How to Convert HEIC Photos to JPG or PNG

What is a HEIC file?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the photo format Apple introduced as the iPhone default. It stores excellent image quality at a much smaller size than JPG, and it can hold extras such as burst shots and depth data in one file.

The trade-off is compatibility. Many websites, desktop operating systems, printers and messaging apps still do not accept HEIC files, so a photo that works flawlessly on your phone can be useless the moment it leaves your device. That is exactly the gap conversion fills.

The conversion itself re-encodes the picture once. Done at sensible quality settings, the visible difference is negligible — what you gain is a file that opens anywhere.

Should you convert to JPG or PNG?

For everyday sharing, JPG is the right default: smaller files, no compatibility surprises. Choose PNG only when you specifically need lossless output — PNG files will be noticeably larger. Converting straight to WebP is another option for web use; the trade-offs are covered in WebP vs PNG vs JPG.

Convert HEIC to JPG or PNG step by step

1. Open the right tool

   Use the HEIC to JPG tool for everyday photos, or the HEIC to PNG tool when you need lossless output. Both run inside your browser.

2. Choose the photo

   Select the .heic file from your device. The conversion happens locally — the photo is not uploaded to a server.

3. Download the result

   Save the converted .jpg or .png file. Open it once to confirm the colours and orientation look correct.

4. Repeat for the rest

   Convert any remaining photos one at a time, then move them all to your destination folder so originals and conversions never get mixed up.

If your photo is already a JPG or PNG and you want a different format instead — for example WebP for a website — use the Image Converter; it handles PNG, JPG and WebP directly.

Common mistakes when converting HEIC files

• Renaming the file extension from .heic to .jpg. The extension is not the format — a renamed file will still fail to open in most programs. Convert the actual image data.
• Converting an already-edited copy. Convert straight from the original photo so you only re-encode once.
• Choosing PNG to save space. PNG is lossless and usually larger; pick JPG when size matters.
• Sending HEIC files in the first place. If you regularly share with non-Apple users, convert before you send rather than making each recipient deal with it.
• Losing track of originals. Keep the HEIC originals in an archive folder — they still carry the smallest, highest-quality version of the picture.

How to avoid HEIC problems altogether

• On iPhone, switch the camera to a universal format: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. New photos will then be JPG by default.
• Convert photos in batches before a big upload — job applications, bookings and print shops usually expect JPG.
• For documents photographed on paper, a dedicated flow may work better: the Document Scanner to PDF turns a stack of photo scans straight into one PDF.

The short version

HEIC keeps your phone photos small, but the rest of the world still runs on JPG and PNG. Convert from the original file, default to JPG for sharing, keep PNG for lossless needs, and store the HEIC originals for the future — the whole process takes less than a minute per photo with a free browser tool.