HEIF Converters

Convert HEIF photos from Android phones and cameras to JPG, PNG, WebP or PDF, then view and clean them for sharing.

Convert HEIF to JPG

9 free tools · no signup · no watermarks

About these heif converters

HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is the modern image standard a lot of Android phones, Samsung devices, Canon cameras and professional photography workflows now save in. It stores a photo in roughly half the space of an equivalent JPG, which is great for your storage, right up until you hit a website, upload form, Windows app or printer that will not accept the file.

These converters turn HEIF photos into formats that work everywhere: JPG for maximum compatibility, PNG when you need lossless quality, WebP for the web, and PDF for documents. You can also open a file in the HEIF Viewer to check it first. Everything runs locally in your browser, so your photos never leave your device.

WHICH HEIF CONVERTER TO USE

  • HEIF to JPG when a website, form, app or printer refuses the original photo
  • HEIF to PNG when you need lossless quality for editing or graphics work
  • HEIF to WebP when the photo is going on a website and small file size matters most
  • HEIF to PDF when photos need to travel as a document: receipts, IDs, scans and paperwork
  • HEIF Viewer when you just need to open and check a .heif file, especially on Windows

HEIF conversion formats at a glance

Convert to File size Transparency Best for
JPG Small No Sharing anywhere: upload forms, email, older apps and photo printers
PNG Largest Yes Lossless quality for editing, graphics work and screenshots
WebP Smallest Yes Websites and blogs where loading speed matters most
PDF Medium No Receipts, IDs and photos that need to travel as a document

What is a HEIF file?

HEIF, short for High Efficiency Image Format, is a modern image container that stores photos using the same HEVC compression behind 4K video. The result is efficiency: a HEIF photo takes about half the space of an equivalent JPG at the same visual quality, with support for 10-bit colour, transparency and several images in one file. Files usually carry a .heif or .heic extension.

If you have run into HEIF, it is probably because your Android phone, Samsung device or Canon camera saved a photo in it, or because someone sent you one. The format is excellent for storage and quality, but support outside modern phones and editors is still patchy, which is where converting comes in.

HEIF vs HEIC: what is the difference?

This trips a lot of people up, so here is the short version: HEIF is the general standard, and HEIC is Apple's specific implementation of it using HEVC compression. An iPhone saves .heic files; many Android phones and cameras save .heif files; under the hood they are the same family of image. In everyday use the two extensions are interchangeable, and every tool on this page accepts both.

So if you have iPhone photos with a .heic extension, the HEIC Converters page is tuned for those, but these HEIF tools will open them just as happily. Pick whichever matches the extension you are actually looking at.

Why convert HEIF to JPG?

JPG has been the universal photo format for decades, so a converted copy opens essentially everywhere: old software, new web forms, print shops, email and every operating system. When a site or app rejects your HEIF photo, converting to JPG is almost always the fastest fix, and the conversion here happens locally so your photos stay private.

Keep the original HEIF as your master copy. Converting is a one-way street quality-wise, so always convert from the original file rather than re-converting an already-converted photo, and you will never lose detail you cannot get back.

How to open HEIF files on Windows

Windows can be stubborn about HEIF. Recent versions only open the files after installing HEVC video extensions, which Microsoft charges for on many machines, and older Windows versions cannot open them at all. That is why HEIF photos so often land on a PC as files nothing will open.

The quickest fix is the HEIF Viewer, which decodes the photo right in your browser on any operating system, no codecs needed. For a permanent fix, convert the photos to JPG or PNG once and they will open in every app, editor and viewer you have.

Explore more image tool hubs

  • HEIC Converters: Convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPG, PNG, PDF or WebP, then compress and clean them for sharing.
  • Image Compressors: Every compression tool in one place: shrink JPG, PNG, WebP and GIF files, or hit an exact size target.
  • PNG Converters: Convert, compress and edit PNG files: the format for screenshots, logos and transparent graphics.
HEIC Converters

HEIF Converters FAQ

What is a HEIF file?

HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is a modern image container that stores photos at roughly half the size of a JPG using HEVC compression. Many Android phones and cameras save in it, and it supports 10-bit colour, transparency and multiple images per file.

What is the difference between HEIF and HEIC?

HEIF is the general image standard and HEIC is Apple's version of it. iPhones save .heic files while many Android phones and cameras save .heif, but they are the same kind of image and these tools accept both.

How do I convert HEIF to JPG for free?

Open the HEIF to JPG converter, drop in your HEIF photos, and download the JPG copies. Everything happens locally in your browser, so there is no upload, no signup and no watermark.

How do I open a HEIF file?

Use the HEIF Viewer to open it right in your browser on any device, or convert it to JPG or PNG once so it opens in every app permanently. No codecs or extensions are needed either way.

Is HEIF better than JPEG?

For quality and storage, yes: HEIF keeps the same photo in about half the space with more colour depth. For compatibility, JPEG still wins because it opens everywhere. A good habit is to keep HEIF as the master copy and share JPEG copies.

Which devices save photos as HEIF?

Many modern Android phones including Samsung Galaxy models, Canon cameras and professional photography workflows save HEIF, and Apple devices save the closely related HEIC. The format is becoming the default for high-efficiency photo storage.

Does converting HEIF lose quality?

Converting to PNG is lossless. Converting to JPG or WebP involves a re-encode, but at normal quality settings the difference is not visible. Always convert from the original HEIF rather than from an already-converted copy.

Are my photos uploaded when I convert them?

No. HEIF decoding and conversion run locally in your browser using WebAssembly, so your photos never leave your device, and there are no server-side size caps or daily limits.