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What is the HEIC format?

the high-efficiency format iPhone photos use by default

MIME type
image/heic
Extensions
.heic, .heif
Introduced
2015
Compression
Lossy compression
Transparency
Yes
Animation
No
Shown directly in browsers
No
On this site
Read (input)

Overview

HEIC is HEVC (H.265) compression packaged in the HEIF container, and Apple adopted it as the default camera format from iOS 11. At the same quality it takes up about half the space of JPG.

The problem is that Windows, parts of Android and many web upload forms can't open HEIC. This site decodes HEIC inside your browser and converts it to JPG, PNG and more, so your photos are never uploaded.

History

HEIC is the HEVC (H.265) compression packaged in the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) container that MPEG standardized in 2015.

Apple made it the default photo format in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra in 2017, which is how ordinary users came to know it. HEVC carries patent royalties, so default support in Windows and browsers is limited.

Pros

  • About half the size of JPG
  • Supports 10-bit color depth and extras such as Live Photos

Cons

  • Poor compatibility on Windows and web services
  • Patent and licensing issues limit browser support

Best used for

  • Storing iPhone photos
  • Keeping high-quality photos small

Compatibility

Opens without trouble on Apple devices, but Windows needs an extension and most browsers can't display it.

Convert HEIC

Convert from HEIC

HEIC: frequently asked questions

+Which programs can open HEIC files?

Opens without trouble on Apple devices, but Windows needs an extension and most browsers can't display it.

+Does HEIC support transparent backgrounds?

Yes, HEIC supports transparent backgrounds.

+How do I convert HEIC to another format?

Upload your HEIC file to AnyPicToAnyPic and pick one of PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP, ICO, SVG. It is converted right in your browser and the file is never uploaded.

+Can I save images as HEIC here?

This site only reads HEIC files and converts them to other formats. Saving as HEIC isn't supported.