HEIC, which stands for High-Efficiency Image Container, is a photo format designed to store pictures in a smaller size without compromising quality. Due to its space-saving attribute, it is the default format for many current smartphones.

You may experience compatibility issues when sharing HEIC photos on different platforms. Android and iPhone both allow you to change the default image format to JPEG which is a more compatible image format.

HEIC is Apple’s proprietary image file format and Android 9.0 and newer has adopted the format as well.

Apple and Android may also use the HEVC video format which can likewise be adjusted.

Apple

Open the Settings Menu on your iPhone, tap Camera and then tap formats.

Select “most compatible” This will change the default image format from HEIC to JPEG and the default video format from HEVC to H264.

Convert HEIC to JPEG on iPhone

There are several ways to convert HEIC files to JPEG on an iPhone, using the Files app is one way.

Open the Photos app and select the images you would like to convert.

Tap share and then select copy.

Open the Files app and create a new folder.

Tap and hold and then select paste to paste the images into the new folder. The images will be converted to JPEG.

Android

On your Android, open the Camera app.

Open Camera Settings by tapping the Settings gear icon.

Locate the setting for advanced picture options, image quality or image format, depending on your device. (On Samsung phones, choose Advance picture options > Toggle off High Efficiency Pictures.) Choose the option that captures photos in JPEG format.

Also, in the Camera Settings menu you can specify the default video format. Tap advanced video options and choose the video format you would like to use.

HEIC offers better compression, higher image quality, and smaller file sizes than JPEG. However, JPEG is more widely supported and compatible across platforms. The choice between HEIC and JPEG depends on your preferences for image quality, file size, and compatibility with different devices and platforms.

HEVC video format is not universally supported by all devices and platforms. Depending on your use you might want to choose a more widely supported format when recording video.