What is a HEIC file?
Why it won’t open, and what to do.
HEIC is the photo format iPhones have used by default since iOS 11 (2017). It stores an image compressed with HEVC (H.265) inside a HEIF container, often at around half the size of a JPG of similar quality. The catch is compatibility: many Windows PCs, web forms and office systems don’t accept it. Convert the photo to JPG (or put several into one PDF), or set the iPhone to take JPG photos from now on.
Why a HEIC photo won’t open
- Windows needs extra codecs from the Microsoft Store: HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. Without them, Photos shows an error or a blank image.
- Upload forms and portals often accept only JPG, PNG or PDF, and reject .heic files.
- Older software, including some office, HR and document systems, predates the format.
Android phones can also save HEIC/HEIF when a high-efficiency option is turned on in the camera settings.
HEIC compared with JPG
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller, often around half | Larger |
| Compatibility | Apple devices; others need support or codecs | Opens almost everywhere |
| Extras | Can hold HDR, depth, Live Photo and burst data | One standard 8-bit image |
| Best for | Storing photos on your phone | Sending, uploading and printing |
How to convert HEIC to JPG
On iPhone
- Future photos: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. New photos are saved as JPG (larger files).
- When copying to a computer by cable: Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic converts photos to JPG during the transfer.
On a Mac
Open the photo in Preview, choose File → Export, pick JPEG and save. In Photos, select the photos and use File → Export with JPEG as the kind.
On Windows
Install HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, open the photo in Photos and save a copy as JPG. The HEVC extension may cost a small fee.
In any browser, without installing anything
HEIC Convert decodes the photos in your browser and saves JPGs (several download as a ZIP) or one combined PDF. Up to 50 photos at a time; nothing is uploaded.
What changes when you convert
- The picture itself is kept; JPG output is standard 8-bit colour, so HDR brightness is lost.
- Live Photo motion and extra burst frames are not part of a JPG.
- Whether metadata (location, date, camera) is kept depends on the tool. HEIC Convert leaves it out, which is useful when you don’t want to share a photo’s location.
- Each conversion to JPG is lossy, so keep the original HEIC if you may need it later.
Questions
Is HEIC better quality than JPG?
At the same file size, HEIC usually keeps more detail. At normal quality settings, most people can’t tell a converted JPG apart for viewing, sending or printing.
How do I send a form several photos of documents?
Combine them into one PDF, one photo per page. HEIC Convert’s PDF option does this directly; for a size limit, run the PDF through Image Fit afterwards.
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