CONVERT
HEIF → PNG
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Convert HEIF photo to PNG
HEIF stores photos using HEVC intra-frame compression, which achieves roughly half the file size of JPEG at equivalent visual quality by encoding image data with a block-based, DCT-derived codec designed for lossy compression. PNG uses DEFLATE, a lossless algorithm that finds and eliminates redundancy in raw pixel data without discarding any information. When you decode an HEIF file and re-encode it to PNG, the pixels written to disk are exactly those the HEVC decoder reconstructed — no second generation of lossy compression is applied. The result is a lossless, universally readable file that any imaging application, browser, or operating system from the past two decades can open without needing Apple frameworks, the Windows HEIC codec pack, or a modern GPU decoder. For photographers exporting Apple device shots to share with clients on Windows, to upload to platforms that reject HEIF, or to feed into software such as Photoshop CS6, Affinity Photo 1.x, or older Linux tools that predate HEIF support, this conversion removes every compatibility barrier in a single step.
HEIF Image
Source formatHEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the container format behind HEIC. It supports advanced features like image sequences, depth maps, and HDR but has limited cross-platform support.
PNG Image
Target formatPNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It is ideal for graphics, logos, screenshots, and any image where preserving exact pixel data is important.
Why convert HEIF to PNG
Apple introduced HEIF as the default capture format on iPhone 7 (iOS 11) and later iPad models, so the format is everywhere among iOS users but native support outside the Apple ecosystem remains inconsistent. Windows 10 and 11 require the Microsoft HEIC Image Extensions codec from the Store before any built-in app can open these files. Many SaaS platforms, social media upload endpoints, and legacy desktop applications simply reject the container. PNG is the established lossless interchange format: every major browser, OS, and imaging tool treats it as a first-class citizen, making it the correct target when you need guaranteed, dependency-free opening of a file decoded from a lossy-but-proprietary source.
HOW TO CONVERT
HEIF → PNG
Provide the HEIF
Click or drag to upload. We accept a single HEIF file per job, with an optional queue of additional images for batch mode.
Encode to PNG
The conversion decodes the HEIF, resolves the colour space to sRGB and writes the PNG container around the pixel data.
Save the PNG
The download is streamed back over HTTPS. If you uploaded multiple files, a ZIP with all PNG outputs is produced instead.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send PNG files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for HEIF.
Embed in documents
Drop PNG output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
PNG often produces smaller files than HEIF for web, email and storage.
Archive & future-proof
Store in a widely-supported format that will still open on future operating systems without legacy plugins.
HEIF vs PNG — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
HEIF Strengths
- ~50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality, with better detail retention.
- Container holds multi-image bursts, depth maps, and HDR data in one file.
- Supports 10 and 12-bit color, wide gamut, and HDR out of the box.
- Default iPhone camera format since 2017 — billions of files in existence.
Limitations
- HEVC codec inside .heic is patent-encumbered — licensing fees steered the web toward AVIF.
- Windows, Android, and most email clients needed plugins or recent updates to open HEIC.
- Encoding is CPU-intensive on older hardware.
PNG Strengths
- Lossless compression — every save preserves the original pixels perfectly.
- Full 8-bit alpha channel for smooth transparency.
- Excellent for text, UI screenshots, logos, and line art.
- Royalty-free and an ISO standard (ISO/IEC 15948).
- Supports 16-bit color depth for high-fidelity work.
Limitations
- Much larger than JPEG for photographs (no perceptual compression).
- No native animation in most software (APNG support is inconsistent).
- No CMYK support — web and screen only, not print.
