How to convert HEIC to PNG
- Choose your photos. Drag HEIC or HEIF files into the box above, or click "Choose Files" to pick one or more.
- Let the browser create the PNG. heicly decodes each photo with WebAssembly on your device and saves it as a PNG. There is no quality setting because PNG is lossless.
- Save the PNG files. Click "Download PNG" for each photo, or "Download completed files as ZIP" to save a batch in one file. Expect much larger files than JPG.
PNG or JPG: which should you choose?
When you convert HEIC to PNG, the decoded picture is stored with lossless compression: saving it as PNG does not throw away any more detail. JPG uses lossy compression to keep files small. Neither format can restore detail that the original HEIC compression already removed.
| Criterion | PNG vs JPG |
|---|---|
| Image quality | PNG: lossless, no extra compression artifacts. JPG: lossy; heicly uses quality 90 by default. |
| File size | PNG: much larger — about eight times the JPG size in our photo test. JPG: small and easy to share. |
| Transparency | PNG can store transparent areas. JPG cannot. |
| Compatibility | Both open in common browsers, image viewers, and editors. Some upload forms accept only JPG or limit file size. |
| Best for | PNG: further editing, graphics, and images with transparency. JPG: sharing, email, and web uploads. |
Why PNG files are so large
Photos contain fine texture and noise, which lossless compression cannot shrink much. In our test in desktop Chrome, a 12-megapixel photo (4032 × 3024 pixels, 860 KB as HEIC) became a PNG of about 12 MB. The same photo converted to JPG at the default quality of 90 was about 1.5 MB.
This adds up quickly in a batch. Twenty photos of that size produced more than 230 MB of PNG files, and the ZIP was about the same size because PNG data barely compresses further. The ZIP is assembled in your browser's memory, so on a phone or with many photos, convert smaller groups and save the results as you go. Check that your device has enough free storage before downloading.
Transparency in HEIC and PNG
Most camera photos have no transparent areas, so their PNG copies are fully opaque. Some HEIC images, such as cut-out graphics, include an alpha channel that marks transparent pixels.
In our test with a HEIC sample that has a transparent background, the PNG created in desktop Chrome kept the transparent areas. The JPG format cannot store transparency, so choose PNG when you need it. Check the result in your editor, especially the soft edges around a cut-out.
When PNG is the better choice
- You will keep editing the image and want to avoid adding JPG compression each time you save.
- The image is a screenshot, diagram, or graphic with sharp edges and flat colors.
- The HEIC image has transparent areas that you need to keep.
- An app or workflow asks specifically for PNG files.
If you only want to share photos or upload them to a website, convert HEIC to JPG instead: the files are far smaller and widely accepted.
Converted on your device
heicly has no upload step. The page reads the selected files, decodes them in a background worker in your browser, and creates the PNG files there. The site itself and its analytics still make network requests; read the privacy notice for details.
Offline use needs one online visit first: open this page, complete a conversion, and let the browser cache the page and conversion engine. After that you can convert more files without a connection, as long as the browser keeps its cache.
HEIC to PNG questions
Will a PNG look sharper than a JPG?
Only if the JPG compression was visible. PNG adds no compression loss, so it keeps the decoded picture as it is. It cannot add detail that is missing from the original HEIC photo. For most photos viewed at normal size, a high-quality JPG looks very similar.
Why is my PNG file so much bigger than the HEIC?
Camera HEIC photos and JPG files use lossy compression designed for photos, while PNG stores every pixel losslessly. In our test, a 12-megapixel photo was 860 KB as HEIC, about 12 MB as PNG, and about 1.5 MB as JPG.
Can I lower the quality to make the PNG smaller?
No. PNG has no quality setting, so there is no quality slider on this page. If you need a smaller file, convert the photo to JPG and adjust its quality there.
Does the PNG keep transparency from the HEIC file?
In our test with a transparent HEIC sample in desktop Chrome, yes: the PNG kept the transparent areas. Ordinary camera photos have no transparency to keep. Other browsers have not been tested for this yet.
Is PNG a good format for sharing photos?
Usually not. PNG photos are several times larger than JPG, which makes them slower to send and more likely to exceed upload limits. Use PNG for editing, graphics, or transparency, and JPG for sharing.
Can I convert a large batch of photos to PNG?
Yes, but plan for the size. Twenty 12-megapixel photos produced more than 230 MB of PNG files in our test, and the ZIP is built in memory. On phones or with large collections, convert in smaller groups.
Before you download
Images above 16,777,216 pixels are resized proportionally to fit the browser's processing limits, and the page shows a resized notice when this happens. Keep your original HEIC file if you need full resolution or its original metadata.
If a file fails, check that it is an original HEIC or HEIF file rather than a renamed JPG. Retry a failed item on its own to reduce memory use.