HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) and HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) are closely related formats designed to replace JPEG. They use better compression, so images look sharp but take up less space.
Most iPhones now save photos as HEIC by default, especially in Live Photo or Burst modes. Android and Windows support is growing, but not universal.
What Makes HEIF/HEIC Different?
- Better compression than JPEG (smaller files, same quality)
- Supports animation, transparency, and even multiple images in one file
- May not open on older computers or image viewers
When You’ll Encounter It
- Photos taken on iPhones (especially recent models)
- Shared files from mobile devices
- Backups stored in iCloud or phone libraries
Tips
- Use export or convert options if a program can’t open HEIC
- StorePhotos accepts HEIC uploads and can convert if needed
- For maximum compatibility, switch camera settings to JPEG in device settings