Most marathon registrations ask for a headshot for your race bib or runner profile, and the upload form usually accepts JPG only. iPhones save photos as HEIC by default, so a perfectly good photo can be rejected with a vague "invalid file type" message — sometimes only after you have filled in the whole form.
Here is how to fix it in under a minute, without installing anything or uploading your photo to a server.
1. Keep the HEIC original
Do not overwrite your original. Convert a copy for the registration and keep the HEIC master, in case the race organizer later asks for a higher-resolution photo for the finisher certificate or the event gallery.
2. Do not just rename the file to .jpg
Renaming changes the extension, not the contents. The file will still be HEIC data, and the registration portal will still reject it. You need a real conversion.
3. Convert a copy to JPG for the registration
If you need a JPG quickly, you can convert HEIC photos to JPG for marathon race registrations entirely in the browser: the conversion happens on your own device, nothing is uploaded, and no account is needed. Then check the JPG preview before submitting — confirm your face is clearly visible, the photo is the right way up, and nothing important is cropped out.
4. Check the file size before you upload
Some race portals cap uploads at a few megabytes. If your converted JPG is still too large, use the same tool's compression page to shrink it before uploading, rather than sending a photo the form will bounce.
Why this matters on race day
A rejected photo is not just an annoyance: some races will not issue your bib until the profile photo is accepted. Sorting the format out before registration closes means one less thing to worry about when you should be thinking about the course.
Disclosure: I'm the developer of FileOnTap.
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