Skip to content

What Is HEIC? – Apple's iPhone Photo Format Explained

HEIC is Apple's efficient photo format that saves storage on iPhone. Learn what it is, how it works, and when to convert it for compatibility.

Updated PixelConvertor

Quick Answer

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the default photo format on iPhones. Its compression stores photos at roughly half the size of JPG with similar or better quality. The downside is limited support outside Apple devices.

What Is HEIC?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is a file format developed by the MPEG group that stores still images with HEVC (H.265) video compression. Apple made HEIC the default photo format with iOS 11 in 2017, replacing JPG as the iPhone camera's standard output.

How HEIC Works

HEIC borrows inter-frame compression from video encoding. JPG compresses each photo on its own, while HEIC can reference data shared between similar photos in a burst sequence, which compresses much better. A single HEIC file can also hold several images (such as a Live Photo's still frame and short video clip), depth maps, and audio.

Key Characteristics

FeatureDetail
Full nameHigh Efficiency Image Container
CompressionHEVC (H.265), lossy and lossless modes
File size~50% smaller than equivalent JPG
Color depthUp to 16-bit per channel
TransparencySupported (limited cross-platform)
Special featuresLive Photos, depth maps, burst sequences
Browser supportSafari only
Created byMPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)

When to Use HEIC

  • iPhone photo storage, where it saves a lot of space
  • Sharing between Apple devices with AirDrop, iCloud or iMessage
  • Live Photos, since HEIC stores both the still and the motion
  • Portrait mode photos, because it keeps the depth data used for bokeh editing
  • Burst sequences, which it stores efficiently

When to Convert HEIC

  • Sharing with people on Android, Windows or Linux
  • Uploading to websites, since most web platforms don't accept HEIC
  • Email attachments, because most email clients can't display HEIC
  • Social media, as some platforms handle HEIC poorly
  • Design and editing, where most software requires JPG, PNG, or WebP

Try It Now

Convert HEIC photos to any format in your browser, with no software to install and no uploads to a server.

Convert HEIC Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HEIC better than JPG?

For iPhone photography, HEIC is better than JPG in terms of compression efficiency. HEIC files are roughly half the size of equivalent JPG files with similar or better visual quality. However, JPG has much broader compatibility across devices, websites, and software.

Can Android phones open HEIC files?

Most modern Android phones (Android 9+ with recent gallery apps) can open HEIC files. However, older Android devices and some third-party apps may not support the format. Converting HEIC to JPG is the safest option for sharing with Android users.

How do I stop my iPhone from saving photos as HEIC?

Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and select 'Most Compatible.' Your iPhone will save photos as JPG instead of HEIC going forward. Existing HEIC photos won't be affected, so you'll need to convert them separately.

Do HEIC photos lose quality over time?

No. HEIC files are saved once and don't degrade over time. However, each time you edit and re-save a HEIC file, the lossy compression may introduce small quality losses. This is the same behavior as JPG. For editing workflows, consider converting to PNG (lossless) first.