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HEIC vs JPG: what is the difference, and which should you use?

HEIC files are about half the size of JPGs at similar quality, but many apps cannot open them. When to keep HEIC, when to convert, and how to stop it.

Images2 min readUpdated

Key takeaways

  • HEIC is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11 (2017), based on the HEIF standard and HEVC compression.
  • At similar visual quality, HEIC files are typically around half the size of JPEGs.
  • JPEG still opens everywhere; HEIC does not open in most web browsers or many upload forms.
  • Convert to JPG when sharing outside Apple devices; keep HEIC for storage on your phone.
On this page
  1. What is HEIC?
  2. The advantages of HEIC
  3. The problem: compatibility
  4. When to convert
  5. How to convert HEIC to JPG
  6. How to stop your iPhone saving HEIC

What is HEIC?

HEIC is Apple's name for images stored in the High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) using HEVC (H.265) compression, the same technology used for modern video. Apple made it the default camera format in iOS 11. Many Android phones can also save HEIF, though most default to JPEG.

The advantages of HEIC

  • Smaller files. At similar quality, a HEIC photo is commonly around half the size of a JPEG, so your phone stores roughly twice as many photos.
  • Better quality options. HEIF supports 16-bit colour, transparency and multiple images in one file (used for Live Photos and bursts).
  • Extra data. Depth maps for portrait mode can be stored alongside the photo.

The problem: compatibility

JPEG has been universal since the 1990s. HEIC is not: Chrome and Firefox cannot display it, Windows needs an extra extension, and many websites, job portals and government forms reject it. That is why a photo that looks fine on your iPhone can fail to upload elsewhere.

When to convert

SituationBest format
Keeping photos on your iPhone or MacHEIC (saves space)
Uploading to a website or formJPG
Sending to Windows or Android usersJPG
Editing in older softwareJPG, or PNG for lossless editing
Publishing on your own websiteWebP or JPG, compressed

How to convert HEIC to JPG

  1. Open HEIC to JPG and drop your photos in. Batches of up to 50 are fine.
  2. Choose JPG at quality 90 (visually identical) or PNG for a lossless copy.
  3. Download the photos individually or as a ZIP. The conversion runs on your device, so private photos are not uploaded.

How to stop your iPhone saving HEIC

Go to Settings › Camera › Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPEG. Alternatively, keep HEIC and use Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC › Automatic, which converts photos when you copy them by cable to a computer.

Sources

  1. Apple Support: Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devicessupport.apple.com
Written by the Toolkeel team at Sole Digital Media

Fact-checked against the sources above. We test every tool we mention. Editorial policy.

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