When HEIC is useful
Many iPhones use HEIC because it can preserve strong photo quality in a smaller file than a comparable JPG. Keeping the HEIC original makes sense when your devices and editing software support it.
- Efficient storage for a photo library
- Support for modern camera information and editing workflows
- Good quality at a relatively small size
When JPG is the safer choice
JPG is widely supported by Windows applications, websites, email clients and online forms. Convert to JPG when a recipient cannot open HEIC or an upload form rejects the file type.
- Use quality near 90 when visual detail matters.
- Use a lower quality only when file size is also restricted.
- Expect some metadata or newer HEIC features not to carry into the JPG.
Convert without losing the original
Open HEIC to JPG, select one or more photos and download the results. Review faces, fine text and bright gradients before deleting anything. Treat the JPG as a compatible copy, not a replacement for the original until you have checked it.
- Try an up-to-date desktop browser if a particular HEIC file will not decode.
- Choose HEIC to PNG when lossless output matters more than file size.
- Use Image Info to check the converted file's type and dimensions.
Try the related Docsy tools
Open the tool that matches your task, review its limitations and keep your original files until you have checked the result.