Convert HEIC to PNG
When you need to edit, annotate, or layer an iPhone photo without further compression, PNG is the safer choice. This converter decodes HEIC and re-saves it as lossless PNG, all locally in your browser.
Your files never leave your device. No upload. No sign-up.
To convert an iPhone HEIC photo to a lossless PNG, drop the file above. The tool uses heic2any to decode the HEIC's HEVC image data, then re-encodes the pixels as a lossless PNG with alpha support. Use this when you plan to edit the photo multiple times, annotate it, or feed it into a design tool that benefits from a lossless source. Everything runs locally.
Drop a HEIC here, or click to upload
Output: PNG
What HEIC to PNG conversion actually does
PNG is a lossless raster format (ISO/IEC 15948) — every pixel produced by the HEIC decoder is preserved exactly. That makes PNG ideal for a design pipeline that will re-save the image several times, since JPEG's generational loss doesn't apply. HEIC is highly compressed (HEVC intra-frame), so PNG output is typically 3–6× larger than the HEIC. Alpha data in HEIC is passed through to the PNG's 8-bit alpha channel. Because canvas re-encoding is limited to 8-bit color, HEIC's 10-bit HDR data is down-sampled — for HDR-preserving workflows keep the HEIC.
Common mistakes and limitations when going from HEIC to PNG
Big files. A 3 MB HEIC often produces a 15–25 MB PNG, which is a lot for email or web use. HDR and 10-bit color are collapsed to 8-bit sRGB. Live Photo motion is discarded. And a few third-party HEIC variants (multi-image HEIF sequences, some drone RAW-in-HEIC containers) can't be decoded by heic2any — you'll get a clear error rather than a corrupted file.
HEIC to PNG conversion FAQ
- Is the PNG lossless?
- Yes. Every pixel the HEIC decoder produces is stored exactly in the PNG — no additional compression loss.
- How big will the PNG be?
- Typically 3–6× larger than the HEIC. HEIC uses efficient HEVC compression; PNG trades size for lossless fidelity.
- Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
- No. All HEIC decoding and PNG encoding runs inside your browser tab.
- Does PNG preserve HEIC's HDR?
- Not fully. Canvas re-encoding is 8-bit sRGB, so 10-bit HDR data is down-sampled. Keep the HEIC for HDR-aware editors.
- What about transparency in a HEIC?
- Preserved. Both HEIC and PNG support 8-bit alpha, so transparent pixels carry through unchanged.
- Why choose PNG over JPG for a HEIC?
- PNG is lossless — repeated edits and saves don't degrade the image. JPG re-encodes every save and drifts over generations.
- Can I open the PNG anywhere?
- Yes. PNG has been universally supported since 1996 in every browser, editor and OS.
- Does the tool need Apple's HEIC codec?
- No. The heic2any JavaScript library decodes HEIC natively in the browser on Windows, Linux and older Android.
HEIC vs PNG at a glance
| Property | HEIC source | PNG output |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | HEVC intra-frame | Lossless DEFLATE |
| Color depth | Up to 10-bit HDR | 8-bit sRGB |
| Alpha channel | Yes | Yes (preserved) |
| Typical size vs HEIC | Baseline | 3–6× larger |
| Best used for | Apple storage | Editing, layering, print prep |
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References: ISO/IEC 23008-12 (HEIF/HEIC), ISO/IEC 15948 (PNG), heic2any decoder documentation, Apple Developer Photography guides.