HEIC vs JPG: what's the difference, and which should you use?

What HEIC is

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. Since iOS 11, iPhones and iPads save photos in it by default, because it stores the same picture in noticeably less space than a JPG. On a phone that takes thousands of photos, that adds up to a lot of storage saved — which is why Apple made it the default.

The files usually end in .heic (sometimes .heif, the name of the wider standard). Inside, the image is compressed with a modern video-style codec rather than the decades-old JPEG method. That's what makes it efficient — and also why older software doesn't understand it.

Why HEIC photos won't open

JPG has been the default photo format on cameras, phones and the web for decades, so practically every app, printer, website and operating system reads it. HEIC is much newer, and support is patchy outside Apple's own devices:

• Windows may show HEIC files as unknown or need an extra extension before Photos can open them, and many older programs can't read them at all.
• Android support varies by phone and app; some galleries open HEIC, some messaging and editing apps don't.
• Upload forms for jobs, exams, visas and banks very often list only JPG, PNG or PDF, and reject anything else.
• Photo printing kiosks, older editors and office software frequently expect JPG.

On Apple devices everything just works, so you may not notice there's a problem until a photo leaves your iPhone.

HEIC vs JPG at a glance

In everyday viewing you won't see a quality difference between a HEIC photo and a well-made JPG of it. The real trade-off is size versus compatibility: HEIC saves space on your phone, JPG saves trouble when you share.

How to convert HEIC to JPG

1. Open HEIC to JPG and add your photos — up to 200 at a time.
2. Keep JPG selected. The default quality of 90% looks the same as the original; lower it only if you need smaller files.
3. Click Convert. Several photos download together as a ZIP.

The conversion happens in your browser, on Windows, Mac, Android and ChromeOS alike — there's no codec or app to install, and the photos aren't uploaded anywhere. The converted JPGs don't carry the original's EXIF metadata, so GPS location, capture time and camera details are left behind. That's useful before sharing; keep the HEIC originals if you want that information (see removing location from photos).

Need PNG or a PDF instead?

• For editing or design work, HEIC to PNG gives a lossless copy. Expect much larger files than JPG.
• For receipts, forms and notes you photographed, HEIC to PDF turns the photos straight into one PDF with a page per photo — no JPG step in between. JPG to PDF does the same for a mix of JPG, PNG and HEIC files.

Make your iPhone take JPG photos

If you regularly send photos to Windows PCs or upload them to forms, you can tell the camera to save JPG instead:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap Camera, then Formats.
3. Choose Most Compatible.

From then on, new photos are saved as JPG (and videos as H.264 instead of HEVC). The downside is that they take more storage. Photos you've already taken stay HEIC, so convert those when you need them. To switch back, choose High Efficiency in the same place.

Tip: When you copy photos to a computer, iOS can convert them to JPG on the way: Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC › Automatic. That only affects transfers to a computer, not email, chat or uploads from the phone.

Which should you keep?

For most people the simplest approach is to leave the iPhone on High Efficiency, keep your library in HEIC to save space, and convert only the photos that need to go somewhere else. If you're constantly fighting upload forms or sharing with Windows users, switch to Most Compatible and accept the larger files. Either way, convert copies — never delete the originals until you've checked the JPGs look right.

If a form also has a file-size limit, convert first and then shrink the JPG — reducing a photo to a size in KB explains how.