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HEIC vs JPG: What's the difference and when to convert

Since iOS 11, iPhones have saved photos in HEIC format by default. It's a smarter format in many ways — but it causes compatibility headaches with Windows PCs, older apps, and most websites. Here's everything you need to know.

What is HEIC?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It's a file format based on the HEVC (H.265) video compression standard, adopted by Apple in 2017. The main advantage is that HEIC files are roughly 50% smaller than equivalent JPG files at the same visual quality, which saves significant storage space on your iPhone.

When you take a photo on a modern iPhone, it's saved as a .heic file by default. You might not notice this until you try to open the photo on a Windows PC or upload it to a website — and find that it doesn't work.

What is JPG?

JPG (also written JPEG) has been the standard photo format since the 1990s. It uses lossy compression to reduce file size while maintaining acceptable visual quality. JPG is supported by virtually every device, operating system, app, and website on the planet — which is its biggest advantage.

HEIC vs JPG: a direct comparison

Feature	HEIC	JPG
File size	~50% smaller	Larger
Image quality	Better at same size	Good
Compatibility	Limited (mainly Apple)	Universal
Windows support	Requires codec	Native
Web upload support	Often rejected	Always accepted
Transparency	Yes	No
Multiple frames	Yes (Live Photos)	No

When should you convert HEIC to JPG?

Converting from HEIC to JPG makes sense in these situations:

• Sending photos to someone using Windows or Android
• Uploading photos to websites, social media, or web forms
• Using photos in design software that doesn't support HEIC
• Sharing photos with clients or colleagues for professional use
• Printing photos at a lab that requires JPG

When to keep HEIC

If you're only sharing photos within the Apple ecosystem — iPhone to Mac, AirDrop, iCloud — there's no need to convert. HEIC gives you better quality at smaller file sizes, which means more photos on your device.

How to stop iPhone from shooting in HEIC

If you'd rather avoid converting altogether, you can change your iPhone camera settings. Go to Settings → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible. This makes your iPhone shoot in JPG instead of HEIC.

The downside is that your photos will take up more storage space. The better approach for most people is to keep shooting in HEIC and convert only when needed.