HEIC guides

HEIC is the photo format iPhones use by default. Learn what a HEIC file is, why it exists, why it won't open everywhere, and how to open or convert it.

HEIF and HEIC are often used interchangeably, but they aren't the same thing. Here's what HEIF means, how it relates to HEIC, and when the difference matters.

HEIC is smaller and more advanced; JPEG opens everywhere. Compare quality, file size, compatibility and editing to decide which format is right for your photos.

HEIF or Apple ProRAW? Compare file size, editing latitude and convenience to decide which iPhone photo format suits you — and how to share either as JPG.

Your iPhone saves photos as HEIC because of its High Efficiency camera setting. Here's why Apple uses HEIC, why it suddenly matters, and how to get JPGs.

Make your iPhone take JPG photos instead of HEIC in a few taps, or keep HEIC but transfer JPGs to your PC. Also covers turning off HEIF on Samsung and Android.

The quickest ways to change HEIC photos to JPG on iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android and Chromebook — free, without losing quality, one photo or hundreds.

Convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac with Finder's Convert Image, Preview, Photos, the sips command or your browser. Free methods for one photo or hundreds.

Convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPG on Windows 11, 10 or even 7 — with Paint, the Photos app, the command line or your browser. Free, step by step.

Change iPhone photos from HEIC to JPG right on your phone: the Files app's Convert Image, Safari, Mail and Shortcuts — plus how to shoot JPG from now on.

Convert HEIC photos to JPG on any Android phone or Samsung Galaxy without losing quality — using your browser, Samsung's settings or Google Photos.

Chromebooks have no built-in HEIC converter. Here's how to open and convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPG on ChromeOS in a minute, for free and without uploads.

Bulk convert hundreds of HEIC photos to JPG at once on Mac, Windows, iPhone or online — with free built-in tools, the command line or a private browser tool.

Turn HEIC photos into a PDF — one photo or many combined into one document — with built-in tools on iPhone, Mac and Windows, or a free browser converter.

Convert HEIC photos to lossless PNG on any device: Finder and Preview on Mac, Paint on Windows, the Files app on iPhone, or a free in-browser converter.

How to open and view HEIC photos on Windows, Mac, Android, Chromebook, iPhone and in Photoshop — plus the one fix that works when nothing else will.

Does Windows 11 support HEIC? How to open and view iPhone HEIC photos on Windows 11 and 10 — with Microsoft's extensions, for free, or with no extension.

What Microsoft's HEIF Image Extensions do, whether you need them, how to install them on Windows 11 or 10 (with or without the Store) and how to remove them.

The best free ways to view HEIC photos on Windows: Microsoft Photos, XnView MP, IrfanView, GIMP, CopyTrans HEIC and Google Drive, compared.

HEIC photos won't open in Windows 11 or 10? Work through these fixes — missing codecs, a broken Photos app, corrupt files — or convert them to JPG.

CloudConvert, iMazing, CopyTrans, built-in Mac and Windows tools and in-browser converters compared — privacy, limits, batch support and quality.

What CopyTrans HEIC for Windows does, whether it's safe and free, how to use it to view and convert HEIC photos, and the best alternatives.

Canva accepts HEIC uploads and can download them as JPG or PNG. Here's how to do it step by step, what you lose, and a faster option for plain conversions.

Compare Smallpdf, PDFgear, CloudConvert and built-in Mac, iPhone and Windows tools for turning HEIC photos into PDFs — limits, privacy and multi-page support.

Looking for a HEIC to JPG converter app for Android? Here are the options worth using, what to check before installing one, and a no-install alternative.