HEIC to JPG Converter

What is HEIC Format and Why Convert It

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is an image format developed by the MPEG group and adopted by Apple as the default photo format on iOS devices starting with version 11 in 2017. When you take photos on iPhone, iPad, or capture screenshots on Mac, images are saved in HEIC by default.

The format is based on the HEVC codec (High Efficiency Video Coding, also known as H.265) — the same codec used for 4K and 8K video compression. Thanks to modern compression algorithms, HEIC provides half the file size compared to JPG while maintaining identical visual quality. For iPhone users, this means saving space in iCloud and on the device without visible loss of photo quality.

However, HEIC has a significant drawback — limited compatibility. Windows 10 and 11 require additional codec installation to view HEIC files. Android supports the format only in the latest versions. Many web services, graphics editors, and printing programs don't recognize HEIC. That's why converting to JPG remains necessary for working with iPhone photos in a universal environment.

Technical Features of HEIC and JPG

Format Architecture

HEIC is a container format capable of storing not only images but also frame sequences (Live Photos), burst shots, and depth data for portrait mode. Inside the container, the image is encoded using HEVC — an algorithm using advanced intra-prediction, extended block sizes (up to 64×64 pixels instead of JPG's 16×16), and adaptive quantization.

JPG (JPEG) — a 1992 format based on Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). The image is divided into 8×8 pixel blocks, each block is transformed to the frequency domain, then high-frequency components (fine details) are discarded according to quality level. Despite its age, JPG remains the most widespread photo format thanks to universal support.

Characteristic Comparison

The key advantage of HEIC is compression efficiency. A 12 MP photo from iPhone takes about 1.5-2 MB in HEIC and 3-4 MB in JPG at comparable quality. For users with thousands of photos in their library, this means saving gigabytes of space.

Color Space and HDR

Modern iPhones shoot in the extended Display P3 color space, covering 25% more shades than standard sRGB. HEIC preserves this information completely. During conversion to JPG, transformation to sRGB occurs — some saturated shades may change slightly, though for most photos the difference is imperceptible.

Photos from iPhone 12 and newer may contain HDR data (Dolby Vision, HDR10). When converting to JPG, tone mapping is transformed to standard dynamic range. Bright areas and deep shadows retain detail, but extreme HDR contrast will be compressed to SDR format capabilities.

When HEIC to JPG Conversion is Required

Sending Photos to Other Devices

The most common scenario — needing to share iPhone photos with Windows or Android users. Although Apple provides automatic conversion when sending via AirDrop to incompatible devices, this doesn't always work:

• Email attachments — email clients may not convert HEIC automatically
• Cloud storage — Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive save the original format
• Messengers — not all support HEIC (WhatsApp converts, Telegram keeps original)
• USB transfer — when copying via file manager, files remain in HEIC

Converting to JPG guarantees the recipient can open the photo on any device.

Uploading to Websites and Social Media

Many platforms don't accept HEIC:

• Classifieds and marketplaces — eBay, Amazon Seller require JPG/PNG
• Forums and blogs — most CMS don't support HEIC
• Printing services — photo labs primarily work with JPG
• Government portals — official services often accept only JPG

Even if a platform formally supports HEIC, uploading may take longer due to server-side conversion.

Editing in Third-Party Programs

Not all graphics editors support HEIC:

For working in programs without native HEIC support, preliminary conversion to JPG is necessary.

Archiving and Long-term Storage

Although HEIC is technically superior to JPG, many prefer JPG for photo archiving for several reasons:

• Format longevity — JPG has existed for over 30 years and will be readable in the future
• Patent independence — HEVC is protected by patents from several pools
• Software support — any device 20-30 years from now will open JPG

For important family photo archives, conversion to JPG ensures confidence in long-term accessibility.

HEIC to JPG Conversion Process

Conversion Stages

1. Reading HEIC container — analyzing file structure, extracting main image from container (without Live Photos and auxiliary data)

2. HEVC decoding — unpacking compressed image data using H.265 decoder. At this stage, all pixel values are restored in full color space

3. Reading EXIF metadata — extracting shooting information: date, time, camera parameters, GPS coordinates, frame orientation

4. Orientation correction — applying rotation according to EXIF Orientation tag. iPhone photos are often saved rotated with correct orientation indicated in metadata

5. Color space conversion — converting from Display P3 or other wide space to standard sRGB for maximum compatibility

6. JPG encoding — compression using JPEG algorithm. Quality level (1-100%) determines the balance between file size and detail

7. Metadata writing — transferring EXIF data to resulting JPG file with updated orientation information

Quality Settings

When converting HEIC to JPG, the key parameter is quality level:

For most tasks, the 85-95% range is optimal — the file is compact with indistinguishable visual difference from the original.

What is Preserved and Lost

Preserved during conversion:

• Image resolution (megapixels)
• EXIF metadata (date, camera, GPS, shooting settings)
• Visual quality (with proper settings)
• Correct frame orientation

Lost during conversion:

• Live Photos data (video before and after shot)
• Depth information (portrait mode)
• Burst frames (if container has multiple images)
• Wide Display P3 color gamut (converted to sRGB)
• HDR data (converted to SDR)
• Lossless compression capability

For the vast majority of scenarios, these losses are non-critical since JPG preserves the main image in high quality.

Additional Conversion Features

Image Rotation

Besides automatic EXIF orientation correction, manual rotation by 90°, 180°, or 270° is available. This is useful when:

• EXIF orientation is recorded incorrectly
• Frame composition needs changing
• Photo was taken with non-standard camera position

Scaling

Resizing the image as percentage of original (10-500%). Used for:

• Creating reduced copies for web
• Optimizing for specific requirements (e.g., 1920px for Full HD)
• Preparing thumbnails

Mirroring

Horizontal or vertical image flip. Used for:

• Fixing selfies (iPhone front camera mirrors the frame)
• Creating symmetrical compositions
• Preparing images for t-shirt printing

Black and White Conversion

Converting color photo to grayscale while preserving tonal range. Used for:

• Artistic processing
• Documents and scans
• Reducing file size

HEIC on Different Platforms

Windows

To view HEIC on Windows, extensions from Microsoft Store must be installed:

• HEIF Image Extensions — free, provides basic viewing
• HEVC Video Extensions — paid (~$1), required for editing

After installation, Windows Photos and other programs can open HEIC. However, converting to JPG remains more convenient for one-time tasks.

Android

HEIC support on Android depends on version:

• Android 9+ — basic viewing support
• Android 10+ — full format support
• Older versions — third-party apps required

When transferring photos between iPhone and Android devices, converting to JPG eliminates compatibility issues.

Linux

Linux implements HEIC support through system components:

• Ubuntu 20.04+ — support in standard viewers
• GIMP — via plugin
• ImageMagick — full conversion support

For server-side processing of iPhone images, automatic conversion to JPG at upload stage is recommended.

Alternatives to HEIC to JPG Conversion

Configuring iPhone to Shoot in JPG

If compatibility is critical, you can configure iPhone to save photos directly in JPG:

• Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible

Disadvantage: files will take 1.5-2x more space.

Converting to WebP or AVIF

For web projects, modern formats can be considered instead of JPG:

• WebP — 25-35% more compact than JPG, supported by all modern browsers
• AVIF — 40-50% more compact than JPG, but limited support

However, for universal compatibility, JPG remains the optimal choice.

Keeping HEIC

If files stay within Apple ecosystem (iPhone, iPad, Mac, iCloud), conversion isn't needed. HEIC is fully supported in:

• Photos on all Apple devices
• iCloud Photo Library
• AirDrop between Apple devices
• Preview on macOS