How the converter works
Drop one or more .heic or .heif files onto the tool and each image is decoded by your browser, redrawn onto an HTML5 canvas, and re-encoded as JPG or PNG at the quality you choose. You get a preview of every converted photo plus individual download links and a download-all option for batches.
The critical detail is where that happens: entirely on your device. Most online HEIC converters upload your photos to a server, convert them there, and send them back. This one has no upload endpoint at all — the decode and re-encode use your device's own GPU and CPU through the Canvas API.
Why iPhones save photos as HEIC
Apple switched the default camera format to HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) in iOS 11. The format uses the HEVC compression family and produces files roughly half the size of an equivalent JPEG at comparable visual quality. For a phone holding thousands of photos, that is an enormous storage saving.
The trade-off is compatibility. JPEG has been universally supported for three decades; HEIC is newer and still unsupported by plenty of websites, older Windows versions, and many editing tools. That mismatch is why people end up needing a converter at all: the photo is fine, but the destination cannot read it.
JPG or PNG — which output should you pick?
| Output | Best for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| JPG (quality 88–95) | Photographs | Lossy compression is visually invisible at these levels and produces small, shareable files |
| PNG | Screenshots, text, sharp graphics | Lossless, so edges and text stay crisp — but files are much larger |
For an ordinary photo destined for email, social media, or a web upload, JPG at around 90% quality is the right answer almost every time. Choose PNG only when the image contains text, fine lines, or flat colour areas where JPEG artefacts would be visible.
Quality settings explained
The quality slider controls JPEG compression. At 100 the file is largest with essentially no visible loss; at 70 the file is much smaller but soft edges and gradients begin to show artefacts. The 88–95 band is the practical sweet spot: files shrink dramatically while remaining indistinguishable from the original to the eye. Because HEIC is itself already compressed, re-encoding is always a second compression pass, so it is worth staying in that upper band rather than pushing quality down aggressively.
Browser support
Native HEIC decoding requires a modern browser — Chrome 117+, Safari 17+, or Edge 117+. On supported browsers conversion is fast and pixel-accurate. On older browsers the tool shows a compatibility notice instead of producing a broken file, so you always know what you are getting.
Privacy, structurally
Photos are among the most personal files people handle. Because this converter never transmits them, there is no server log, no temporary storage, and no retention policy to trust — the images simply never travel. If you want the background on how in-browser conversion works, see how a browser-based HEIC converter works and our HEIC vs JPEG comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. Decoding and re-encoding happen entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. There is no upload endpoint, so the images never leave your device.
Will converting reduce my photo quality?
Slightly, since HEIC is already compressed and JPG adds a second pass. At quality 88-95 the difference is not visible to the eye. Choose PNG if you need lossless output.
Can I convert many photos at once?
Yes. Drop as many files as you like; they process one after another with a progress indicator, and you can download them individually or all at once.
Why won't my HEIC file convert?
Native HEIC decoding needs Chrome 117+, Safari 17+, or Edge 117+. On older browsers the tool displays a compatibility notice rather than producing a corrupted file.