Formats
What Is a HEIC File? (And How to Open One)
HEIC is the photo format iPhones use. What it is, why Apple chose it, which devices can open it, and the easiest ways to view or convert HEIC photos.
· 2 min read · ConvertPixels Team
If you've copied photos off an iPhone and found files ending in .heic, you've met Apple's default photo format. It's efficient and high quality - and a headache whenever a photo leaves the Apple world.
What HEIC stands for
HEIC means High Efficiency Image Container. It's Apple's version of HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format), a standard from the same group that created MPEG video. The image inside is compressed with HEVC, the codec behind 4K video.
Why iPhones use it
Apple switched to HEIC with iOS 11 in 2017. Compared with JPG, HEIC:
- Takes roughly half the storage at the same visual quality
- Supports 16-bit color, so skies and gradients band less
- Can hold multiple images in one file - Live Photos, bursts and depth maps for Portrait mode
Where HEIC works - and where it doesn't
| Opens HEIC | Has trouble |
|---|---|
| iPhone, iPad, Mac | Windows without extra extensions |
| Safari | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| Recent Android gallery apps | Many websites and upload forms |
| Google Photos, Dropbox | Older photo editors and print kiosks |
How to open a HEIC file
- Mac or iPhone: just double-click or tap it.
- Windows: install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (some PCs also need the HEVC Video Extensions).
- Anywhere else: convert it. The HEIC to JPG converter works in any browser, and the HEIC converter covers PNG, PDF and other formats.
Should you stop using HEIC?
Probably not. Keep HEIC on your phone for the storage savings and convert only when you share. If you constantly send photos to Windows users or upload them to forms, you can switch your camera to JPG in Settings › Camera › Formats › Most Compatible. Our step-by-step guide covers every way to convert.
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