What is a HEIC file and how to convert it: Simply explained

If you discover a HEIC file on your iPhone, you may not know what kind of file it is. This much in advance: It is an image format.

What a HEIC file is

The abbreviation is also known as HEIF and stands for High Efficiency Image Format.

• It is an image format for space-saving storage of images on mobile devices.

• iOS devices store images in HEIC files, on Android devices you will usually find HEIF images.

• The advantage of this image format is a small file size with JPEG quality or even better.

To convert HEIC files

Converting a HEIC file to a JPEG is quite easy.

• If you have iOS 11 or later installed, photos will be automatically converted to JPEG format when transferred to a PC or Mac if you set the appropriate setting.

• You can find these in the settings on your iOS device. Navigate here to “Photos”.

• Scroll all the way down to “Transfer to Mac or PC”. Check the box for “Automatically”.

• Alternatively, you can also convert a HEIC file into a JPEG online, for example if you have received an image in this format.

• You can find an appropriate converter, for example, on the page convercio.co.

• The websites heic.online and apowersoft.com also offer such a service. You can convert a HEIC file here not only into JPEG format, but also optionally into PNG or BMP.