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June 24, 2026 · 6 min read
Since iOS 11, iPhones shoot in HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) by default. HEIC files are typically half the size of equivalent JPEGs at the same visual quality — great for storage. The problem: Windows, most websites, older apps and many online services can't open HEIC files without additional software. The fix is to convert to JPG.
HEIC is Apple's implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) standard, which uses the HEVC video codec to compress still images. It achieves better compression than JPEG while keeping a similar level of detail — a HEIC photo is often 40–50% smaller than the same shot in JPEG.
HEIC also stores more data than JPEG: it supports 16-bit colour depth (vs JPEG's 8-bit), live photos, burst sequences, transparency and depth maps from Portrait mode. It's a technically superior format, but its limited compatibility outside Apple's ecosystem makes conversion essential for sharing.
Windows requires the HEVC Video Extensions codec (available in the Microsoft Store, sometimes as a paid download) to decode HEIC files. Many PCs don't have it installed, so double-clicking a HEIC file shows an error. Many websites and upload portals also reject HEIC because their server-side processing libraries don't support it.
Converting HEIC to JPEG solves the problem immediately — JPEG has universal support on every platform, OS and browser made in the last 30 years.
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats and switch from "High Efficiency" to "Most Compatible". Your iPhone will now shoot in JPEG natively. The photos will be larger, but you'll never have to convert again. This is the best setting if you regularly share photos with Windows users or upload to websites.
Alternatively, if you want to keep HEIC on-device for storage efficiency but always share as JPEG, go to Settings → Photos and enable "Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic". iOS will convert to JPEG automatically when you transfer via USB.
Drop your HEIC file into our compressor — it handles HEIC natively in the browser using WebAssembly. You can convert to JPEG, WebP or PNG, adjust quality and resize all in one step. Everything runs locally: your photos never leave your device.
For batch conversion — a whole camera roll of HEIC files — use the multi-file drop. Select all files, choose JPEG output at 85% quality, and download the ZIP with all converted files. No software to install, no account needed.