What Is a HEIC File? Meaning, How to Open and Convert It
A HEIC file is a photo saved in the HEIF format and compressed with HEVC (H.265), which makes it about half the size of the same photo saved as a JPG. iPhones have saved photos as HEIC by default since iOS 11 in 2017. Apple devices open it natively; on Windows, in most browsers and on many websites the easy fix is converting it to JPG.
Why are my photos HEIC instead of JPG?
It is a camera setting, not something you did. On iPhone and iPad, Settings > Camera > Formats is set to High Efficiency out of the box, and that option saves photos as HEIC. Some Android phones, such as Samsung Galaxy models from the S10 onward, have a similar High efficiency pictures switch. It is off by default, but once it is on, every new photo is a .heic file.
HEIC files on your computer or in a shared folder usually mean someone sent the original iPhone file: Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud links, AirDrop and emails sent at actual size keep the HEIC, while most messaging apps convert to JPG.
How to turn off HEIC on iPhone and Samsung
iPhone and iPad
- Open Settings and tap Camera.
- Tap Formats.
- Select Most Compatible. New photos are now saved as JPG.
Want to keep the smaller files? Leave High Efficiency on, open Settings > Apps > Photos (Settings > Photos on iOS 17 and older) and set Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic. Your iPhone then converts photos to JPG whenever you copy them to a computer over USB.
Samsung Galaxy
- Open the Camera app and tap the settings gear.
- Tap Advanced picture options (on some models the switch sits under Picture formats).
- Turn off High efficiency pictures.
Both settings only affect new photos. Everything you already took stays HEIC, so convert the files you need to share. Keep in mind that JPG photos take roughly twice the space, and on iPhone, recording 4K at 60 fps switches the camera back to High Efficiency.
How to open a HEIC file
| Device | What opens it |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 and 10 | The Photos app, once HEIF Image Extensions (free) and HEVC Video Extensions (about $0.99) are installed from the Microsoft Store; some Windows 11 PCs already have both. |
| Mac | Preview, Photos or Quick Look, built in since macOS High Sierra (2017). |
| iPhone and iPad | The Photos and Files apps, built in since iOS 11. |
| Android | Google Photos or the stock gallery on Android 10 and newer. |
| Browser | Safari 17 and later only; in Chrome, Edge or Firefox use a free online HEIC viewer. |
Photos from Canon, Sony or Fujifilm cameras with the .hif extension are HEIF files too; open them with the HEIF to JPG converter for camera files. Step by step fixes for every system are in how to open HEIC files.
HEIC vs HEIF vs JPG
HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the container standard. HEIC is a HEIF file whose images are compressed with HEVC, and that is what iPhones produce.
Compared with JPG, HEIC stores the same visual quality in roughly half the bytes and holds more: up to 16 bit color instead of 8 bit, Live Photos and bursts in one file, the depth map from portrait mode, and transparency.
The catch is compatibility. HEVC carries patent royalties, so Chrome, Firefox and Edge do not display HEIC, and many upload forms, marketplaces and print kiosks reject .heic files. The full comparison is in HEIC vs JPG.
Should you keep HEIC or convert it?
On Apple devices, keep HEIC: it saves storage and keeps Live Photos and depth data. Convert only the photos that have to leave Apple's world, such as uploads to a web form, files for a Windows user or prints.
- Open our HEIC to JPG converter in any browser.
- Drop one or several HEIC photos on the page. Conversion starts automatically.
- Download each JPG, or all of them as one ZIP.
Each JPG comes back at full resolution with its Exif data kept, with no account and no watermark. For built in methods on iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android, see how to convert HEIC to JPG.
Frequently asked questions
What does HEIC stand for?
Usually High Efficiency Image Container, which is Apple's wording; some sources say High Efficiency Image Coding. Either way it means a HEIF photo compressed with the HEVC codec.
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
Not quite. HEIF is the container standard, and HEIC is a HEIF file whose images are compressed with HEVC. Every HEIC is a HEIF, but a HEIF can also use another codec, such as AV1 in .avif files.
Does switching to Most Compatible convert my old HEIC photos?
No. The setting only changes new photos; everything already in your camera roll stays HEIC. Convert the ones you need to share, for example in one batch with an online converter.
How do I open a HEIC file on Windows?
Windows 11 opens HEIC in the Photos app once the free HEIF Image Extensions and the HEVC Video Extensions are installed from the Microsoft Store. If that fails, convert the file to JPG online and it opens anywhere.
Is HEIC better quality than JPG?
At the sizes phones produce, the two look the same. HEIC wins on file size and extras such as 16 bit color and depth data; JPG wins because every device and website opens it.
Got a HEIC file that will not open?
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Convert your HEIC files nowRelated articles
How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 11, 10, Mac and AndroidOpen HEIC files on Windows 11 and 10, Mac, iPhone and Android: what works out of the box in 2026, the two Microsoft Store fixes and a viewer for any browser.
How to Convert HEIC to JPG: iPhone, Mac, Windows, AndroidExact steps to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone, Mac, Windows 11 and Android with tools you already have, plus a free online option when you cannot install apps.
HEIC vs JPG: Which Is Better? Size, Quality and CompatibilityHEIC vs JPG compared: file size, color depth, HDR and compatibility in one table, plus a decision table that shows which format is better for each job.