What is HEIC and why does Apple use it
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. Apple adopted it as the default photo format on iPhones starting with iOS 11 because HEIC files are roughly half the size of equivalent JPG files while maintaining the same visual quality. This means your iPhone can store twice as many photos in the same amount of space.
HEIC also supports features that JPG does not, including transparency, 16-bit colour depth, and the ability to store multiple images in a single file (used for Live Photos and burst shots). For most everyday use, though, the main benefit is simply smaller file sizes.
The problem with HEIC
While HEIC is efficient, it is not universally supported. When you transfer photos from your iPhone to a Windows PC, email them to someone, or try to upload them to a website or form, you may encounter errors or be told the format is not supported.
- Windows — older versions and many applications cannot open HEIC files without additional software.
- Websites and online forms — most upload fields accept JPG and PNG but not HEIC.
- Email attachments — recipients on non-Apple devices may not be able to view HEIC files.
- Printing services — many photo printing services require JPG uploads.
- Older software — image editors, document tools, and presentation software often do not recognise HEIC.
The simplest solution is to convert HEIC to JPG. JPG is the most widely supported image format in the world and works on every device, browser, application, and operating system.
How to convert HEIC to JPG
- Open the HEIC to JPG tool.
- Upload your HEIC photo by clicking the upload area or dragging the file onto the page.
- The tool converts your image instantly in the browser.
- Download the JPG file. It is ready to use anywhere.
The conversion runs entirely in your browser. Your photos are never uploaded to a server and are never stored or shared.
Should you change your iPhone camera settings?
If you frequently share photos with non-Apple users, you can set your iPhone to save photos as JPG instead of HEIC. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and select Most Compatible. This saves all future photos as JPG.
The trade-off is that JPG files are roughly twice the size of HEIC files, so your photos will take up more storage space on your device. If storage is not a concern, switching to Most Compatible is the easiest long-term fix. For existing HEIC photos, use the HEIC to JPG converter to convert them as needed.