Glossary
What is HEIC?
MarkdownWhat HEIC is
HEIC is Apple's name for images saved in the HEIF container, which usually holds HEVC-compressed pictures. It also supports transparency, 16-bit color and storing several images in one file.
Apple devices have saved photos as HEIC by default since iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra.
Why it matters on a Mac
Preview, Photos and Quick Look open HEIC without extra software. The trouble starts when you send a photo to a website, a Windows PC or an older app that does not read it.
How to check or change it on macOS
- To see a file's format, select it in Finder and press Command-I. The Kind line says HEIF Image or similar.
- To make an iPhone shoot JPEG, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible.
- To convert a file on the Mac, open it in Preview and choose File > Export, then pick JPEG.
How Toolbox handles it
Convert Images turns HEIC photos into JPEG, PNG, TIFF or WebP, a whole folder at a time, and also writes HEIC. Compress Images can save as HEIC to make photos smaller. Both run on your Mac and leave your originals alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is HEIC better than JPEG?
HEIC usually gives a smaller file at similar quality. JPEG is still the safer choice when a photo must open everywhere.
Why will my HEIC photo not upload?
The site or app probably does not accept HEIC. Convert the photo to JPEG first.
Does converting HEIC to JPG keep the date and location?
Only if Keep metadata is on in Convert Images. Turn it off to drop that information.
