HEIC vs JPG: what's the difference and when to convert
Apple switched iPhones to HEIC format in 2017. It takes up half the space of a JPG, but almost nothing outside Apple's ecosystem can open it natively. Here's what you actually need to know.
What is HEIC?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. Apple made it the default camera format starting with iOS 11 in 2017. It uses HEVC compression (the same codec used in 4K video) to store photos at roughly half the file size of a JPG with no visible quality loss.
A typical iPhone photo saved as HEIC lands around 1.5 to 3 MB. The same shot saved as JPG would be 3 to 6 MB. Over thousands of photos, that difference means your iCloud storage lasts much longer.
More than just compression
HEIC supports things JPG never had: 16-bit color depth instead of 8-bit, transparency, depth maps from Portrait mode shots, and burst sequences stored as a single file. If you shoot Portrait mode, all the depth data lives inside the HEIC file. Convert to JPG and that data is gone.
What is JPG?
JPG (also written JPEG) has been the standard photo format since 1992. It's supported everywhere: Windows, Android, every web browser, social media platforms, design tools, photo labs, and printers. When someone says “send me a photo,” they're expecting a JPG.
JPG uses lossy compression, meaning some image data is discarded each time you save. Save the same file multiple times and quality degrades. This usually isn't noticeable unless you're doing heavy re-editing and re-saving in cycles.
The compatibility gap
Here's where HEIC falls apart: outside of Apple devices, almost nothing opens HEIC natively. This catches people off guard constantly.
Windows 10 and 11 can open HEIC files if you have the HEVC Video Extensions codec installed from the Microsoft Store. It's free, but it's not installed by default. Email a HEIC photo to a Windows user and there's a real chance they'll see an error.
Android phones can't open HEIC at all without a third-party app. Most web browsers don't support HEIC either, with Safari being the main exception. Upload a HEIC to most websites and it'll either fail or be auto-converted with unpredictable results.
Common situation to watch for
If you AirDrop a HEIC photo to a Mac, it opens fine. If you send it via Gmail to a Windows colleague, they might get a blank attachment. Convert first if you're sharing cross-platform.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| File size (same quality) | About 2x smaller | Larger |
| Visual quality | Better at same size | Good |
| Windows support | Requires codec install | Built-in |
| Android support | Not native | Universal |
| Web browser support | Safari only | All browsers |
| Color depth | 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Portrait mode depth data | Preserved | Stripped on convert |
| Social media uploads | Often re-encoded | Direct support |
When to stay in HEIC
Keep your photos as HEIC if they live entirely in the Apple ecosystem. iPhone, iPad, Mac, and iCloud all handle HEIC natively. You'll save significant storage space and your photos will look better. If you shoot Portrait mode, HEIC is the only format that preserves the depth data.
If you mostly share photos with other Apple users via iMessage or AirDrop, HEIC is fine. No one on the other end will notice or care.
When to convert HEIC to JPG
Convert when the file needs to work somewhere outside Apple's world. In practice this happens more often than you'd expect:
- Sharing with Windows or Android users via email or messaging
- Uploading to a website, form, or portfolio
- Sending to a photo lab or print service
- Attaching to a document in Google Docs or Microsoft Office
- Publishing to social media (some platforms accept HEIC, but they re-encode it with their own compression anyway)
I convert any photo I'm sending outside my own devices. It takes a few seconds and removes any compatibility questions on the other end.
How to convert
On a Mac: open the HEIC file in Preview, go to File, then Export, and pick JPEG from the format dropdown.
On iPhone: go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats and switch to “Most Compatible.” New photos will be captured as JPG from that point.
For individual files or small batches without installing anything, use the converter below. It runs in your browser, so your photos don't go through any server.
HEIC to JPG converter
Convert HEIC photos to JPG in your browser. No upload, no account, no file size limits.
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