What is a HEIC file?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the format the iPhone has used to save photos since iOS 11. It is built on HEVC, the same codec used by a lot of 4K video, and it pulls off something impressive: photos with the same quality as a JPG at roughly half the size. That is why Apple turned it on by default — you can fit twice as many photos on your phone and in iCloud.
The trouble starts when those photos leave Apple's world. Many Windows PCs can't open HEIC without installing extra extensions, plenty of websites and online forms only accept JPG or PNG, and some printers, digital frames and older photo editors simply don't recognize the format. Converting HEIC to JPG fixes all of that in one go.
How to convert HEIC to JPG, step by step
- Open this page on your computer or right on your iPhone, in Safari or Chrome.
- Drop your HEIC photos on the area above or tap “Choose files”. You can select many at once.
- Adjust the quality if you like: 92% keeps virtually all the detail; at 80% the files get noticeably smaller.
- Wait a few seconds — you'll see a progress bar and a preview of every converted photo.
- Download each JPG individually or hit “Download all as ZIP” to grab them in one file.
Orientation is preserved automatically, so portrait photos don't come out rotated.
Why convert with Pasafoto
- Real privacy: the conversion happens inside your browser. Your personal photos are never uploaded to a server — which matters for family pictures, IDs and private screenshots.
- Batch conversion, no artificial limits: no “5 photos per day” cap and no watermarks.
- Works everywhere: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone. Nothing to install.
- Fast: since nothing is uploaded, your connection speed doesn't matter. A batch of 20 photos converts in seconds on a modern computer.
HEIC vs JPG: which one should you use?
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Very small (≈50% of a JPG) | Larger |
| Compatibility | Apple and some Android phones | Universal |
| Websites and forms | Rarely accepted | Always accepted |
| Best for | Storing photos on your phone | Sharing, printing, uploading |
A practical tip: keep your iPhone on HEIC to save space and convert to JPG only the photos you need to share. If you'd rather your iPhone shoot JPG directly, go to Settings › Camera › Formats and choose “Most Compatible”.
Common HEIC problems
“A website won't accept my photo”: it almost always only takes JPG or PNG — convert it here and try again. “It shows up black or won't open on Windows”: the HEVC codec is missing; the JPG opens with nothing to install. “The photos were converted automatically when I copied them to my PC”: with Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC › Automatic, iOS already converts to JPG; with “Keep Originals” you get the HEIC files. To shrink the JPGs for email, run them through the image compressor, or combine them into one document with image to PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Is converting HEIC to JPG here really free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up, no watermarks and no daily photo limit.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. The whole conversion happens inside your browser, on your own device. Your photos never leave your computer or phone.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG on my iPhone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari, tap “Choose files”, pick your photos from the Photos library or the Files app and download the JPGs. If your iPhone already hands them over as JPG when you pick them from Photos, the tool processes them just the same.
Do I lose quality going from HEIC to JPG?
At 92% quality the difference is invisible to the naked eye. The JPG will be somewhat larger than the original HEIC because JPG is a less efficient format.
How many photos can I convert at once?
As many as you want. They are processed one after another to avoid running out of memory; on older phones, batches of 20–30 photos work best.
Why can't I open HEIC files on Windows?
Windows needs Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions to display them, and the HEVC one may be paid. Converting to JPG is the easiest way to view them on any computer.