Convert HEIC photos to JPG, PNG, WebP or PDF
Drop your iPhone photos below. They are converted on your device, so nothing is uploaded – no account, no watermark, no per-file fees.
Drop your HEIC or HEIF photos here
or click to choose files from your device
Drop files anywhere in this boxPaste with Ctrl+V (⌘V)
Converted on your device – nothing is uploaded
A HEIC converter that never sees your photos
HEIC is the photo format iPhones and iPads use by default. It saves storage space, but many Windows PCs, Android phones, websites and print services still cannot open it. HEIC2 converts those files to JPG, PNG, WebP or PDF so they work wherever you need them.
The conversion runs inside your browser tab. When you add a photo, a HEIC decoder (libheif, compiled to WebAssembly) reads the file on your device in a background thread, and your browser encodes the pixels in the format you picked. The photo is never sent to a server, so there is nothing to upload, no queue to wait in and nothing stored on our side.
You can check this yourself. Open your browser’s developer tools, switch to the Network tab and convert a photo: you will see the page and its scripts load, but you will not see your photo leave your computer.
Which output format should you choose?
| Format | Choose it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| JPG | You want the photo to open anywhere: email, messaging apps, social networks, Windows, print shops. | Lossy, so each save discards a little detail. At 90–92% quality the difference is hard to see. |
| PNG | You will keep editing the image, or you need a lossless copy of the decoded pixels. | Files are often several times larger than the same photo as JPG. |
| WebP | You are publishing photos on a website or blog and want smaller files. | Some older apps and print services cannot open it, and some browsers cannot save it. |
| You need to send, print or upload photos as a document. | The photos are placed as images; the PDF is not text-searchable. |
Not sure? Pick JPG. If the photos are going on a website, read HEIC vs JPG and try the HEIC to WebP converter. If you need everything in a single document, use HEIC to PDF.
How converting in your browser compares with other methods
| Method | What happens to your photos | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload-based online converters | Files are sent to the provider’s servers and converted there. | Very large files or devices with little memory. | Photos leave your device, and some services limit file size or count unless you pay. |
| In-browser converters (HEIC2) | Photos are converted on your device. Nothing is uploaded. | Private photos, ID or document snaps, and quick batches with nothing to install. | Speed and memory depend on your device. |
| Built-in tools (Preview on Mac, Photos export) | Converted locally by the operating system. | Occasional conversions on a Mac. | Manual, one dialog at a time; nothing equivalent on Windows or Android. |
| Desktop software | Converted locally by an installed program. | Huge batches and workflows that need metadata control. | Installation, updates and sometimes a licence fee. |
Getting the best quality from a conversion
- Start from the original HEIC. A copy that was already shared through a chat app has usually been compressed once already.
- Use 90–92% for JPG. Going to 100% makes files much larger with little visible difference at normal viewing sizes.
- Use Max size for smaller files. 2048 px on the long side is plenty for email and most web pages.
- Expect no metadata in the result. The converted files do not carry the original camera details or GPS location. That protects your privacy; keep the HEIC if you need that information.
- Live Photos become still images. Only the still frame is converted, not the short video.
- Keep your originals until you have checked the converted files.
If a photo will not convert
- Try a current version of Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- Convert fewer photos at once, or set a smaller Max size – very large photos can exceed a phone’s memory.
- Check that the file really is a HEIC. A file renamed from another format, or a partly copied file, will be rejected.
- Copy the photo from your iPhone again – a file that was only partly transferred is a common cause – and convert the fresh copy.
- If it still fails, contact us with your browser and operating system and we will look into it.
Format comparison
How the output formats differ, so you can pick the right one.
| Format | Compression Type | Transparency (Alpha) | Device & Web Compatibility | Recommended Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Lossy (quality 50–100%) | No | Opens on virtually every device, app and printer | Sharing, email, social media, printing |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | Opens on virtually every device and app | Editing, graphics, lossless copies |
| WebP | Lossy (quality 50–100%) | Yes | Modern browsers and many apps | Websites and blogs |
| JPEG image inside a PDF page | No | Any PDF reader | Documents, forms, printing |
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about HEIC files, privacy and conversion.
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is the image format iPhones and iPads use by default since iOS 11. It is a HEIF container with the photo compressed using the HEVC codec, which keeps files smaller than JPEG at similar visual quality. The catch is compatibility: many Windows PCs, Android phones, websites and print services cannot open it without extra software.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. The HEIC file is decoded and re-encoded inside your browser using WebAssembly. You can check this yourself: open your browser’s developer tools, switch to the Network tab and convert a photo – you will not see the photo being sent anywhere.
Which format should I convert my HEIC photos to?
Choose JPG if you are not sure – it opens almost everywhere. Choose PNG for lossless editing copies, WebP for photos you will publish on a website, and PDF when a form or printer needs a document.
Is there a limit on the number or size of files?
HEIC2 does not set a limit. In practice your device’s memory decides: computers handle large batches easily, while phones do better with smaller batches. If a tab runs out of memory, convert fewer photos at once or pick a smaller maximum size.
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
JPG is a lossy format, so a little detail is discarded when the photo is saved. At 90–92% quality the difference is very hard to see. PNG output keeps exactly the pixels decoded from the HEIC, although it cannot bring back detail already lost when the phone saved the HEIC.
Do converted files keep the location and camera details?
No. The photo is re-drawn and re-encoded in your browser, so metadata such as GPS location and camera model is not carried over. That is good for privacy; if you need that information, keep the original HEIC file.
Why do iPhones save photos as HEIC?
Apple introduced HEIF and HEVC support with iOS 11 because they use less storage space than JPEG and H.264 while keeping the same visual quality, according to Apple. You can switch the camera back to JPEG in Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible.
What happens to Live Photos?
The converter saves the still image of a Live Photo. The short video that accompanies it is not included in the JPG, PNG, WebP or PDF output.