HEIC vs HEIF
HEIF is a container family rather than one compression algorithm. It can relate primary, thumbnail and auxiliary images; compatibility depends on the image codec and brands inside the file, not just its extension.
Image format
HEIC
HEVC-coded photographs in HEIF, with room for auxiliary images and capture metadata.
Explore the format
Convert HEIC to
Choose a target format for your HEIC images.
JPEGJPEGHEIC → JPEGPNGPNGHEIC → PNGWebPWebPHEIC → WebPAVIFAVIFHEIC → AVIFHEIFHEIFHEIC → HEIFGIFGIFHEIC → GIFWith caveat
All 21 conversions
Marked paths may need steps such as flattening, rasterization, tone mapping or animation loss.
Convert to HEIC
Choose a source format to convert to HEIC.
JPEGJPEGJPEG → HEICPNGPNGPNG → HEICWebPWebPWebP → HEICAVIFAVIFAVIF → HEICHEIFHEIFHEIF → HEICGIFGIFGIF → HEICWith caveat
All 36 conversions
TIFFTIFFTIFF → HEICBMPBMPBMP → HEICSVGSVGSVG → HEICICOICOICO → HEICJPEG XLJPEG XLJPEG XL → HEICJPEG 2000JPEG 2000JPEG 2000 → HEICQOIQOIQOI → HEICTGATGATGA → HEICPCXPCXPCX → HEICPPMPPMPPM → HEICPGMPGMPGM → HEICPBMPBMPBM → HEICPAMPAMPAM → HEICHDRHDRHDR → HEICWith caveatEXREXREXR → HEICWith caveatPSDPSDPSD → HEICWith caveatPDFPDFPDF → HEICWith caveatDNGDNGDNG → HEICCanon CR2Canon CR2Canon CR2 → HEICCanon CR3Canon CR3Canon CR3 → HEICCanon CRWCanon CRWCanon CRW → HEICNikon NEFNikon NEFNikon NEF → HEICSony ARWSony ARWSony ARW → HEICFujifilm RAFFujifilm RAFFujifilm RAF → HEICOlympus ORFOlympus ORFOlympus ORF → HEICPanasonic RW2Panasonic RW2Panasonic RW2 → HEICPentax PEFPentax PEFPentax PEF → HEICSigma X3FSigma X3FSigma X3F → HEICKodak RAWKodak RAWKodak RAW → HEICHasselblad 3FRHasselblad 3FRHasselblad 3FR → HEIC
Marked paths may need steps such as flattening, rasterization, tone mapping or animation loss.
About HEIC
High Efficiency Image File Format (HEVC)
HEIC is the conventional designation for HEVC-coded images stored in HEIF. It separates the compression algorithm from the container that relates the main picture to thumbnails, auxiliary images and metadata. This makes it useful for device photo workflows that need more than a single flat image.
The container can hold alpha or depth as auxiliary images, Exif and XMP metadata, colour properties and transformations such as rotation. Features are optional and readers may expose only the primary picture. An image collection is not automatically an animation, and a stored depth map is not an editable 3D scene.
Use it for compatible capture, storage and photo-library workflows that can retain the required items. Sharing a flattened copy may be simpler for a recipient, but can discard auxiliary information. Always check the codec and file brands as well as the extension; renaming the file does not change its encoding.
Key capabilities
HEIC commonly uses lossy HEVC; HEVC also has lossless coding tools. Actual quality, bit depth and chroma depend on the encoded profile and settings, not on the .heic extension.
History of HEIC
HEIF developed as a structured image container; HEIC became a familiar capture variant through HEVC-based device photography.
HEIC compared
Different formats, different trade-offs. Choose for the image and the workflow.
HEIC vs JPEG
JPEG makes a compact photographic delivery file, but ordinary JPEG discards detail and has no alpha. Keep the richer source for editing and use JPEG when the receiving workflow expects an opaque photo.
HEIC vs AVIF
AVIF uses AV1 coding and supports alpha, image sequences and higher bit depths for HDR workflows. It is worth evaluating for final delivery; codec settings and the receiving application determine whether its additional features survive.
HEIC vs PNG
PNG preserves decoded pixels losslessly and can carry alpha. It is useful for transparent graphics and screenshots; it does not preserve editable document layers or camera sensor data, and photographic files can be large.
HEIC FAQ
What does this format store?
HEIC is the conventional designation for HEVC-coded images stored in HEIF. It separates the compression algorithm from the container that relates the main picture to thumbnails, auxiliary images and metadata. This makes it useful for device photo workflows that need more than a single flat image.
How does compression affect quality?
HEIC commonly uses lossy HEVC; HEVC also has lossless coding tools. Actual quality, bit depth and chroma depend on the encoded profile and settings, not on the .heic extension.
Are HEIC and HEIF interchangeable names?
HEIF is the container framework; HEIC conventionally means HEVC images in that framework. Other codecs have their own bindings and brands. The MIME types distinguish still images from sequences.
What should I check before opening the file?
Check that the application supports the codec, profile and required auxiliary items. Apple documents HEIF capture on compatible devices and conversion for sharing; container recognition alone does not supply a missing decoder.
What changes when I export to another format?
Exporting the primary picture alone can remove depth, alternate images and sequences. JPEG flattens transparency; HDR to SDR requires tone mapping. Rotation, colour properties and metadata must be interpreted before export.
When is this format useful?
Use it for compatible capture, storage and photo-library workflows that can retain the required items. Sharing a flattened copy may be simpler for a recipient, but can discard auxiliary information. Always check the codec and file brands as well as the extension; renaming the file does not change its encoding.