What is a HEIC file?
HEIC (HEIF) is the iPhone's default photo format, about half the size of JPG. But it often won't open in some Windows programs or government and shopping site upload forms, so you need to convert it to JPG.
Format characteristics
- JPG: the most compatible. Good for photos; doesn't support transparent backgrounds.
- PNG: lossless, supports transparency. Good for logos and screenshots, but large for photos.
- WebP: a web format made by Google. 25–35% smaller than JPG and supports transparency.
To shoot in JPG on iPhone from the start
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible and new photos are saved as JPG.
FAQ
HEIC conversion is slow.
HEIC has to be decoded in the browser, so it can take 1–3 seconds per photo. Files are never uploaded to a server.