What is HEIC?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's modern photo format that replaced JPEG as the default on iPhones starting with the iPhone 7. It uses HEVC video compression technology to store photos with significantly better quality at smaller file sizes compared to JPEG — typically 40–50% smaller at the same quality level.

Why Apple switched to HEIC

JPEG was invented in 1992. Modern devices can do much better. HEIC compresses photos more efficiently, meaning iPhones can store more photos while using less storage. A year of iPhone photos in HEIC might take up noticeably less space than the same photos in JPEG. Apple also designed HEIC to support advanced features like transparency, depth maps, and multiple images in a single file — capabilities that JPEG doesn't have.

When you take a photo on an iPhone 7 or later with iCloud Photos disabled, it's stored as HEIC by default. This is automatic and invisible to you — you just tap the camera and the photo is saved. However, this default choice created compatibility problems because not all devices, apps, and services support HEIC yet.

HEIC compatibility issues

HEIC works smoothly on Apple devices — iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Photos apps all handle it natively. It's the universal format within the Apple ecosystem. Beyond Apple, support is limited:

Windows: Earlier versions of Windows (before Windows 11) don't recognize HEIC at all. Windows 11 and later have built-in support. If you're on Windows 10 or earlier, you'll need a third-party app or converter. Android: Android doesn't natively support HEIC. Some phones may accept it, but most apps and services on Android won't open a HEIC file. Web: Browser support for HEIC is minimal. Most websites, email providers, and social media platforms (including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) don't accept HEIC uploads — they require JPG, PNG, or WebP.

How to open HEIC on Windows

If you receive a HEIC photo on Windows, several options are available. Built-in Photos app in Windows 11 will recognize HEIC. On Windows 10, you can download a HEIC codec from the Microsoft Store (search "HEIC Image Extensions") — it's free. You can also use free third-party apps like IrfanView or convert the file to JPG or PNG using an online tool like OnlyFiles.

How to open HEIC on Android

Android doesn't support HEIC natively, so if someone sends you a HEIC file on an Android phone, you'll need to convert it first. Download the file to your Android device and use an app like CloudConvert, Image Converter, or Converter by CloudConvert. Alternatively, convert the HEIC to JPG or PNG on your computer before sending it to Android users. OnlyFiles lets you convert HEIC to PNG, JPG, or WebP instantly in your browser.

When to convert HEIC and when to keep it

Keep HEIC if: You're sharing photos only within the Apple ecosystem. You want the smallest possible file size on your iPhone or Mac. Convert to JPG if: You're emailing photos to Windows users, uploading to the web, or sharing on social media. JPG is the most widely compatible format — almost every device, browser, and service supports it. Convert to PNG if: You need transparency or lossless compression. PNG preserves every pixel perfectly, though files will be larger than HEIC or JPG. Convert to WebP if: You're optimizing for web performance — WebP offers excellent quality at smaller file sizes than PNG or JPG, and modern browsers support it well.

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