What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is the photo format your iPhone camera uses. A Windows PC or a form may reject it, and you can send a JPG instead.
Quick answer
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- HEIC is the file format iPhones use by default to save photos.
- It is Apple's use of HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) with HEVC compression.
- HEIC files are usually smaller than JPGs of similar visual quality.
- Some websites, older Windows PCs and forms don't accept HEIC.
- You can convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone or switch the camera to Most Compatible.
What format are iPhone photos?
iPhone camera photos are HEIC by default.
Choose Most Compatible under Settings > Camera > Formats, and new camera photos are saved as JPG. Screenshots are PNG. Apple may move these menus.
Most Compatible does not convert photos already on the iPhone. Those stay HEIC until you convert them. A screenshot stays PNG until you convert that file. For a screenshot, use Convert PNG to JPG on iPhone.
HEIC vs JPG
HEIC is the camera's default. JPG is the file most websites, forms and Windows PCs already know how to open. JPEG is the same format as JPG. How much smaller a HEIC file is depends on the photo.
| Feature | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | iPhone camera default. Some websites, forms and older Windows PCs don't accept it. A PC may need an extension. | Widely opened by websites, Windows PCs and forms. JPEG is the same format. |
| Typical file size | Usually smaller than a JPG of similar visual quality. | Often larger for similar visual quality. |
| Quality | A lossy camera photo, aimed at similar visual quality in less space. | Also lossy. A new JPG can drop some detail, and it cannot restore detail the photo already lost. |
Why iPhones use HEIC
The iPhone camera saves photos as HEIC so the library takes less space. HEIC is Apple's use of HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) with HEVC compression. HEVC is the compression inside the file.
Those files are usually smaller than JPGs of similar visual quality. How much smaller depends on the photo. The camera keeps using HEIC until you change the format for new shots.
Where HEIC causes problems
HEIC is easy to keep on an iPhone and harder to send. Some websites reject the upload. Some forms ask for JPG. An older Windows PC may not open the photo until an extension, or similar extra support, is installed.
That support is not on every PC, and a newer PC can still be missing it. A website or form can still reject the file after the photo opens on a computer. If the other person has to open it, send a JPG.
How to tell if a photo is HEIC on iPhone
In recent iOS versions, the Photos info panel shows the format. Apple may move these menus. The file name is the check that does not depend on that panel.
Open the photo in the Photos app.
Open the info panel. In recent iOS versions it shows the format.
In the Files app, the name often ends in .HEIC.
How to turn off HEIC on iPhone
The camera setting changes photos you have not taken yet. Apple may move these menus. Pictures already in Photos stay HEIC.
Open Settings.
Tap Camera, then Formats.
Choose Most Compatible.
New camera photos are saved as JPG. Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible does not convert the photos already on the iPhone.
How to convert HEIC you already have
Convert a copy when a website, a form, or a Windows PC needs a JPG. Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone does one photo for free, and you do not need an account. A batch (several files in one job) needs FileSway Pro, a one-time $14.99 purchase in the U.S. Apple sets the price, and it can vary by country or region. There is no subscription. Restore Purchases is available.
JPG is lossy, so the copy can drop some detail. Your original HEIC stays unchanged. Choose PNG instead when the image needs transparency. Other still-image outputs are on Convert to another image format. To make that JPG smaller, set a limit on compress a photo.
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is the file format iPhones use by default to save photos. It is Apple's use of HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) with HEVC compression.
What format are iPhone photos?
iPhone camera photos are HEIC by default. Most Compatible saves new camera photos as JPG, and screenshots are PNG.
Why are my iPhone photos HEIC?
The iPhone camera saves photos as HEIC so the library takes less space. Those files are usually smaller than JPGs of similar visual quality.
How do I turn off HEIC on iPhone?
Open Settings, tap Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible. New camera photos are saved as JPG, and photos already on the iPhone stay HEIC until you convert them. Apple may move this menu.
Is HEIC better than JPG?
For photos that stay on your iPhone, HEIC is usually smaller at similar visual quality, which is why the camera uses it. JPG is the better file when a website, a form, or a Windows PC has to open it. Keep HEIC in Photos, and convert a copy to JPG when you send the photo.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
JPG is lossy, so the new file can drop some detail. A tighter size limit can drop more, and a JPG cannot restore detail the HEIC already lost. FileSway keeps the original unchanged.
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
HEIC is the filename iPhones use for these photos. It is Apple's use of HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) with HEVC compression.
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