HEIC to PNG — Convert iPhone HEIC Photos to PNG Online
Convert iPhone HEIC photos to PNG format. Lossless output, browser-side, no upload. Files stay on your device.
Drop your HEIC photo here
iPhone HEIC/HEIF photos — up to 50 MB. Files stay on your device.
HEIC was built for efficiency, not compatibility. Apple’s adoption of HEIC as the default camera format since iOS 11 means billions of photos exist in this format, yet neither the web nor the desktop ecosystem has caught up. Most web services, CMS platforms, and print shops reject HEIC uploads outright. Converting to PNG — a universally supported, lossless raster format — gives you a pixel-faithful version of your HEIC photo that every application can open.
The conversion path is: HEIC decode (HEVC → bitmap) followed by PNG encode (bitmap → DEFLATE). The decoded bitmap is mathematically preserved during the PNG encoding step, but it is worth understanding that HEIC itself is a lossy format — the bitmap you get from decoding a HEIC file is already a lossy approximation of the original camera sensor data. What this tool gives you is a PNG that perfectly matches the decoded HEIC.
PNG is the right choice when you need to preserve every decoded pixel without adding further compression artefacts. Use cases include: archival storage where generation loss must be avoided, print workflows that expect lossless source files, graphic design pipelines where the image will undergo further editing, and any scenario where you prefer a larger file to a lossy re-compression. The trade-off is file size — a PNG from HEIC is typically 5-8x larger than the source.
For everyday sharing, uploading, and emailing, the companion HEIC to JPG tool is the more practical choice. JPG at 92% quality produces an image that is visually indistinguishable from the PNG at a fraction of the file size. Use PNG when you need pixel-level fidelity and JPG when you need a small, universally compatible file.
How to use
Drop your HEIC photo
Drag a .heic or .heif file into the drop zone (up to 50 MB). The file is read locally and never sent to any server.
The decoder loads (one-time)
On first use, a ~1.4 MB WASM decoder downloads to your browser. Subsequent conversions are instant — the decoder stays cached in memory for the session.
Download the PNG
The HEIC is decoded to a full-resolution bitmap, then encoded as lossless PNG with DEFLATE compression. The filename gets a `-converted` suffix. Transparency and alpha channels are preserved if present in the source.
Frequently asked
Is the PNG output truly lossless?
The PNG encoding step is lossless — DEFLATE compression preserves every pixel exactly. However, the underlying HEIC decode is lossy (HEVC compression). The PNG captures the decoded pixels faithfully, but cannot recover information lost in the original HEIC compression.
Why is the PNG file so much larger than the HEIC?
HEIC uses HEVC compression, which is roughly twice as efficient as JPEG. A 3 MB HEIC photo might become a 15-20 MB PNG. PNG's lossless DEFLATE is designed for graphics with flat colours, not for photographs. If file size matters, use the HEIC to JPG tool instead.
Does the converter preserve transparency?
Yes. If the HEIC source includes an alpha channel (transparency), it is preserved in the output PNG. This is more common with HEIC images exported from design tools or screenshots.
Can I convert a burst or sequence of HEIC images?
The converter extracts the primary image from the HEIC container. Burst sequences, depth maps, and auxiliary images are not converted. Use Photos.app on macOS if you need to export burst frames.
What about colour profiles and HDR?
The decoder maps HDR content to SDR during conversion. Wide-gamut colour (Display P3) is preserved in the PNG as much as the Canvas API permits, but explicit ICC profile embedding is not performed. For colour-critical workflows, use a desktop tool that can embed ICC profiles.
Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. All processing — HEIC decode via WebAssembly and PNG encoding via Canvas API — runs entirely in your browser. The file never leaves your device.
Limitations
- File size increases significantlyThe PNG output is typically 5-8x larger than the source HEIC. This is inherent to PNG's lossless compression, which is designed for graphics and icons, not photographic images.
- No metadata preservationThe Canvas-based encoding pipeline does not carry forward EXIF, GPS, or ICC profile metadata. The output PNG contains only pixel data. If metadata preservation is critical, use the `heif-convert` CLI tool with `--preserve-metadata`.
- No batch or animated HEICSingle-image conversion only. Animated HEIC sequences and burst captures are not supported. Only the primary still image is extracted.
Platform notes
- macOS
- Preview.app exports HEIC as PNG via File → Export → PNG. Quality is identical to the browser tool. Use Preview for batch export or when EXIF preservation is needed.
- Windows
- Windows 10/11 requires the HEIC codec from the Microsoft Store to view HEIC files natively. The browser tool bypasses this requirement entirely — no codec installation needed.
- Linux
- CLI equivalent: `heif-convert input.heic output.png` or `magick input.heic output.png` (ImageMagick with heic delegate). The browser tool is a zero-install alternative.
- Web
- Runs entirely client-side using libheif WebAssembly. No upload, no server roundtrip. Works in any modern browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.