NotchMindSince iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC by default. Here’s what that means and when to care.
What HEIC is
HEIC is Apple’s name for HEIF images using modern compression, the same family as the HEVC video codec. Compared with JPG it:
- Takes about half the space at similar visual quality.
- Supports more color depth, which helps with skies and gradients.
- Can hold extra data, like the depth map behind Portrait photos.
Where JPG still wins
JPG opens everywhere: every website, every Windows PC, every old app. Some upload forms, print shops and online tools still reject HEIC.
So which should you use?
Keep HEIC on your iPhone: you fit twice the photos in the same space, and Apple devices handle it fine. Convert the few photos you need to share to JPG when something won’t take HEIC.
How to convert on a Mac
Right-click the photo in Finder and choose Quick Actions → Convert Image, or use Preview’s File → Export. Both work offline. I wrote a full guide: how to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac. NotchMind, which I make, also converts HEIC from the notch.
Make the iPhone save JPG instead
Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. Photos then take more space.