HEIC vs JPEG: What Format Do iPhones Use for Photos?

HEIC and JPEG are both ways of storing a photograph as a file, but they work differently and are not equally understood by every device and piece of software. iPhones switched to HEIC as their default format in 2017, and the change is still causing confusion when photos are shared across devices and platforms.

What HEIC actually is

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. Apple introduced it as the default photo format on iPhones running iOS 11 and later. The format uses a compression method called HEVC (also known as H.265) that produces files roughly half the size of a comparable JPEG, while retaining the same or better visual quality. That is the appeal: photos take up less storage space on the phone without looking worse.

Why Apple switched from JPEG

JPEG has been the standard since the early 1990s and is supported almost everywhere. The problem is that it is not particularly efficient by modern standards. A typical iPhone photo in JPEG format can run to 5-8 megabytes. The same shot saved in HEIC is often 2-4 megabytes, with no visible loss in quality at normal viewing sizes. For a phone that takes thousands of photos, that saving adds up fast. Apple made the switch because modern iPhones have large sensors and shoot high-resolution files, and HEIC lets those files fit comfortably in the phone storage that users actually have.

Where HEIC causes problems

HEIC is well supported on Apple devices: iPhones, iPads, and Macs running modern versions of macOS can all open and work with HEIC files without any extra software. The difficulties appear outside the Apple world. Windows 10 and 11 require a codec extension to open HEIC files, and it is not installed by default. Many image editors, web browsers, and online platforms do not accept HEIC uploads. Some photo printing services reject HEIC files or convert them automatically with unpredictable results. Google Photos and most Android phones can read HEIC but will not create them.

How iPhones handle the format when sharing

Apple is aware that HEIC does not travel well. When you share a photo from an iPhone using the standard share sheet, the phone often converts it to JPEG automatically before sending it. The conversion happens transparently, which is why you might never notice the issue in everyday use. However, this automatic conversion does not always happen: when you connect the iPhone to a computer with a cable and copy files across manually, or when you back up files in a way that preserves the original format, you can end up with HEIC files on a device that cannot open them.

How to change iPhone photo format to JPEG

If you want your iPhone to save photos in JPEG instead of HEIC, you can change this in Settings. Go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible instead of High Efficiency. Most Compatible tells the iPhone to save photos as JPEG files from that point on. The change does not affect photos already on the phone. Some people switch to Most Compatible when they know they will be sharing lots of photos across different devices or uploading to platforms that do not handle HEIC well.

• Open Settings on the iPhone
• Tap Camera
• Tap Formats
• Select Most Compatible to save as JPEG going forward

What this means for event photo collection

When guests upload photos from iPhones to a shared folder or collection tool, the format they arrive in depends on how the upload happens. A browser-based upload on an iPhone will typically convert HEIC files to JPEG during the upload process, because web browsers on iOS handle the conversion when preparing files for upload. Files uploaded through a direct cable transfer or from the iPhone Files app may arrive as HEIC. If you are collecting photos from a mixed group of iPhone and Android users, expect a mixture of formats. Most cloud storage platforms including Google Drive and OneDrive can display HEIC files, but if you plan to share the photos more widely or send them to a printer, it is worth checking that the files open where you need them.