Image
What is a .heic file?
A .heic file is a photo taken on an iPhone. It's the same picture as a JPEG at roughly half the file size — but older Windows software often can't display it.
How to open a .heic file
- WindowsPhotos, after installing the free HEIF Image Extensions
- WindowsIrfanView
- MacPreview and Photos, natively
- Phone or tabletAny iPhone or modern Android
How to convert a .heic file
- On iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible to shoot JPEG instead.
- On a Mac: open in Preview → File → Export → JPEG.
- On Windows: Photos → Save as, or a batch tool like IrfanView.
MIME type
When a .heic file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
image/heifThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .heic.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Efficiency Image File Format | — | image/heif | fmt/1101 |