How to Convert HEIC to JPG or PNG — Free, No Upload, Bulk (2026)
Shot photos on an iPhone and now can't open them on Windows, Android, or anywhere else? Here's everything you need to know about HEIC — and how to convert your files without uploading them anywhere.
Quick Answer
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones (since iOS 11), and it can't be opened on most Windows machines, Android phones, Slack, Reddit, eBay, or standard email clients without conversion. Use SimpleTool's HEIC to JPG converter — it runs in your browser, converts up to 500 files at once, and never uploads your photos anywhere.
Convert HEIC Free →What is HEIC and why can't Windows or Android open it?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is Apple's implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) standard, using the HEVC (H.265) video codec to compress images inside an ISOBMFF container — the same container format used for MP4 video. Apple switched iPhone cameras to HEIC by default with iOS 11 in 2017, because the format achieves roughly 50% smaller file sizes compared to JPG with no perceptible quality loss.
The problem is that HEIC was designed for the Apple ecosystem. Most of the rest of the world hasn't caught up:
- Windows 10 and 11 cannot open HEIC files natively without a paid codec extension from the Microsoft Store
- Android does not support HEIC in the default gallery app on most devices
- Web platforms — Slack, Reddit, eBay, most email clients, and many CMS systems — reject HEIC uploads or display them as broken
- Older software (Photoshop before CC 2018, Lightroom before 2018, many printing services) cannot read HEIC files
Converting to JPG or PNG gets your photos working everywhere, immediately.
JPG vs PNG — which should I convert to?
The right choice depends on what you're doing with the photos after conversion.
Convert to JPG
- ✓ Smallest file size — easy to email or message
- ✓ Universally supported everywhere
- ✓ Good for social media, sharing, web uploads
- ✗ Lossy — slight quality reduction (usually invisible)
- ✗ No transparency support
Best for: sharing, social, email, messaging
Convert to PNG
- ✓ Lossless — every pixel preserved exactly
- ✓ Supports transparency (alpha channel)
- ✓ Ideal for archiving, printing, professional delivery
- ✗ Much larger files (5–10× the size of JPG)
- ✗ Overkill for casual sharing
Best for: archiving, printing, professional use
Rule of thumb: If you're sending photos to family, posting online, or attaching to an email, use JPG. If you're archiving originals, delivering to a print shop, or working in a professional photography workflow, use PNG. Both are supported on HEIC to JPG and HEIC to PNG.
How to convert HEIC to JPG or PNG (step by step)
- 1
Open the HEIC converter and drop your files
Go to the HEIC to JPG or HEIC to PNG tool and drag your .heic files onto the page, or click to open the file picker. You can select up to 500 files at once. Nothing is uploaded — files stay on your device.
- 2
Wait for the browser to decode the files
The tool uses libheif compiled to WebAssembly to decode each HEIC file directly in your browser. Most photos convert in under a second each. A progress bar shows status for bulk batches.
- 3
Download individual files or the full ZIP
Once conversion finishes, download each image individually or click the ZIP button to download all converted files in one archive. GPS coordinates and EXIF metadata are automatically stripped from every file.
What gets removed during conversion
Every HEIC photo from your iPhone contains more than just the image. Embedded in the file is a block of EXIF metadata that can include:
- •GPS coordinates — exact latitude and longitude where the photo was taken
- •Timestamp — date and time to the second
- •Device information — iPhone model, iOS version, camera serial number
- •Lens data — focal length, aperture, shutter speed, ISO
SimpleTool strips all EXIF metadata automatically during conversion. This is not optional — it is the default behavior, and it is intentional. When you share a converted photo, the recipient gets the image and nothing else. No location history, no device fingerprint, no timestamp. This matters especially when sharing photos of your home, children, or routine locations with people you don't fully trust — or when posting publicly online.
Common HEIC questions
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
Yes — JPG uses lossy DCT compression, so some fine detail is discarded during conversion. In practice the difference is imperceptible for everyday photos at standard quality settings, but it is a one-way change: you cannot fully recover the original quality once compressed. If you need pixel-perfect fidelity — for printing, archiving, or professional delivery — convert to PNG instead, which is lossless.
Can I convert multiple HEIC files at once?
Yes. Both the HEIC to JPG and HEIC to PNG tools support batch conversion of up to 500 files at a time. After processing, all converted images are packaged into a single ZIP file for one-click download.
Does it work on iPhone or iPad?
Yes. The tools run in any modern browser including Safari and Chrome on iOS. You can open photos directly from your iPhone camera roll, convert them in the browser, and save the results back to your device — no desktop required.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. Conversion runs entirely inside your browser using libheif compiled to WebAssembly. Your photos never leave your device — no server receives the files, and no account or internet connection is needed once the page loads. You can verify this by disabling Wi-Fi after the page loads; conversion still works.
What is the difference between HEIC and HEIF?
HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the container format — the general standard defined by MPEG. HEIC is Apple's specific implementation: it uses the HEVC (H.265) video codec for image compression stored inside the HEIF container. When you take a photo on an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, the file saved is HEIC. The terms are often used interchangeably, but strictly speaking HEIC is a subset of HEIF.
Why are PNG files so much larger than HEIC?
HEIC uses HEVC (H.265) video compression — the same codec used to compress 4K video — which is extremely efficient at discarding redundant information while preserving apparent quality. PNG is lossless: it stores every pixel exactly as captured, compressing only through lossless algorithms like DEFLATE. A 3 MB HEIC photo can expand to 15–25 MB as a PNG. If file size matters, use JPG; if quality matters, use PNG.