How to convert iPhone HEIC photos so anyone can open them
If you've ever sent a photo from an iPhone to someone with an Android phone or a Windows PC and they couldn't open it, HEIC is usually the reason. Here's why it happens and how to fix it.
What is HEIC?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) has been the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11. It uses modern compression that produces files roughly half the size of an equivalent JPG at the same quality — which matters when you're storing thousands of photos on a phone with limited storage.
Why can't everyone open HEIC files?
Apple built strong HEIC support into iOS, macOS, and recent versions of Windows and Android. But many older devices, some web platforms, and certain apps still expect the older, more universal JPG format. When that happens, the photo either won't open or shows up as a generic file icon.
Three ways to deal with it
- Change your iPhone's camera settings to capture in "Most Compatible" mode (Settings → Camera → Formats), which saves new photos as JPG instead of HEIC. This doesn't affect photos you've already taken.
- Convert individual photos when sharing. If you only need to convert a few, a browser-based converter is the fastest option — no app to install, and the file never leaves your device.
- Convert in bulk before transferring a large batch of photos to another device or platform.
Converting HEIC to JPG online
The HEIC to JPG converter on this site lets you drop one or more HEIC photos and download standard JPG versions, processed entirely in your browser. Because nothing is uploaded, it works even with personal photos you'd rather not send to a third-party server.