HEIC is Apple's newer image format that takes up less storage space than older JPG files

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is the image format that Apple devices — iPhones, iPads, and Macs — use by default when you take a photo. HEIC files are smaller than JPG files of the same photo, which means your phone stores more pictures in the same amount of storage space.

Apple switched to HEIC around 2017 because the format compresses photos more efficiently. A photo that might be 3 MB as a JPG could be 1.5 MB as HEIC. That savings adds up quickly if you take hundreds of photos. The tradeoff is that not every device or program can open HEIC files yet — Windows computers, older Android phones, and some web browsers do not recognize them without extra steps.

Key Takeaways

  • HEIC files are smaller than JPG files but only work on Apple devices and some newer programs without conversion.
  • You can change your iPhone or iPad to save photos as JPG instead of HEIC in the Settings app under Camera.
  • If someone sends you an HEIC file and you cannot open it, you can convert it to JPG using free online tools or your computer.
  • Sharing HEIC files with people who use Windows or Android phones often requires converting them first.

How HEIC compression works differently from JPG

Both HEIC and JPG are compressed formats, meaning they throw away some image data to make the file smaller. The difference is in how much data they discard and how they do it. HEIC uses a newer compression method called HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) that is better at keeping the photo looking good while removing more unnecessary data.

In practical terms, an HEIC file at the same visual quality as a JPG will be about 40 to 50 percent smaller. This matters most if you have an iPhone with 64 GB or 128 GB of storage — you can fit significantly more photos before you run out of space. It matters less if you have a 256 GB phone or if you regularly back up photos to iCloud or another cloud service.

Why HEIC files cause problems on non-Apple devices

HEIC is a relatively new format. Most Windows computers, Android phones, and older web browsers do not have built-in support for it. If someone emails you an HEIC file and you try to open it on a Windows PC, you will see an error or a blank thumbnail instead of the photo.

This is not a flaw in HEIC itself — it is simply that the format has not been around long enough for every device maker to add support. Google's Android has started supporting HEIC in recent versions, and Microsoft added limited support to Windows 11, but many older devices still cannot read it. The safest approach when sharing photos with people who use different devices is to convert HEIC to JPG first.

How to change your iPhone to save photos as JPG instead

If you want your iPhone to save photos in JPG format instead of HEIC, you can change this in Settings. Open Settings, go to Camera, then scroll down to Formats. You will see two options: High Efficiency (which saves as HEIC) and Most Compatible (which saves as JPG). Tap Most Compatible.

After you make this change, all new photos will be saved as JPG. Photos you already took in HEIC format will stay as HEIC unless you convert them. This setting affects only photos taken with the Camera app — screenshots and photos from other apps may behave differently. The JPG files will be slightly larger, but they will open on any device without problems.

How to convert HEIC files to JPG on different devices

On a Mac, you can convert HEIC to JPG using the built-in Preview app. Right-click the HEIC file, choose Open With, then Preview. Once the image opens, go to File, then Export. In the dialog box, change the Format dropdown from HEIC to JPEG, then click Save.

On Windows, you have a few options. If you have Windows 11, you can right-click an HEIC file, choose Open With, and select Photos. Once it opens, click the three-dot menu and choose Save As, then change the format to JPG. If that does not work or you have an older version of Windows, free online converters like CloudConvert or Convertio let you upload an HEIC file and download it as JPG. Simply go to the website, upload your file, choose JPG as the output format, and download the result.

On an iPhone or iPad, you can use the Shortcuts app to convert HEIC to JPG. Open Shortcuts, create a new shortcut, add an action to convert image format, and set it to JPG. This is more technical than the other methods, so most people find it easier to convert on a computer instead.

When HEIC is actually useful and when JPG is better

HEIC makes the most sense if you use only Apple devices and rarely share photos with people who use Windows or Android. The storage savings are real, especially on phones with limited space. If you back up to iCloud, the smaller file size also means faster uploads.

JPG is the better choice if you share photos frequently with people on different devices, if you use cloud storage services that may not recognize HEIC, or if you edit photos in programs that do not support HEIC yet. Many photo editing tools, particularly older ones or free web-based editors, still only work with JPG, PNG, or GIF. Switching to JPG removes that friction.

HEIC and iCloud backup — what you should know

If you back up your iPhone to iCloud, your HEIC photos are stored as HEIC in iCloud. When you download them back to your iPhone or iPad, they stay as HEIC. If you download them to a Mac, they also stay as HEIC. But if you try to download HEIC photos from iCloud.com using a Windows computer or a non-Apple browser, iCloud will automatically convert them to JPG for you.

This automatic conversion is helpful if you need to retrieve photos from iCloud on a Windows PC — you will get JPG files that open without trouble. However, if you want to keep the original HEIC files, you will need to download them on a Mac or use a different method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open HEIC files on my Android phone?

Newer Android phones running Android 12 or later have built-in support for HEIC. Older Android phones do not. If your phone cannot open HEIC files, convert them to JPG on a computer first, or use a free converter app from the Google Play Store.

Will converting HEIC to JPG make the photo look worse?

No. Both formats are lossy compression, meaning they discard some data. Converting HEIC to JPG discards a small amount of additional data, but the difference is not visible to the human eye in most photos. You will not see a quality loss.

Why does my iPhone keep saving photos as HEIC even though I changed the setting?

Check that you selected Most Compatible in Settings > Camera > Formats. If you did, the setting may not have applied to all apps. Some third-party camera apps ignore this setting and save in their own format. Try using the built-in Camera app instead.

Is HEIC better than JPG for all photos?

HEIC is better for storage and file size. JPG is better for compatibility and sharing. Neither is universally better — it depends on what you plan to do with the photo. If you keep photos on Apple devices, HEIC saves space. If you share them widely, JPG is safer.

Do I need to convert old HEIC photos if I switch to JPG mode?

No. Changing the format setting only affects new photos. Your old HEIC files will stay as HEIC. You can convert them later if you need to share them, or leave them as is if they stay on Apple devices.