You take a photo on your iPhone. It looks perfect. You try to share it with a colleague, upload it to a website, or send it to a Windows user — and suddenly it doesn't work. The culprit: HEIC format.
What Is HEIC?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format, introduced in iOS 11. It uses the HEVC compression algorithm to store photos at roughly half the file size of JPEG while maintaining equivalent or better visual quality.
On Apple devices, HEIC works perfectly. The problem arises when you share outside the Apple ecosystem.
Why HEIC Causes Problems
- Windows PCs require a codec update to view HEIC files natively
- Many websites and apps only accept JPG or PNG uploads
- Older Android devices can't display HEIC files
- Some email clients display HEIC as attachments rather than inline images
- Many photo printing services don't accept HEIC
Option 1: Change iPhone Camera Settings
You can tell your iPhone to shoot in JPG instead of HEIC by going to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. This shoots in JPG/H.264 which is universally compatible, but uses more storage.
The tradeoff: JPG photos are about twice the file size of HEIC at equivalent quality. If you're already managing storage carefully, this isn't ideal.
Option 2: Convert Existing HEIC Photos with CleanVault
A better approach: keep shooting in HEIC (smaller files, better quality) and convert selectively when needed. CleanVault's HEIC to JPG converter lets you batch-convert any number of photos quickly.
- Open CleanVault and go to the "More" or "Boost Tools" section
- Tap "HEIC to JPG Converter"
- Select the photos you want to convert
- Tap Convert — the JPG versions are saved to your Photos library
Option 3: Use AirDrop Automatic Conversion
When you AirDrop photos to a non-Apple device, iOS automatically converts HEIC to JPEG. This is the easiest no-effort option for individual shares.
HEIC vs JPG: Which Should You Use?
Convert to JPG when: Uploading to websites, sharing with non-Apple users, submitting to services that require JPG, printing at professional labs
Convert HEIC to JPG instantly with CleanVault — free on the App Store.