Convert HEIC to JPG, PNG or WebP

If you’ve ever AirDropped or emailed an iPhone photo and the other person couldn’t open it, you’ve met HEIC. Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC by default — it’s a modern, space-saving format, but a lot of the world (Windows, many websites, older apps) still can’t read it. Converting to JPG, PNG, or WebP fixes that instantly. This guide explains what HEIC is and how to convert it to a format that opens everywhere.

What is HEIC (and HEIF)?

HEIC is Apple’s name for images stored in the HEIF container, compressed with the HEVC codec. The headline benefit is size: a HEIC photo is roughly half the size of the same JPG at similar quality. That’s why your iPhone uses it.

The downside is compatibility. Unless software specifically supports HEIC, the file won’t open — you’ll see a blank thumbnail, an error, or a prompt to install something. JPG and PNG, by contrast, open on literally everything.

How to convert HEIC (in your browser)

1. Drop your .heic photo onto the tool — drag & drop, paste, or pick a file. HEIC and HEIF are both accepted.
2. Choose the output — JPG (default), PNG, or WebP.
3. Set the quality for JPG/WebP if you want a smaller file.
4. Download — the preview is the exact file you save.

The HEIC is decoded with a built-in WebAssembly decoder on your device. (The decoder is a few hundred KB and loads only when you open a HEIC, so the page stays fast.) How any data associated with the tool is handled is described in our privacy policy.

HEIC to JPG, PNG, or WebP — which one?

• HEIC → JPG — the default and the right choice for almost everyone. Small, universal, perfect for sharing, uploading to forms, and printing.
• HEIC → PNG — when you need lossless quality or transparency (e.g. you’ll edit the image further). Files are larger.
• HEIC → WebP — the smallest modern format at good quality; ideal if the photo is going on a website.

Does converting lose quality?

Converting to PNG is lossless — every pixel the decoder produces is kept. Converting to JPG or WebP re-encodes the image; at a high quality setting it looks identical to the eye while staying small. Note that HEIC itself is already compressed, so converting can’t add detail — start from the original HEIC, not a screenshot of it.

Re-encoding also strips EXIF/GPS metadata, so the location baked into your photo doesn’t travel with the converted copy — a nice privacy bonus when sharing.

Stop your iPhone shooting HEIC (optional)

If you’d rather avoid HEIC entirely: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible makes the camera shoot JPG. You’ll still have a library of older HEICs to convert, and you lose the space savings — so plenty of people leave HEIC on and just convert the few photos they need to share.