Beginners Guide

What is a HEIC file?

HEIC is a modern image format that Apple uses to store photos on the iPhone. It stands for High Efficiency Image Coding and is part of the newer HEIF standard. It's smaller and smarter than JPG — but not everything can read it.

Why does my iPhone use HEIC?

Since iOS 11, Apple saves photos as HEIC because the format stores images at roughly half the file size of JPG while keeping the same visual quality. That means you can fit about twice as many photos on your phone. Apple even supports Live Photos, bursts, and depth data in a single HEIC file.

Why won't HEIC open on my computer?

Windows, Android, and most websites simply don't include built-in HEIC support. Microsoft offers free extensions but they're limited, and many older programs never learned the format. The practical fix is converting HEIC photos to JPG, which works everywhere.

Is HEIC the same as HEIF?

Almost. HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is the official standard; HEIC is Apple's implementation of it. Both use the same underlying technology, and both can be converted to JPG with our tool — files ending in .heic or .heif are both supported.

How do I open a HEIC file?

1. On an iPhone or Mac — it just opens natively in Photos and Preview.
2. On Windows, Android, or the web — convert it to JPG first using our free online HEIC to JPG converter.

Should I keep HEIC or switch to JPG?

Keep HEIC for storage on your phone — it saves tons of space. Convert to JPG whenever you need to share, upload, email, or edit photos outside the Apple ecosystem. For a deep dive, see our HEIC vs JPG comparison.