What is HEIC and HEIF?

This article explains the technology behind HEIF and HEIC image formats, detailing their features, benefits over traditional JPEGs, and why Apple adopted them. You will also learn about the compatibility challenges these formats face on non-Apple devices and find a quick solution to easily convert your files to JPEG using a free online utility.

Understanding HEIF and HEIC

HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image File Format. It is a container format developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) designed to store individual images and image sequences.

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Coding) is the filename extension used by Apple for images saved in the HEIF format. When you take a photo on an iPhone (running iOS 11 or later), the image is saved with a .heic extension. Essentially, HEIC is the specific variant of HEIF that Apple uses to store photos compressed with the modern HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) standard.

Why HEIC is Better Than JPEG

For decades, JPEG was the standard image format for digital photography. However, HEIC offers several major technological advancements over JPEG:

• Smaller File Sizes: HEIC images use advanced compression algorithms, allowing them to take up about 50% less storage space than JPEGs of equivalent visual quality.
• Higher Image Quality: Unlike JPEG, which is limited to 8-bit color, HEIC supports 16-bit deep color. This means it can capture billions of colors, resulting in smoother gradients and more realistic highlights and shadows.
• Support for Multiple Images: HEIC is a container format. It can store a sequence of images (such as burst photos or Apple’s Live Photos), along with depth maps and audio, all within a single file.
• Non-Destructive Editing: HEIC supports editing instructions (like rotating, cropping, or adding filters) to be saved inside the file without modifying the original image data, allowing you to undo changes later.

The Compatibility Challenge

Despite its technical superiority, HEIC has one major drawback: compatibility. While Apple devices natively support HEIC, many older operating systems, web browsers, and image editing software do not. Windows PCs, Android phones, and legacy photo sharing platforms often cannot open .heic files without third-party codecs or software updates.

How to Convert HEIC to JPEG

If you need to share your photos with non-Apple users or upload them to websites that do not accept HEIC files, you will need to convert them to JPEG.

You can easily perform this conversion in seconds without uploading your private images to external servers. Use this online Bulk HEIC/HEIF to JPEG conversion tool to instantly convert multiple images directly in your web browser.