Apple’s HEIC format is great — at least in theory.
It keeps file sizes small while maintaining high image quality, which is perfect for iPhones. But the first time I tried to upload HEIC photos to a website, send them to a client, or attach them to a form… things got annoying fast.
The real problem with HEIC in daily work
Here are a few situations where HEIC becomes a headache:
- Some websites simply don’t accept HEIC uploads
- Many online forms expect JPG or PNG only
- Non-Apple users can’t preview HEIC files easily
- Designers and PMs often ask for “just a PNG or JPG”
Technically, HEIC is efficient. Practically, it’s still not universal.
What didn’t work for me
At first, I tried the usual options:
- Exporting photos manually from the Photos app
- Sending images through messaging apps just to auto-convert them
- Installing desktop converters for a one-time task
They all worked — but they were slow, repetitive, or unnecessary for such a simple need.
What I actually do now
Most of the time, I just want a quick, clean conversion without installing anything.
So when I need to turn HEIC images into a more compatible format, I use a simple browser-based converter like https://heictopng.net
. It converts HEIC files to PNG directly, works on any device, and doesn’t require sign-ups or extra steps.
I usually convert the images once, upload the PNGs, and move on.
Why PNG instead of JPG?
For my use cases:
- PNG keeps transparency if needed
- No extra compression artifacts
- Works well for documents, screenshots, and UI assets
If file size matters more than quality, JPG can be fine — but PNG has been the safest default for me.
Final thoughts
HEIC isn’t going away, but compatibility still matters — especially when sharing files across platforms.
Until HEIC is universally supported, having a fast way to convert images saves a surprising amount of time. This small workflow change has made file sharing much less frustrating for me.
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