.heic.png
How to Convert HEIC to PNG
To convert HEIC to PNG, upload your iPhone photos above, choose PNG, and download a lossless, universally compatible copy. PNG is the right target when you plan to edit the photo afterwards — every re-save stays pristine — or when you need lossless quality for design work. Files will be much larger than both the HEIC and an equivalent JPG.
This page is part of the Image Converter hub, which covers every image format pair JoltFile supports.
In-browser image limit: 100 MB per file
Browser-based processing — your files never leave your device
Need files over 100 MB, batch conversion, or keyboard shortcuts?
JoltFile desktop appHow to convert HEIC to PNG in 5 steps
The whole process takes under two minutes and requires no software installation or account. Your original HEIC file is never modified.
Upload your HEIC file
Drag your .heic file onto the converter above, or click “Browse files” to select it from your device. Files are processed locally in your browser whenever possible — nothing is uploaded to a server.
Confirm the output format is PNG
The converter defaults to HEIC → PNG on this page. If you dropped in a different file type, set the target format to PNG (.png) using the format menu.
Adjust quality settings
Choose your quality settings. For photos, quality 90 is visually indistinguishable from the original; graphics with text or transparency should use the lossless option when available.
Convert the file
Click “Convert”. JoltFile processes the file and shows a progress indicator — most image conversions finish in a few seconds.
Download your PNG file
Save the converted .png file to your device. The original HEIC file is never modified, and temporary data is discarded automatically.
What happens to quality when converting HEIC to PNG?
The conversion decodes the HEIC and stores it losslessly, so no new compression damage occurs and future edits are safe. Expect PNGs 5–10× larger than the source HEIC. Depth maps, bursts, and live-photo components are dropped; you receive the primary still frame.
When should you convert HEIC to PNG?
- Editing iPhone photos in software that rejects HEIC
- Design work requiring lossless source material
- Archiving important photos in an open, lossless format
- Compositing phone photos into graphics projects
HEIC vs PNG: format comparison
| Property | HEIC | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .heic | .png |
| Full name | High Efficiency Image Container | Portable Network Graphics |
| Compression | Lossy or lossless (HEVC-derived) | Lossless (DEFLATE) |
| Transparency | Supported | Supported |
| MIME type | image/heic | image/png |
| Introduced | 2015, by MPEG | 1996, by PNG Development Group |
| Best for | iPhone photo storage — convert to JPG/PNG before sharing broadly | Screenshots, logos, icons, UI graphics, and any image needing transparency |
About the HEIC and PNG formats
What is HEIC? (High Efficiency Image Container)
HEIC is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11 (2017), based on the HEVC/H.265 codec inside a HEIF container. It stores photos at roughly half the size of an equivalent JPEG while keeping 16-bit color depth, but compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem remains inconsistent.
Strengths
- Roughly half the file size of JPEG at similar quality
- 16-bit color depth
- Stores bursts, depth maps, and edits non-destructively
- Default on hundreds of millions of iPhones
Limitations
- Windows and Android support is partial or requires add-ons
- Many websites and apps reject .heic uploads
- Patent-licensing concerns have slowed adoption
What is PNG? (Portable Network Graphics)
PNG is a lossless raster image format created in 1996 as a patent-free replacement for GIF. It supports full alpha transparency and compresses without discarding any pixel data, which makes it the default choice for screenshots, UI assets, logos, and graphics with sharp edges or text.
Strengths
- Lossless compression — pixels survive every save
- Full alpha-channel transparency
- Universal support in browsers, editors, and operating systems
- Ideal for text, line art, and screenshots
Limitations
- Files are much larger than JPEG or WebP for photographs
- No native animation support (APNG exists but is a separate spec)
- No embedded color-management or metadata richness compared to TIFF
HEIC to PNG conversion: your questions answered
HEIC to PNG or HEIC to JPG — which is better?
PNG for editing and archival (lossless, larger). JPG for sharing and emailing (lossy, much smaller). If in doubt and storage is cheap, PNG is the safer master copy.
Does the PNG keep the full quality of the HEIC?
Yes — the decoded image is stored losslessly. Note that HEIC is itself usually lossy, so the PNG preserves the photo exactly as the iPhone saved it, not the theoretical sensor original.
Why is the converted PNG so large?
HEIC uses HEVC-derived compression that is dramatically more efficient than PNG's 1996-era lossless algorithm. A 2 MB HEIC photo commonly becomes a 10–20 MB PNG.
Is it free to convert HEIC to PNG with JoltFile?
Yes. JoltFile's free tier covers everyday HEIC to PNG conversions with no account and no watermarks. Higher file-size limits and batch processing are planned for the upcoming Pro tier.
Is my HEIC file private when I convert it?
Yes. JoltFile is designed around browser-based processing: whenever technically possible your file is converted locally on your own device and never uploaded to a server. Files that do require server processing are encrypted in transit and deleted automatically after conversion.
FAQ provided by JoltFile.