaning they throw away some detail to keep files small. The difference is how well they do it.

• File size: HEIC is often much smaller than a JPG of similar visual quality. On a phone full of photos, that adds up to a lot of storage.
• Quality: at the same file size, HEIC usually keeps more detail and shows fewer blocky artifacts.
• Compatibility: JPG opens almost everywhere, from old laptops to government upload portals. HEIC support is patchy outside Apple devices.
• Extras: HEIC can store several images and depth data in one file. JPG holds a single image.

So HEIC is the better format for storing photos on your own devices, and JPG is the safer format for sending them anywhere else. Many people keep HEIC on the phone and convert only the photos they need to share. The guide to image formats covers how PNG, WebP and SVG fit alongside these two.

How to open a HEIC file on Windows 11

Windows doesn't always open HEIC photos out of the box. You usually need two free add-ons from the Microsoft Store.

1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
2. Search for HEIF Image Extensions and install it.
3. Search for HEVC Video Extensions and install that too. HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC, so the Photos app needs it to decode them.
4. Double-click the HEIC file. It should now open in Photos, and File Explorer should show thumbnails.

Once the extensions are installed, you can open a HEIC photo in Photos or Paint and use Save as to make a JPG copy. That's fine for one or two files. For a folder of them, a batch converter is quicker.

How to open a HEIC file on a Mac

Macs handle HEIC natively. Double-click the file and it opens in Preview, or import it into the Photos app. No add-ons are needed.

To make a JPG copy in Preview:

1. Open the HEIC file in Preview.
2. Choose File > Export.
3. Set Format to JPEG and drag the Quality slider if you want a smaller file.
4. Click Save.

You can open several HEIC photos in one Preview window, select all the thumbnails in the sidebar, and export them together.

How to convert HEIC to JPG on any device

If you're on a work PC where you can't install Store apps, or you have dozens of photos, a browser converter is simpler. The HEIC converter turns HEIC photos into JPG, PNG or PDF and downloads a batch as one ZIP. It runs in your browser, so the photos stay on your device.

1. Open the HEIC converter and drop in your photos.
2. Pick JPG as the output. Choose PNG if you need lossless output, or PDF if the photos are pages of a document.
3. Convert and download the files, or the ZIP for a batch.

For a form with a size limit, try the Image Compressor. It accepts HEIC directly and shrinks it to a target size in KB. That saves a separate conversion step. For more detail on converting, including problems you might hit afterwards, see how to convert HEIC to JPG.

Why won't a website accept my HEIC photo?

Most upload forms check the file extension against a short list, usually JPG, JPEG and PNG. A HEIC file fails that check even if the photo itself is fine. Some sites also can't show a preview of it, so the upload looks broken.

The fix is to send a JPG. Your iPhone often does this for you. When you share a photo to many apps or attach it in Mail, iOS converts it to JPG automatically. Problems tend to show up when you copy photos to a PC with a cable. Downloading originals from iCloud can also leave you with HEIC files.

When you're filling in an exam or ID form, convert to JPG first, then resize or compress to the exact limit the form asks for.

How to stop your iPhone saving photos as HEIC

You have two settings to choose from, depending on where the trouble starts.

1. To shoot JPG from now on, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos save as JPG. Existing photos stay HEIC.
2. To keep HEIC on the phone but get JPG on your computer, go to Settings > Photos and, under Transfer to Mac or PC, choose Automatic. Photos copied over a cable are then converted to a compatible format.

Switching to Most Compatible means your photos take up more storage. If space is tight, the second option is the better trade, since you keep the smaller files on the phone and only pay the size cost on the computer.

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