Most Popular Conversions to HEIC
Web & Screen Formats to HEIC
Photography & Legacy JPEG Formats
Document & Print Formats
RAW Camera Formats
How to Convert Any File to HEIC
Choose from web formats, JPEG-family formats, document types, RAW camera files, and more.
Drag and drop or click Browse. Files up to 50 MB are supported. No account needed.
Adjust HEIC quality (60-100) to balance file size and sharpness, then download your HEIC instantly.
Why Convert to HEIC?
Smaller File Sizes
HEIC's HEVC (H.265) intra-frame compression typically produces files 40-50% smaller than an equivalent-quality JPEG. Converting a large photo library to HEIC can meaningfully cut storage costs on your phone, laptop, or backup drive without a visible quality difference.
Native Apple Ecosystem Format
HEIC has been the default photo format for iPhone and iPad cameras since iOS 11 (2017). Files you convert to HEIC integrate cleanly with Photos, iCloud Photo Library, AirDrop, and Apple's Live Photos workflow.
Modern Feature Support
A HEIC container can hold 10-bit color, HDR data, an alpha transparency channel, and multiple images (bursts, depth maps) in a single file - Capabilities that JPG and most legacy formats simply can't represent.
Efficient Archival Storage
For large batches of RAW, TIFF, or PSD masters that you want to keep but rarely re-edit, converting to HEIC trims storage footprint substantially while remaining a real, fully decodable image - Not a destructive re-compression of the original.
HEIC Quality Settings: Choosing the Right Compression Level
| Quality | File Size vs. Max | Visible Artifacts | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | ~100% | None | RAW processing masters, archival intermediates |
| 95 | ~35% | None | Professional photography, high-end print delivery |
| 85 Recommended | ~15% | Imperceptible | Balanced everyday photos, iCloud backups, portfolios |
| 75 | ~9% | Minimal | Large photo libraries, email attachments, blogs |
| 60 | ~6% | Noticeable | Thumbnails, low-bandwidth previews |
| Below 50 | <4% | Severe | Not recommended for any public-facing use |
The HEIC quality scale runs from 1 to 100, but the practical sweet spot for most photos lies between 80 and 95. At quality 85, a typical high-resolution photograph loses a large share of its file weight compared to an uncompressed or JPG equivalent, while retaining visual fidelity that is indistinguishable from the source in any normal viewing context - Because HEIC's HEVC intra-frame coding is markedly more efficient per bit than JPEG's older DCT-based algorithm. This is the same efficiency advantage that lets iPhones store roughly twice as many photos in the same space once "High Efficiency" capture is enabled. Going below quality 75 introduces blocking artifacts and color banding in smooth gradient areas that become apparent at normal viewing distances. Quality 100 does not guarantee a bit-for-bit lossless file - HEIC's HEVC encoder is still lossy at practical settings - So for guaranteed lossless archival, use PNG or TIFF instead.
RAW Camera Format Support: All Brands & Models
| Format | Extension | Camera Brand | Notable Models | Supported on heic.now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARW | .arw |
Sony | Alpha A7, A9, ZV-E1, FX30 | ✓ Convert ARW |
| CR2 | .cr2 |
Canon | EOS 5D, 7D, Rebel series | ✓ Convert CR2 |
| CR3 | .cr3 |
Canon | EOS R5, R6, R3, R10 | ✓ Convert CR3 |
| NEF | .nef |
Nikon | D850, Z9, Z6, Z7 | ✓ Convert NEF |
| NRW | .nrw |
Nikon | Coolpix compact cameras | ✓ Supported |
| RAF | .raf |
Fujifilm | X-T5, X-H2, GFX series | ✓ Convert RAF |
| ORF | .orf |
Olympus / OM System | OM-1, E-M1 series | ✓ Supported |
| RW2 | .rw2 |
Panasonic | Lumix S5, GH6, G9 | ✓ Supported |
| DNG | .dng |
Adobe / Generic | Leica, drones, phones | ✓ Convert DNG |
| 3FR | .3fr |
Hasselblad | H6D, X2D medium format | ✓ Supported |
| IIQ | .iiq |
Phase One | IQ4, XT camera systems | ✓ Supported |
RAW files captured by digital cameras contain the unprocessed sensor data read directly from the imaging array - They have not been demosaiced, sharpened, or tone-mapped by the camera's internal processor. This means a RAW file preserves far more dynamic range than a camera-processed JPG: typically 12–14 stops of exposure latitude compared to 8–10 stops in a JPEG. When you convert RAW to HEIC through heic.now, the converter processes the raw sensor data at the camera's native resolution and re-encodes it with efficient HEVC intra compression - So you keep the maximum megapixel output the sensor captured while cutting the storage footprint of the archived file dramatically compared to keeping the original RAW or exporting a full-quality JPG. This is particularly valuable for Hasselblad IIQ and Phase One files, which can exceed 150 megapixels, and for Sony ARW files from high-resolution Alpha bodies where you want to keep large libraries without running out of disk space.
