How to Convert HEIC to PNG for Free
If you use an iPhone, your photos are saved in HEIC format by default. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) produces smaller files than JPG while maintaining the same quality. The problem is compatibility. When you need to convert HEIC to PNG, it is usually because the file will not open on a Windows PC, an older Android phone, or a website upload form that only accepts standard formats.
This guide explains when PNG is the right conversion target, how to do it for free, and how to stop your iPhone from saving HEIC files in the first place.
Why Choose PNG Over JPG for HEIC Conversion
Most guides default to converting HEIC to JPG, and for casual photo sharing, that works fine. But PNG has specific advantages that make it the better choice in certain situations:
- Lossless quality: PNG preserves every pixel of the original image. JPG applies lossy compression, which means some detail is permanently removed. If you are converting a photo you might edit later, PNG keeps all the original data intact.
- Transparency support: If your HEIC file has a transparent background (possible with Live Photos or Portrait mode cutouts), PNG preserves that transparency. JPG fills transparent areas with white.
- Better for graphics: Screenshots, illustrations, and images with text look sharper in PNG. JPG compression creates visible artifacts around sharp edges and solid color boundaries.
The tradeoff is file size. A PNG file is typically 3-5 times larger than a JPG of the same image. For web use or email attachments where size matters, JPG is more practical. For archiving, editing, or anything with transparency, PNG is the right choice.
How to Convert HEIC to PNG (Step by Step)
You can convert HEIC files to PNG directly in your browser without installing software or creating an account. Here is the process:
- Open the HEIC converter on LoveConverts.
- Upload your HEIC file by clicking the upload area or dragging the file from your desktop. You can upload multiple files at once.
- Select PNG as the output format from the format dropdown.
- Click Convert and wait a few seconds. The conversion runs on our servers.
- Download your PNG file. For multiple files, everything comes in a single ZIP download.
Your files are processed in memory and never stored on our servers. The conversion typically takes 2-5 seconds per image.
File Size Differences You Should Expect
HEIC is an efficient format, so converting to PNG will increase the file size significantly. Here are some typical examples:
- A 2MB HEIC photo becomes roughly 8-12MB as PNG
- A 1MB HEIC screenshot becomes roughly 3-5MB as PNG
- A 500KB HEIC image becomes roughly 2-4MB as PNG
If these sizes are too large for your needs, consider converting to JPG instead. You can use the HEIC to JPG converter and set quality to 90% for a good balance of quality and file size.
How to Stop iPhone from Saving as HEIC
If you frequently need to share photos with people on Windows or non-Apple devices, you can tell your iPhone to save photos as JPG instead of HEIC. This eliminates the need to convert later.
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Scroll down and tap Camera
- Tap Formats
- Select Most Compatible instead of "High Efficiency"
The "Most Compatible" setting saves photos as JPG and videos as H.264 MOV. Your photos will take up more storage space on your phone (roughly 2x more), but they will be compatible with every device and platform without conversion.
Another option is to keep HEIC enabled but change the transfer setting. Go to Settings, then Photos, and under "Transfer to Mac or PC," select "Automatic." This tells your iPhone to convert HEIC to JPG automatically when transferring files to a non-Apple device via USB or AirDrop.
Batch Converting Large Photo Libraries
If you have hundreds of HEIC files from an iPhone backup, converting them one by one is not practical. Upload batches of up to 30 files at a time to the converter. Each batch produces a ZIP file with all the PNG versions.
For very large libraries (thousands of files), you may want to work in batches of 20-30, downloading each ZIP before starting the next batch. This keeps your browser responsive and avoids timeout issues with very large uploads.
Once converted, your PNG files will work everywhere: Windows Photo Viewer, Google Photos, Canva, WordPress, email clients, and any other software that struggled with the original HEIC format.
