For these who maintain got a high budget Android phone and normally safe photos out of your friend’s iPhone, it’s doubtless you’ll perchance well additionally maintain seen the .heic file structure. While the HEIC file structure has been spherical for a whereas, its recognition skyrocketed when Apple adopted it with the introduction of iOS 11 in 2017. This image file structure packs compressed data, region, date, and extra. HEIC is normally normally known as Excessive-Efficiency File Structure and offers numerous benefits over existing file formats esteem JPEG and PNG.
HEIC is the default image structure on all iPhones and iPads. Rather than Apple, Canon, Sony, Qualcomm, and Samsung additionally toughen HEIC data. Right here’s every little thing it be major to clutch regarding the HEIC file structure, including its advantages, its disadvantages, doubtless selections to HEIC, a trick to flip it off in your phone, and extra.
Who created HEIC and why?
The Inviting Photos Skilled Neighborhood (MPEG) finalized the HEIC structure in mid-2015. The firm created HEVC, which is an image and video encoding structure that presents greater compression to video data for accessibility. It is the default image codec worn with HEIF. HEIC is HEIF using HEVC as the encoding structure.
HEIC makes use of about half of the storage of a identical quality JPG file, and it be one in every of the the the clarification why Apple place it as the default structure on all iPhones. An HEIC file additionally carries an alpha channel to store photos with transparency, a depth plot to store LiDAR scans, depth estimations, and extra. Total, it offers extra versatility than a JPG file.
How important apartment does HEIC save?

HEIC makes use of the the same compression code that used to be first developed for video. Saving a video file is important extra keen as every 2d of your footage includes 30 to 60 frames. As for photos, HEIC consumes nearly 50% much less apartment than a JPEG file (the proportion might well additionally fluctuate in conserving with the scene).
It retains the visible quality ranges whereas using half of the apartment in your instrument. Shall we embrace, a JPEG file requires 10MB of apartment to transfer looking as moral as a 5MB HEIC file. While 5MB doesn’t sound important on this present day’s smartphones, the total apartment-saving can pile up in gigabytes if you ingredient in thousands of photos. It additionally leads to sooner file transfer and upload speeds on the catch.
Advantages and cons of using HEIC
Let’s open with HEIC advantages.
- HEIC data are twice as ambiance friendly as JPEG.
- HEIC doesn’t compress image quality and helps 16-bit color for versatile enhancing.
- File transfer is a sail between gadgets.
- Faster speeds when importing HEIC data to cloud storage platforms esteem OneDrive, Google Force, or Dropbox.
- They consist of your complete required metadata to work with.
Sooner than you tweak your phone’s camera settings, it be major to worship the two aspects of the the same coin.
Even when HEIC has been available within the market for years, compatibility has been a topic for numerous. It the truth is works flawlessly on Apple gadgets, however if you’ve got a Windows or Linux computer, HEIC data require third-occasion instrument to inaugurate such data.
Apple offers an chance to convert HEIC data to JPG within the route of the transfer route of, however it defeats the reason for using an evolved file structure. Most websites additionally toughen fully JPG or PNG structure. You will be in a position to rely on a internet instrument or other hacks to convert an HEIC file to a appropriate structure.
While it fully takes about a minutes to full conversion, the technique might well nicely be confusing to non-techies. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, two in trend instrument alternate solutions amongst photographers, toughen the HEIC file structure.
HEIC file extensions
While Apple fully makes use of the .heic structure on iPhones and pills, numerous alternative connected extensions exist. Shall we embrace, Canon and Sony desire .hif. The relaxation of the file extensions are .heif, .heifs, .heics, .avifs, .avif, .avci, and .avcs.
HEIC doubtless selections

Most gadgets toughen the JPEG structure. It is one in every of the applicable file formats readily available. You build no longer maintain to deem twice before using it on any internet carrier or app. Nonetheless the advantages arrive on the associated payment of large file sizes.
RAW is but every other HEIC different worn by genuine photographers. It captures uncompressed data on the most though-provoking quality. Nonetheless, the file sizes are spherical five instances better than HEIC.
Google’s WebP image structure strikes the very ideally suited steadiness between compatibility and file dimension. It helps lossless compression and remains as ambiance friendly as HEIC. WebP is supported by most internet browsers and internet sites.
Can I deactivate HEIC on my phone?
While an iPhone or iPad is made up our minds to capture HEIC structure by default, it’s doubtless you’ll perchance well additionally flip it off from the Digicam settings. For these who spend Windows on the desktop, we recommend following the steps under to set apart away with compatibility components.
- Originate Settings in your iPhone.
- Scroll to Digicam.
- Pick Formats.
- Faucet Most fitted.
Realize the newest file structure on the block
Now that you just appreciate the mavens and cons of an HEIC file, build the major adjustments in your camera settings and rob photos in your most in trend structure. Whilst you are at it, read our devoted post to learn the high tricks to capture greater photos at the side of your Android phone. For these who might well nicely be mainly in using the entrance camera, check our handbook to rob an improbable self-portrait in any misfortune.