HEIC is Apple's newer image format that takes up less storage space than older JPG files

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is the image format that Apple devices — iPhones, iPads, and Macs — use by default when you take a photo. HEIC files are smaller than JPG files of the same photo, which means your phone stores more pictures in the same amount of storage space. The trade-off is that HEIC files do not work on older devices, some websites, and many non-Apple programs without conversion.

Apple introduced HEIC in 2017 with the iPhone X. The format is based on technology called HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), which compresses images more efficiently than the JPG standard that has been used since the 1990s. When you take a photo on a newer iPhone or iPad, the device saves it as HEIC automatically unless you change the settings.

Key Takeaways

  • HEIC files are about 40 percent smaller than JPG files of the same image, so they save phone storage space.
  • HEIC only works on Apple devices and some newer programs — older computers, Android phones, and many websites cannot open them without conversion.
  • You can change your iPhone or iPad to save photos as JPG instead by going to Settings > Camera > Formats and selecting Most Compatible.
  • If someone sends you an HEIC file and you cannot open it, you can convert it to JPG using free online tools or your computer.

Why Apple switched from JPG to HEIC

JPG has been the standard image format for decades, but it was designed when storage space and internet speeds were much more limited. HEIC uses modern compression technology that shrinks file size without losing visible image quality. A photo that takes up 3 MB as a JPG might be only 1.8 MB as HEIC — the same picture, but using less than two-thirds the space.

This matters on phones because storage fills up quickly. If you take hundreds of photos a year, HEIC format means your phone can hold significantly more of them before you run out of space or have to delete old pictures. Apple also uses HEIC for screenshots and photos edited in the Photos app on newer devices.

Which devices and programs can open HEIC files

HEIC files open natively on any Apple device running recent software: iPhone 6s and newer, iPad Air 2 and newer, and Mac computers from 2015 onward. You can view HEIC photos in the Photos app, open them in Preview, and edit them in most Apple programs without any extra steps.

Outside of Apple, support is limited. Windows computers cannot open HEIC files without downloading additional software. Android phones do not support HEIC natively, though some newer Android devices and apps can handle them. Many websites, including email services and social media platforms, do not accept HEIC uploads — they require JPG, PNG, or other formats. If you try to upload an HEIC photo to Facebook, Gmail, or many other services, you will get an error message.

How to change your iPhone or iPad to save photos as JPG

If you want your photos saved as JPG instead of HEIC, you can change this in your device settings. Open Settings, tap Camera, then tap Formats. You will see two options: High Efficiency (which saves as HEIC) and Most Compatible (which saves as JPG). Select Most Compatible, and all future photos will be saved as JPG files.

This setting only affects new photos you take going forward. Photos already saved as HEIC will stay in that format. If you want to convert existing HEIC photos to JPG, you will need to use a separate tool or your computer. The trade-off of using Most Compatible is that your photos will be larger, so you will fill up your phone storage faster.

Converting HEIC files to JPG or other formats

If someone sends you an HEIC file and you need to open it on a Windows computer or Android phone, you can convert it. On a Mac, you can right-click the HEIC file, select Open With, choose Preview, then go to File > Export and select JPG as the format. On Windows, you can use free online conversion tools like CloudConvert or Zamzar — upload the HEIC file, choose JPG as the output format, and read the converted file.

Many free tools exist for this conversion, and the process usually takes less than a minute. The converted JPG will be slightly larger than the original HEIC, but it will work on any device and any website. Some people keep both versions if they need the HEIC for editing on Apple devices and the JPG for sharing elsewhere.

HEIC versus PNG and other image formats

HEIC is not the only modern image format. PNG is another common format that works on all devices and websites, but PNG files are usually larger than both HEIC and JPG. WebP is a newer format from Google that is smaller than JPG and works on most modern browsers, but it is not as widely supported as JPG. For most everyday use, JPG remains the safest choice because it works everywhere.

The choice between formats depends on what you are doing. If you are storing photos on an Apple device and never sharing them, HEIC is the most efficient. If you are sharing photos with people who use different devices or uploading to websites, JPG is the most compatible. PNG is useful if you need a transparent background or are storing images that will be edited many times without quality loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I email an HEIC file to someone with a Windows computer?

You can send it, but they will not be able to open it without converting it first. It is better to convert the file to JPG before sending, or ask them to use a free online conversion tool. Most email services accept both formats, but the recipient needs software that can read HEIC.

Will my old iPhone take photos in HEIC format?

Only iPhones from iPhone 6s onward can save photos as HEIC. Older models use JPG by default. If you have an iPhone 6 or earlier, your photos are already in JPG format and will work on any device.

Does converting HEIC to JPG make the photo look worse?

No, the image quality stays the same. Conversion is just a change in the file format — the picture itself does not lose detail. The JPG file will be larger, but what you see on screen will look identical to the original HEIC.

Why does my iPhone ask me to convert photos when I try to upload them?

The website or app you are using does not support HEIC format. This is common with older websites and some social media platforms. You can convert the photo to JPG first, or change your phone settings to save as Most Compatible (JPG) going forward.