What is a HEIC file?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the format iPhones use for photos since iOS 11. It stores the same quality as JPG in about half the space. The downside is compatibility: many Windows programs, websites, printers and older Android phones cannot open HEIC files.
Convert HEIC to JPG for free
- Open HEIC to JPG on FreeTools Hub.
- Add one or several .heic or .heif photos.
- Press Convert to JPG, then download each photo or all of them as a ZIP.
What is preserved
- Full colour and resolution, saved at 92% JPG quality.
- Correct rotation, so portrait photos are not sideways.
- Metadata such as the date taken and camera model.
Make your iPhone save JPG instead
Open Settings → Camera → Formats and choose “Most Compatible”. New photos will be saved as JPG. When you transfer photos to a computer, you can also set Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic, which converts them during transfer.
HEIC vs JPG at a glance
- File size: HEIC is about 40–50% smaller for the same quality.
- Compatibility: JPG opens everywhere; HEIC needs recent software or extensions.
- Features: HEIC can store multiple images and depth data; JPG stores one image.
- Editing: every editor supports JPG, so it is the safer choice for sharing.
Converting many photos
Select all the HEIC photos you want at once — the converter processes them one after another and shows the progress for each file. When it finishes, download everything as a single ZIP. Each photo can be up to 25 MB, which covers photos from every current iPhone.
Is it safe to convert photos online?
Photos are sent over an encrypted connection, converted in an isolated temporary folder and deleted as soon as the JPG is returned. Nothing is stored, shared or used for any other purpose, and no account is needed. If you prefer, change your iPhone camera to “Most Compatible” so future photos are saved as JPG directly.
Next steps with your photos
- Shrink photos for email or forms with Compress Image.
- Combine photos of documents into one PDF with JPG to PDF.
- Crop or resize them with Crop Image and Resize Image.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
At 92% quality the difference is not visible for practically all photos.
Can Windows open HEIC natively?
Windows 10 and 11 can with the “HEIF Image Extensions” from the Microsoft Store, but many apps and websites still do not support HEIC.
Are my photos stored?
No. Photos are converted in a temporary folder and deleted immediately afterwards.