How to Turn Off HEIC on iPhone
Complete guide to switching from HEIC to JPEG format on your iPhone
To turn off HEIC on iPhone, go to Settings → Camera → Formats and select "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency." This will make your iPhone save all new photos in JPEG format instead of HEIC.
Note: This only affects new photos. Existing HEIC photos won't be converted automatically.
Step-by-Step: Turn Off HEIC Format
Open Settings App
Tap the Settings icon on your iPhone home screen (the gray gear icon).
Scroll Down to Camera
Scroll down the Settings menu and tap on Camera. It has a camera icon next to it.
Tap on Formats
At the top of the Camera settings, tap on Formats.
Select "Most Compatible"
You'll see two options under "Camera Capture":
- • High Efficiency - Saves photos as HEIC (currently selected)
- • Most Compatible - Saves photos as JPEG ✓ Select this!
Done! You're All Set
From now on, all new photos will be saved as JPEG files instead of HEIC. No restart required—the change takes effect immediately!
⚠️ Important Notes:
- • This setting only affects future photos—existing HEIC photos remain unchanged
- • JPEG photos will be about 2x larger in file size
- • You'll be able to store roughly half as many photos on your device
- • The quality difference is minimal for most users
Alternative: Automatic Conversion When Sharing
If you want to keep using HEIC to save storage but still ensure photos are compatible when sharing, enable automatic conversion instead of turning off HEIC entirely.
How to Enable Automatic Conversion:
Open Settings app
Tap Photos
Scroll down to "Transfer to Mac or PC"
Select "Automatic" (instead of "Keep Originals")
✓ Best of Both Worlds: Your iPhone will keep photos in space-saving HEIC format, but automatically convert them to JPEG when you transfer them to a computer, email them, or share them with non-Apple devices.
HEIC vs JPEG: What Changes?
| Feature | With HEIC (High Efficiency) | With JPEG (Most Compatible) |
|---|---|---|
| File Size | ~1.7 MB per photo ✓ | ~3.5 MB per photo |
| Storage Capacity | More photos ✓ | Half as many |
| Quality | Better ✓ | Good |
| Compatibility | Limited | Universal ✓ |
| Sharing | May have issues | Always works ✓ |
| Upload Speed | Faster ✓ | Slower |
Should You Turn Off HEIC?
✓ Turn OFF HEIC If:
- • You frequently share photos with Android users
- • You upload photos to websites that don't support HEIC
- • You print photos at local photo labs
- • You use Windows computers regularly
- • You experience compatibility issues often
- • You have plenty of storage space
✓ Keep HEIC If:
- • You primarily share with Apple users
- • You're running out of storage space
- • You want the best possible image quality
- • You use iCloud Photos
- • You backup to Google Photos (supports HEIC)
- • You enabled automatic conversion for transfers
What About Existing HEIC Photos?
Changing the camera format setting doesn't convert your existing HEIC photos. If you need to convert photos you've already taken, you have several options:
Online Converter
Use a free online tool like HEIC.fast to convert photos instantly in your browser. Fast and no software needed.
Convert Now →Email to Yourself
Email HEIC photos to yourself. iOS automatically converts them to JPEG when attaching to emails. Download the JPEG from your email.
Mac Preview
On Mac, open HEIC in Preview, go to File → Export, and choose JPEG format. Works for batch conversion too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off HEIC reduce my photo quality?
Not noticeably. While HEIC technically has better quality, JPEG is still excellent for everyday photography. Most people won't see a difference unless they're editing photos professionally or zooming in significantly.
Can I switch back to HEIC later?
Yes! You can switch between HEIC and JPEG formats anytime by going back to Settings → Camera → Formats. Your existing photos won't be affected—only new photos will use the selected format.
Will this setting affect my videos?
Yes. Switching to "Most Compatible" also changes video format from HEVC (H.265) to H.264, which is more compatible but results in larger video files. If storage is a concern, consider using automatic conversion instead.
Does this affect screenshots?
No. Screenshots are always saved in PNG format on iPhone, regardless of your camera format settings.
How much storage will I lose by switching to JPEG?
JPEG photos are roughly 2x larger than HEIC. If you have 64GB storage and take lots of photos, you'll notice the difference. If you have 128GB+ storage and don't take excessive photos, the impact may be minimal.
Already Have HEIC Photos to Convert?
Use our free converter to instantly change existing HEIC files to JPEG format.