HEIF vs PNG — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
HEIF
- MIME types
- image/heif, image/heic
- Extensions
- .heif, .heic, .heifs, .heics
- Container
- ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF)
- Codecs
- HEVC (H.265), AV1, VVC (H.266)
- Standard
- ISO/IEC 23008-12
PNG
- Standard
- ISO/IEC 15948:2004
- MIME type
- image/png
- Compression
- Lossless — DEFLATE (zlib)
- Color depth
- 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 bits per channel
- Max dimensions
- 2^31 − 1 pixels per side (2.1 billion)
- Transparency
- Full 8-bit alpha channel
| Specification | HEIF | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| MIME types | image/heif, image/heic | — |
| Extensions | .heif, .heic, .heifs, .heics | — |
| Container | ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) | — |
| Codecs | HEVC (H.265), AV1, VVC (H.266) | — |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 23008-12 | ISO/IEC 15948:2004 |
| MIME type | — | image/png |
| Compression | — | Lossless — DEFLATE (zlib) |
| Color depth | — | 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 bits per channel |
| Max dimensions | — | 2^31 − 1 pixels per side (2.1 billion) |
| Transparency | — | Full 8-bit alpha channel |
HEIF vs PNG — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
HEIF
- iPhone photo (12 MP) 1-3 MB
- Portrait mode (with depth map) 2-4 MB
- Burst of 10 shots 5-15 MB
- 4K ProRAW-equivalent HEIF 10-30 MB
PNG
- Icon or small logo 2–20 KB
- UI screenshot (1920×1080) 200–800 KB
- High-res photo (12 MP) 10–30 MB
- Print-ready illustration 5–50 MB
Quality & Compatibility
The HEIF source is already lossy — the HEVC codec discarded some image data at capture time. Converting to PNG does not recover those discarded details; it preserves every pixel the decoder produces from the compressed stream, locking them losslessly from this point forward. Bit depth depends on what the device wrote: standard iPhone shots are 8-bit per channel (24-bit RGB or 32-bit RGBA), but HDR captures using the HDR10 profile can be 10-bit per channel. PNG supports both depths natively. HEIF can carry an embedded ICC color profile (Display P3 is standard on iPhone); a correct converter preserves that profile in the PNG color chunk. EXIF metadata — GPS coordinates, capture timestamp, camera model, lens focal length — is embedded in the HEIF file and can be written into PNG EXIF chunks, though some tools strip it. Alpha transparency in HEIF (used by screenshots and graphics apps like Procreate) maps directly to the PNG RGBA channel with no quality loss.
Tips for Best Results
- If your source HEIF was captured in Display P3 (standard on iPhones since 2017), verify that the converted PNG retains the embedded ICC profile before sharing; without it, colors may appear washed out on sRGB-only displays.
- For HDR HEIF files shot at 10-bit depth, choose a converter that explicitly outputs 16-bit PNG rather than silently downsampling to 8-bit, which clips highlight and shadow detail in the decoded pixel values.
- PNG files from HEIF conversions are typically three to five times larger than the source because DEFLATE cannot match HEVC compression efficiency on photographic content — if final file size matters, use the PNG only as a lossless working copy and export to WebP or JPEG for delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the codecs involved. If both HEIF and PNG are lossy, the pixels are re-encoded and a small amount of detail is discarded — invisible at default quality settings on photographs. If PNG is lossless (PNG, TIFF, BMP) the output keeps every pixel of the decoded HEIF exactly, but cannot recover detail that HEIF had already compressed away.
Often yes, especially when PNG is lossless. HEIF tuned for efficient web delivery will usually produce smaller files than PNG's default settings. If file size matters, drop the quality in Advanced or pick a more compressed target format instead.
KaijuConverter uploads over HTTPS, processes the image in an isolated container and deletes both the source and the output within two hours. No account is required, file contents are never logged, and we do not use uploads to train any model. For confidential material, the paid plan includes a data-processing agreement.
Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
Related Guides
HEIC/HEIF Format: Complete Guide to Apple's High Efficiency Image Format
Complete guide to HEIC/HEIF format: HEVC compression, multi-image containers, HDR support, Live Photos, and how to convert HEIC to JPEG, PNG, or WebP.
Read guideHEIF Image Format: What It Is, How to Open & Convert HEIF Files
Learn what HEIF is, how it compares to JPEG, which devices support it, and how to convert HEIF to other formats easily.
Read guidePNG: Advanced Color Modes, Filtering & Compression Strategies
Comprehensive guide to PNG encoding: color types (indexed, grayscale, RGB, RGBA), scanline filtering (Sub/Up/Average/Paeth), CRC checksums, gamma correction, ICC color profiles, interlacing methods.
Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, share, or store your data.