When HEIC Is Not the Right Choice
HEIC is not always the best destination format. Before converting, consider these scenarios where another format serves you better:
- You need universal compatibility. Many websites, upload forms, and content management systems reject HEIC outright. Windows needs the HEVC Video Extensions codec to even preview a HEIC file, older Android phones can't open it, and most email clients render a blank icon instead of a photo. If your file needs to work everywhere, use JPG instead.
- You plan to re-edit the file repeatedly. Every time a HEIC is opened, modified, and re-saved, the HEVC compression runs again on already-compressed data - Compounding artifacts with each save cycle. If you are making iterative edits, work in a lossless format (PNG or TIFF) and export to HEIC only at the final step.
- You need guaranteed lossless archival storage. For master files, scientific imaging, or heritage digitization, use TIFF or PNG. HEIC's lossy compression discards data at encoding time that cannot be recovered, regardless of how high the quality setting is.
- You are unsure what format you have. Use the free tools on heic.now to inspect your file's actual encoding, dimensions, color profile, and embedded metadata before deciding on a conversion target.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert JPG photos to HEIC to save storage space?
Use heic.now's JPG to HEIC converter - Upload your .jpg file, and it will be re-encoded as HEIC using HEVC compression, typically shrinking the file by 40-50% with no visible quality loss. This is useful for backing up large photo libraries to iCloud or an external drive without paying for extra storage. Keep in mind the converted HEIC file will need the HEVC codec (or a Mac/iPhone) to open, so it is best suited for Apple-ecosystem storage rather than sharing.
Does converting PNG to HEIC reduce quality?
Yes - converting PNG to HEIC applies lossy HEVC compression to what was previously lossless data, which introduces some compression artifacts and discards a portion of the original image information. At quality 85 or above, this difference is typically imperceptible to the human eye in photographic content, though it can be visible in flat-color graphics, text, and hard-edged logos. Unlike JPG, HEIC does support an alpha channel, so PNG transparency can be preserved through the conversion, subject to the app you open it in supporting HEIC alpha.
Can I convert a multi-page PDF to HEIC?
Yes - heic.now's PDF to HEIC tool renders each page of a PDF document as a separate, full-resolution HEIC image. This is useful for extracting slides from a presentation or pulling individual pages from a report into a compact photo format. The conversion uses a high DPI render (typically 150–300 DPI) to ensure text and fine details remain sharp in the output images, and the resulting HEIC files are noticeably smaller than the equivalent JPG exports.
What is the best quality setting when converting to HEIC?
Quality 85 is the recommended default for most purposes - It preserves full perceptual fidelity for photographic content while keeping files meaningfully smaller than a JPG at the same visual quality. For professional photography or archival masters, use quality 90-95. For everyday photo libraries and email attachments where file size matters more than archival quality, quality 75 is a reasonable trade-off. Avoid going below quality 60 for any image that will be displayed at full size.
Should I convert RAW camera files to HEIC or JPG?
It depends on your workflow. Converting RAW to HEIC gives you near-RAW detail retention at a fraction of the file size, which is ideal for long-term storage in an Apple Photos library synced through iCloud. But HEIC still isn't universally supported - Windows needs the free HEVC Video Extensions codec, and many older apps can't open it at all. If you need a file that opens everywhere without extra software, convert your HEIC output to JPG afterward with heic.now's HEIC to JPG converter.
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
Almost, but not quite. HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the general container standard; HEIC is Apple's specific implementation, which stores HEVC (H.265) encoded video-derived compression inside that container. A .heic file is, in practice, HEVC-encoded HEIF - Which is why iPhones save photos with the .heic extension. You may also encounter plain .heif files using a different codec inside the same container type; heic.now converts those too (see HEIF to JPG), and any of the 50+ formats on this page can be converted into standard .heic output.