What is HEIC?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It's a file container format that typically stores images encoded with HEVC (H.265), the same video codec used for 4K streaming. Apple adopted it because it produces files roughly half the size of JPG at the same visual quality.
In practice, this means you can take twice as many photos at the same quality before filling up your iPhone's storage. For most people, this is genuinely useful. The problem comes when you try to share those photos with people or software outside Apple's world.
Why HEIC causes compatibility problems
Windows didn't natively support HEIC until a 2018 update, and even then it requires the HEVC Video Extensions codec from the Microsoft Store — which costs money unless your PC came with it pre-installed. Many web services, email clients, and apps still don't handle HEIC reliably.
Android handles HEIC inconsistently depending on the device and Android version. Most social media platforms convert images on upload anyway, but the conversion process introduces its own quality and metadata issues.
The result is a format that works seamlessly within Apple's ecosystem but creates friction in almost any cross-platform workflow.
When you should convert HEIC to JPG
Convert when you're sharing photos with someone on Windows or Android who doesn't have an Apple device. Convert when you're uploading to a website or web app that doesn't explicitly support HEIC. Convert when you're submitting photos for printing, since many print services don't accept HEIC. Convert when you need to embed photos in documents, presentations, or spreadsheets.
You don't need to convert when you're keeping photos in iCloud, sharing via AirDrop to another Apple device, or backing up to an Apple-friendly service.
Quality when converting
Converting HEIC to JPG is a lossy operation if you use a JPG quality below 100. The source HEIC image contains high-quality data; the question is how much of it you preserve in the JPG.
For most purposes — printing, sharing, web use — JPG at 85–90% quality preserves everything a human eye can distinguish. For archival purposes where you want to keep the maximum quality, export at 95–100% or consider keeping the original HEIC alongside the JPG.
The HEIC to JPG tool on Irreva lets you choose the output quality. It reads HEIC files using the heic2any library, which runs locally in your browser without sending your photos anywhere.