HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container)
Apple's default photo format since 2017 packs the same visual quality as JPEG into roughly half the storage space.
| Full name | High Efficiency Image Container |
| Extension | .heic |
| MIME type | image/heic |
| Developer | Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG); adopted by Apple |
| Released | 2015 (HEIF standard, ISO/IEC 23008-12); Apple adoption September 2017 with iOS 11 |
| Type | Raster image |
| Compression | HEVC (H.265) intra-coding, lossy and lossless modes |
| Container base | ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) |
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is the file format used by iPhone and iPad cameras since iOS 11. It stores photos compressed with the HEVC video codec, delivering images that look identical to JPEG at about half the file size. A single HEIC file can also hold image sequences, depth maps, and metadata in the same container.
HEIC is the brand name Apple uses for still images stored in the High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) container using HEVC compression. HEVC, the same codec used for 4K video, applies intra-frame prediction to find redundant patterns within an image and discard them efficiently. The container format is built on the ISO Base Media File Format, the same foundation used by MP4 video files. Because of this flexible container, a single HEIC file can carry a main image, an HDR gain map, an alpha channel, Live Photo frames, and camera metadata all at once.
History
The Moving Picture Experts Group finalized the HEIF standard in 2015 as part of the MPEG-H suite, published as ISO/IEC 23008-12. Apple announced HEIF support at WWDC in June 2017 and shipped it as the default camera format on all iPhones and iPads with iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra in September 2017. The switch was motivated by storage savings: modern iPhone sensors produce large files, and HEIC cut photo library sizes nearly in half without any visible quality loss.
How it works
An HEIC file follows the ISO Base Media File Format box structure. The file starts with an `ftyp` box that identifies the HEIC brand, followed by a `meta` box containing an image location table (ILOC) and item properties (IPRP) that describe each stored item. The actual compressed image data sits in an `mdat` box. Each image item is individually compressed using HEVC intra-coding, which divides the frame into coding tree units and uses spatial prediction to model neighboring pixel values before encoding the residual difference. Color profile information, EXIF camera data, and XMP metadata are stored as separate items in the same container alongside the pixel data.
What it is used for
- iPhone and iPad camera photos stored on-device to maximize storage capacity
- Transferring large photo libraries between Apple devices while keeping file sizes manageable
- Photography workflows on macOS where Apple ecosystem tools handle the format natively
- Archiving high-quality images with smaller footprints than JPEG at the same visual quality
How to open it
On Apple devices running iOS 11 or macOS High Sierra and later, HEIC files open natively in Photos, Preview, and Safari. On Windows 10 and 11, the Photos app opens HEIC after installing the free HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store; on older Windows or Linux systems, converting the file to JPEG is usually the simplest path.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- File sizes are roughly 50 percent smaller than JPEG at equivalent visual quality
- Supports transparency (alpha channel), HDR, and wide color gamut in a single file
- Can store Live Photos, depth maps, and image sequences alongside the main image
- Retains full EXIF metadata including GPS, camera settings, and capture time
Trade-offs
- Limited compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem without additional software or conversion
- Most social media platforms and web browsers convert HEIC to JPEG on upload, discarding quality benefits
- Editing support in non-Apple tools such as older Photoshop or Lightroom versions requires plugins or manual conversion
- HEVC decoding is hardware-accelerated on recent chips but can be slow on older CPUs without a hardware decoder
Convert HEIC files
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From HEIC
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HEIC FAQ
Why does my iPhone save photos as HEIC instead of JPEG?
Apple switched iPhones to HEIC by default with iOS 11 in 2017 to save storage space. HEIC produces photos that look the same as JPEG but use about half the disk space. You can switch back to JPEG in Settings â Camera â Formats â Most Compatible if you prefer universal compatibility over storage savings.
Can I open HEIC files on Windows?
Yes, on Windows 10 and 11 you can open HEIC files in the Photos app after installing the free HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Without that extension, Windows cannot decode the HEVC-compressed content inside the file. Alternatively, converting the file to JPEG works on any operating system without extra software.
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the container standard developed by MPEG. HEIC is the specific brand name for HEIF files that use HEVC compression for still images. Apple uses the .heic extension for its camera photos. You may also encounter .heif files, which use the same container but may store images compressed with other codecs.
Does converting HEIC to JPEG lose quality?
Converting HEIC to JPEG involves re-encoding the image with JPEG compression, which adds a small amount of additional quality loss on top of the original HEIC compression. In practice, if you export at high JPEG quality (90 or above), the difference is not visible to the eye. The main trade-off is that the resulting JPEG file will be significantly larger than the original HEIC.