HEIC
/ˈhiːk/ · noun · image format · High Efficiency Image Container
HEIC is the iPhone's default photo format since iOS 11. It is about half the size of a JPG at the same quality.
In more detail
HEIC arrived with iOS 11 in 2017 and has been the iPhone camera's default format since then. It is a container. It can hold a single photo, a burst of photos or a Live Photo.
Its main problem is compatibility outside Apple devices. That is why HEIC to JPG is one of the most common file conversions.
What a HEIC file can contain
A HEIC file is more than a flat grid of pixels. It can store the main photo, thumbnails, depth data, edits, several frames and EXIF metadata. That is how Apple features like burst shots, portrait effects and undoable edits stay with the photo.
Most iPhone HEIC photos use HEVC compression. It keeps about the same detail as a camera JPG in less space. The exact saving depends on the scene and settings. Half the size is a good rule of thumb, not a promise for every photo.
How to open or convert a HEIC file
Current Apple devices open HEIC without extra software. Modern browsers and operating systems have better support than they used to. Problems still show up in older Windows apps, email, print shops, websites and apps that only accept JPG or PNG.
Convert to JPG when you need a small photo that opens anywhere. Convert to PNG only if you need transparency or a lossless file for editing, because a PNG photo is often much larger. Keep the original HEIC if you may need its metadata or extra image data later.
Key points
- HEIC is a container that can hold photos, metadata, thumbnails and extra data.
- Most iPhone HEIC photos use the HEVC codec to keep files small.
- Use JPG as the copy you share. Keep the HEIC original as your archive.