Creator media glossary
What is HEIC?
Short answer
Apple's photo format: HEIF images (.heic) that store the same visual quality as JPEG in less space. iPhones save photos this way by default.
Key takeaways
- HEIC is the HEIF photo format with HEVC compression; iPhones use it by default since iOS 11.
- It keeps the same visual quality as JPEG in about half the space.
- Apple devices and most Android phones open it; Windows needs free extensions and Chrome cannot show it.
- Choose Most Compatible in iPhone camera settings, or convert to JPEG, when sharing with Windows or the web.
HEIC explained
HEIC files are photos in the High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF). Apple introduced it with iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra, alongside HEVC for video, because both compress better than JPEG and H.264: the same picture takes less storage on the phone and in iCloud Photos.
The catch is compatibility. The platforms we track document JPEG (and often PNG) for image uploads, not HEIC, and older apps and computers may not open it. When you share by AirDrop, Messages or email to a device that cannot read HEIF, the iPhone may send a JPEG instead, and you can switch the camera to Most Compatible to shoot JPEG in the first place.
HEIC vs HEIF
HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the container, standardized by MPEG as ISO/IEC 23008-12 in 2015. HEIC is a HEIF file whose images are compressed with HEVC, the video codec also known as H.265. Apple uses HEIC; the same container with AV1 inside is AVIF. In practice .heic and .heif files from phones are the same kind of photo.
How HEIC saves space
HEIC compresses a still image the way HEVC compresses a keyframe of video, with larger and more flexible blocks and better prediction than JPEG's fixed 8 × 8 grid. A HEIC is often about half the size of a JPEG of the same visual quality. The container can also hold things JPEG cannot: several images (bursts and image sequences), depth maps for Portrait mode, transparency, and color beyond 8 bits.
Image formats each platform documents
None of these platforms lists HEIC in its published image specs, so JPEG is the safe choice for uploads from a computer.
| Platform and image | JPEG | PNG | HEIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram (API: feed, story, Reels cover) | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| YouTube thumbnails | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Facebook Page profile and cover | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| LinkedIn Page images | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Pinterest pins | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
HEIC file extensions
| Extension | What it holds |
|---|---|
| .heic | One or more HEVC-coded images (iPhone photos) |
| .heif | Generic HEIF; any supported codec |
| .heics / .heifs | Image sequences, such as bursts or animations |
| .avif | AV1-coded images in the HEIF container |
| .hif | HEIF from some cameras, such as Canon and Sony models |
Live Photos and HEIC
A Live Photo is two files that travel together: a HEIC still and a short MOV video of the moments around it. Exporting only the HEIC, or converting it to JPEG, keeps the still and drops the motion. To keep both, share from the Photos app or export the original files.
HEIC vs JPEG
| HEIC | JPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size at the same quality | About half | 1× |
| Color depth | Up to 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Transparency, depth maps, sequences | Yes | No |
| Opens on Windows | With free Microsoft Store extensions | Yes |
| Opens in Chrome | No | Yes |
| Social uploads from a computer | Rarely documented | Everywhere |
How to open a HEIC file
- iPhone, iPad and Mac: Photos, Preview and Files open HEIC natively.
- Windows 10 and 11: install HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then Photos opens them.
- Android: Android 9 and later decodes HEIC, so most galleries and Google Photos show it.
- Browsers: Safari 17 and later displays HEIC; Chrome, Edge and Firefox do not.
How to convert HEIC to JPEG
- On iPhone: Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic sends JPEGs when you copy photos to a computer.
- To stop shooting HEIC: Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible.
- On a Mac: open in Preview or Photos, File > Export, choose JPEG.
- On Windows: with HEIF Image Extensions installed, open the photo in Paint and choose File > Save as > JPEG picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is a HEIC file?
A photo in the High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF). Apple uses it on iPhone and iPad (iOS 11 and later) because it keeps the same visual quality as JPEG in less storage.
Which iPhones save photos as HEIC?
iPhone 7 and later can capture HEIF photos and HEVC video; newer iPads and Apple Vision Pro can too, according to Apple.
How do I make my iPhone take JPEG instead of HEIC?
Open Settings, tap Camera, tap Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos are saved as JPEG and new videos as H.264; choose High Efficiency to go back.
How do I convert HEIC to JPEG on a Mac?
Open the photo in Photos or Preview, choose File > Export and pick JPEG or PNG. When sharing by AirDrop, Messages or email to a device that cannot read HEIF, the iPhone may send a more compatible format automatically.
Can I upload HEIC to Instagram or YouTube?
The platforms we track document JPEG (and often PNG) for images, not HEIC. Convert HEIC to JPEG before uploading it from a computer.
What does HEIC stand for?
High Efficiency Image Coding (or Container), the HEVC-compressed flavor of the High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF).
Does converting HEIC to JPEG lose quality?
Slightly, because JPEG compression is applied once more, and the file grows. At JPEG quality 90 or higher the difference is not visible in normal viewing.
Should I keep HEIC on my iPhone?
Yes if storage matters and you mainly share from the phone, where iOS converts automatically. Switch to Most Compatible if you often move photos to Windows PCs or upload from a computer.
Let Koldflux pick the settings
Koldflux chooses the codec, container and bitrate for each platform when it exports.
Free tools that use this
Sources and how we checked
- Apple Support: Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices (checked 2026-10-05)
- Instagram API: IG User Media (reel, story and video specifications) (checked 2026-10-05)
- YouTube Help: Add custom thumbnails (checked 2026-10-05)
- Facebook Help: Page profile picture and cover photo dimensions (checked 2026-10-05)
- LinkedIn Help: Image specifications for LinkedIn Pages (checked 2026-10-05)
- Pinterest Help: Pinterest product specs (checked 2026-10-05)
- Microsoft Store: HEIF Image Extensions (checked 2026-10-06)
- Nokia Technologies: High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) (checked 2026-10-06)
Reviewed October 6, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Definitions follow the specifications and platform documentation linked above; platform tables come from the same registry the Koldflux tools use.