HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format)
Half the file size of JPEG, with more color depth and the same visual quality.
| Full name | High Efficiency Image Format |
| Extension | .heif |
| MIME type | image/heif |
| Developer | Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) |
| Released | 2015 (finalized as ISO/IEC 23008-12:2017) |
| Type | Image container |
| Codec support | HEVC, AVC, JPEG, AV1 |
| Color depth | Up to 16 bits per channel |
What is a HEIC file?
HEIF is a container format for single images and image sequences. It stores photos at roughly half the file size of JPEG at equivalent quality. Apple adopted it as the default camera format in iOS 11 in 2017, which brought it to hundreds of millions of devices.
HEIF is a file container, not a codec. It wraps compressed image data, typically encoded with HEVC (H.265), inside a structure based on the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF). A single HEIF file can hold one still image, a burst sequence, depth maps, thumbnail previews, and metadata all together. The format also supports image edits stored as instructions, so a crop or rotation can be saved without re-encoding the pixels.
History
MPEG began work on the HEIF specification in 2013, aiming to pair a modern image container with the then-new HEVC video codec. The standard was assigned the number ISO/IEC 23008-12 by January 2014 and was finalized in 2015, with formal ISO publication following in 2017. Nokia contributed an open-source C++ reference implementation that helped drive early adoption before Apple made the format mainstream.
How it works
HEIF files follow the ISO Base Media File Format, the same foundation used by MP4. Still images are stored as items inside the container, while image sequences are stored as tracks. The container holds codec bitstreams alongside metadata boxes for EXIF, XMP, and color profiles. Because images and metadata live in separate, addressable boxes, applications can read just the thumbnail or just the color profile without decoding the full image.
What it is used for
- Storing photos on iOS and macOS devices with Apple's default HEIC variant
- Saving burst shots, Live Photos, or cinemagraphs as a single file
- Archiving high-quality images with smaller storage footprint than JPEG
- Embedding depth maps and HDR tone-mapping metadata alongside the main image
How to open it
On macOS and iOS, HEIF files open natively in Photos, Preview, and most apps updated for iOS 11 or later. On Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft offers the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, after which the Photos app and File Explorer handle the format.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- File sizes roughly 40-50% smaller than equivalent JPEG images
- Supports up to 16-bit color depth, enabling HDR and wide-gamut images
- One file can contain multiple images, thumbnails, and depth data
- Non-destructive edits can be stored as metadata without re-encoding
Trade-offs
- Not universally supported in older browsers, apps, and operating systems
- HEVC decoding requires hardware support for smooth performance on older devices
- Patent licensing on HEVC has slowed adoption in some open-source tools
- Web use is limited because JPEG and WebP still have broader browser support
Convert HEIC files
Free, in your browser, no signup. Start at the HEIC converter, or jump straight to a popular conversion below.
From HEIC
Curious how fast and how small? See our measured conversion benchmarks.
HEIC FAQ
What is the difference between HEIF and HEIC?
HEIF is the container format standard. HEIC is Apple's specific variant that uses HEVC encoding and carries the .heic extension. All HEIC files are HEIF files, but HEIF files can also use other codecs like AVC or AV1.
Can I convert HEIF to JPEG?
Yes. Converting HEIF to JPEG is straightforward using tools like this site, Apple's built-in export in Preview, or image editors such as GIMP and Photoshop. The conversion is lossy, and you give up the smaller file size.
Do web browsers support HEIF?
Support is limited. Safari on macOS 13 and iOS 17 supports HEIF natively. Chrome and Firefox do not support it at the browser level as of 2026, so HEIF images on web pages are typically converted to JPEG or WebP for delivery.
Is HEIF better than WebP?
HEIF and WebP are both more efficient than JPEG, but in different ways. HEIF generally offers better compression and higher color depth, but WebP has broader browser support and no patent concerns around its AV1-based successor AVIF.