HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) standard, developed by MPEG. It uses H.265 (HEVC) compression — the same algorithm used in 4K video — to encode still images. The result is a file that is approximately 50% smaller than an equivalent JPEG at the same visual quality. Apple switched to HEIC in iOS 11 to let the iPhone store more photos in the same storage space.
Free HEIC to JPG / PNG Converter
Convert iPhone HEIC Photos to JPG, PNG & WebP
Open and convert Apple HEIC/HEIF photos from your iPhone or iPad without any app. Get universally compatible JPG, PNG, or WebP files in seconds.
iPhone HEIC & HEIF support
Preserves EXIF metadata
Batch-friendly & free
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Up to 100 MB free • Outputs: JPG, PNG, WEBP
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Fast processing
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Simple & Fast
How to Use HEIC to JPG
Convert your files in three simple steps — no software, no signup.
01
Upload HEIC Photo
Transfer your .heic or .heif file from iPhone, iPad, or iCloud and drop it here.
02
Choose Output Format
Select JPG for maximum compatibility, PNG for transparency, or WebP for web use.
03
Download Converted File
Your converted photo is ready instantly — viewable on any Windows, Android, or web platform.
Features
Why Use HEIC to JPG?
Apple HEIC & HEIF
Full support for Apple's High Efficiency Image Container format used by iPhone 7 and later models.
EXIF Data Preserved
GPS coordinates, camera settings, date/time, and orientation metadata are retained in the converted output.
Windows Compatible Output
JPG and PNG outputs open natively on any Windows, Android, Linux, or legacy software without extra codecs.
No iCloud Login Needed
Upload files directly from your device. We never ask for Apple ID or iCloud access.
Full Resolution Output
Conversion is done at 100% of original resolution — no downscaling or cropping of your photos.
Powered by libheif
We use libheif, the reference HEIF decoder, to guarantee accurate colour and HDR rendering.
Compatibility
Supported Formats
All the formats you need, all in one place.
| Format | Description | Extension | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEIC | Apple High Efficiency Image Container | .heic |
iPhone/iPad default photo format (iOS 11+) |
| HEIF | High Efficiency Image File Format | .heif |
Generic HEIF container, used by some Android cameras |
| JPG | Universal output, lossy compression | .jpg |
Sharing on Windows, email, social media |
| PNG | Lossless output, full quality | .png |
Editing, web graphics, screenshots |
| WEBP | Modern web format, small file size | .webp |
Web publishing, CMS uploads |
| TIFF | High-fidelity archival output | .tiff |
Print, professional photo editing |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple introduced HEIC in iOS 11 as the default camera format. It uses up to 50% less space than JPG for the same quality, saving storage on your device.
Windows 10/11 can open HEIC files only after installing the free HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Converting to JPG is far easier for broad compatibility.
Yes. HEIC is Apple's specific flavour of HEIF. We accept both .heic and .heif file extensions interchangeably.
Converting to JPG at quality 90+ is visually lossless. Converting to PNG is always lossless. The original HEIC file is not modified.
Yes. EXIF orientation data is read and applied before conversion so your photos appear correctly rotated in the output file.
Connect via USB and use Windows Explorer or Finder, use AirDrop to Mac, or download from iCloud.com. You can also configure iPhone to transfer as JPG automatically in Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC.
Real-World Uses
Who Uses HEIC to JPG?
From everyday users to professionals — see how people rely on this tool every day.
Windows User
Open iPhone Photos on Windows
Airdrop or cable-transfer your iPhone photos and instantly convert HEIC to JPG so they open in Windows Photos without codec issues.
Email Sender
Share Photos via Email
HEIC attachments may not display in non-Apple email clients. Convert to JPG first to guarantee recipients on Gmail, Outlook, or Android see your photo.
Content Creator
Upload to CMS Without Issues
WordPress, Squarespace, and most CMSes reject HEIC uploads. Convert to JPG or WebP before uploading for seamless media library ingestion.
Freelance Photographer
Deliver Client-Ready Files
When shooting with iPhone 7+, deliver universally compatible JPG or PNG files to clients who may not have Apple software.
Designer
Import Into Editing Software
Convert HEIC to PNG or TIFF before importing into Photoshop CC 2017 or earlier, GIMP, Affinity Photo (pre-2.0), or Canva.
Social Media Manager
Post iPhone Photos Anywhere
Twitter, Pinterest, and older social platforms still do not accept HEIC. Convert to JPG for one-click uploads with no format errors.
Why TransmuteBox?
TransmuteBox vs. Alternatives
See how we compare to desktop software and other online converters.
| Feature |
Our Tool TransmuteBox |
Windows Photos | Other Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accepts .heic and .heif | With codec | ||
| Preserves EXIF metadata | Varies | ||
| Full resolution output | Varies | ||
| TIFF archival output | |||
| No Apple software needed | |||
| Files auto-deleted (2 h) | Varies | ||
| Free to use | Varies | ||
| API access | Pro |
Under the Hood
Technical Specifications
Built on industry-standard open-source tools for maximum quality and reliability.
Limits & Restrictions
- Max file size: 100 MB (free)
- Supported inputs: .heic, .heif
- Max input resolution: 12 MP (standard iPhone)
libheif
HEIF
HEIC
Apple
iPhone
JPEG
PNG
EXIF
Conversion Engine
libheif 1.17.x + ImageMagick 7.x
Output Quality
JPEG output quality 90 default; PNG output lossless; TIFF uncompressed or LZW
Average Speed
Conversion in under 4 seconds for typical 12 MP iPhone photos
Data Security
HTTPS transfer · isolated temp dir · auto-purged in 2 h
EXIF metadata
GPS, date, orientation retained
HDR / Wide colour
Display P3 converted to sRGB
iOS versions
iOS 11+ (iPhone 7 and later)
Complete Guide
HEIC Explained: Why Your iPhone Uses It and How to Convert
Since iOS 11 and iPhone 7, Apple uses HEIC as the default camera format. While it saves significant storage space, it creates compatibility headaches when sharing photos with non-Apple users. Here is a complete guide.
What Is HEIC and Why Did Apple Choose It?
Why HEIC Causes Compatibility Problems
Despite being a widely-adopted standard on paper, HEIC requires licensed HEVC decoding hardware or software. Windows 10 and 11 can open HEIC files only after installing the paid (or free via OEM) HEVC Video Extensions codec from the Microsoft Store. Linux has limited native support. Many web apps, CMS platforms, email clients, and older design tools simply do not support HEIC at all, causing blank thumbnails or upload failures.
HEIC vs JPG: Quality and Size Trade-offs
HEIC typically produces files 40–50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent perceived quality. A 12 MP iPhone photo might be 2 MB as HEIC but 4 MB as JPEG. HEIC also natively supports HDR, wide colour (Display P3), 16-bit depth, and burst sequences in a single file. When converting to JPEG at quality 90+, the visual difference is imperceptible to most viewers.
How to Stop Your iPhone Saving as HEIC
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats and select Most Compatible. Your iPhone will then capture photos as JPEG instead of HEIC. Note this uses more storage. Alternatively, go to Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC and select Automatic — the phone will convert to JPEG when transferring via USB, while keeping HEIC originals on-device.
Preserving Metadata When Converting HEIC
HEIC files store rich EXIF metadata: GPS coordinates, camera model, lens info, shutter speed, ISO, focal length, capture timestamp, and orientation. Our converter preserves all of this in the JPG or PNG output using libheif's built-in metadata extraction. If you are building a photo management workflow, retaining EXIF is critical for correct date sorting and location mapping.