Convert HEIC to PNG &
WebP to PNG Free

What Is a HEIC File? (And Why It Won't Open)

So, what is a HEIC file exactly? HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is the file extension Apple uses for photos encoded with the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) standard. When you take a photo on an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, the camera saves it as a .heic file by default instead of the traditional .jpg format.

The advantages of HEIC are significant: files are roughly 50% smaller than equivalent JPEGs while retaining the same visual quality, and HEIC supports features like 16-bit color depth, transparency layers, and image sequences (Live Photos). However, these benefits come with a major drawback — compatibility. Windows 10 (without updates), most Android devices, older versions of Photoshop, and many web platforms simply cannot read HEIC files natively.

The core issue is licensing. HEIC relies on the HEVC (H.265) video codec for compression, which requires patent royalty payments. Because of these licensing costs, many software developers and operating system vendors have been slow to add native HEIC support. This is precisely why learning how to convert HEIC to JPG or PNG remains essential for cross-platform workflows in 2026.

How to Convert HEIC to PNG: Step-by-Step Methods

Converting HEIC to PNG gives you a lossless, universally compatible image file with full transparency support. Here are the most reliable methods for every platform, from quick online tools to built-in system utilities.

Method 1: Convert HEIC to PNG on Windows (Free)

Windows does not natively support HEIC files out of the box, but there are several free solutions:

1. Install HEIF Image Extensions: Open the Microsoft Store, search for "HEIF Image Extensions," and install the free package. This enables Windows Photos to open and view .heic files directly. Once installed, right-click the file, choose Open with > Photos, then select Save as and pick PNG format.
2. Use a free online converter: Upload your .heic file to a reputable web-based converter (such as CloudConvert or Convertio), select PNG as the output format, and download the converted file. No software installation is required.
3. Use IrfanView with plugin: Download IrfanView (free), install the HEIF plugin from the plugins package, open your HEIC file, then choose File > Save As and select PNG. IrfanView also supports batch conversion if you have multiple files.

Method 2: Convert HEIC to PNG on Mac

macOS has built-in HEIC support, making conversion straightforward:

1. Open the HEIC file in Preview (double-click the file).
2. Select File > Export from the menu bar.
3. Choose PNG from the Format dropdown and click Save.

For batch conversion on Mac, select multiple HEIC files in Finder, right-click, choose Quick Actions > Convert Image, then select PNG. This built-in Automator action can process dozens of files in seconds.

Method 3: Convert HEIC to PNG on iPhone

The easiest approach is to change your iPhone's camera settings to avoid HEIC entirely. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and select Most Compatible. This switches the default capture format from HEIC to JPG. For existing HEIC photos, you can use the Files app or a free conversion app from the App Store to export them as PNG files.

Method 4: Convert HEIC to PNG on Android

Android devices generally cannot open HEIC files natively. To convert them, use Google Photos (which can read HEIC files and export as JPG), or install a dedicated conversion app such as "HEIC Converter" from the Google Play Store. Upload the HEIC file, select PNG as the output, and save the converted image to your gallery.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG (Quick Alternative)

If you do not need transparency or lossless quality, learning how to convert HEIC to JPG is the faster option. JPG files are smaller than PNGs and universally supported by every device, email client, and social media platform. The conversion methods are identical to those described above — simply choose JPG instead of PNG as the output format in any of the tools listed.

For bulk conversion, command-line tools like ImageMagick make this extremely efficient. After installing ImageMagick, run the following command in your terminal to convert all HEIC files in a folder to JPG:

magick mogrify -format jpg *.heic

This single command batch-converts every HEIC file in the current directory without overwriting the originals. You can also convert HEIC to PDF by opening the converted JPG or PNG in any PDF creator and printing to PDF — useful for creating photo documents or portfolios.

How to Convert WebP to PNG: Complete Guide

WebP is another modern image format that frequently needs conversion. Developed by Google and documented on the official Google WebP reference, WebP uses advanced compression to deliver smaller file sizes for the web. However, many desktop applications, word processors, and legacy image editors still do not support WebP natively.

Convert WebP to PNG on Windows

1. Open the WebP file in MS Paint (right-click > Open with > Paint).
2. Select File > Save As > PNG picture.
3. Choose your save location and click Save. The file is now a standard PNG.

Convert WebP to PNG on Mac

1. Open the WebP file in Preview.
2. Choose File > Export from the menu bar.
3. Select PNG from the Format dropdown and save.

Batch Convert WebP to PNG (Command Line)

For developers and power users who need to convert many WebP files at once, the dwebp utility from Google's libwebp package is the most efficient tool. To convert a single file:

dwebp input.webp -o output.png

To batch-convert an entire folder of WebP images in Windows PowerShell:

Get-ChildItem *.webp | ForEach-Object { dwebp $_.FullName -o ($_.BaseName + ".png") }

Need to download WebP images from websites before converting? Use our WebP Downloader tool to save native WebP files directly from any webpage, then convert them to PNG using the methods above.

HEIC vs WebP vs PNG: Format Comparison Table

Understanding the differences between these three formats helps you choose the right output for your workflow. Here is a side-by-side comparison of HEIC, WebP, and PNG across the features that matter most.

How to Convert HEIC to PDF (Bonus Method)

Many users also need to convert HEIC to PDF for document submissions, portfolios, or archival purposes. While there is no single-click HEIC-to-PDF converter built into most operating systems, the process is simple once you convert the HEIC file to PNG or JPG first.

1. Convert HEIC to PNG or JPG using any method described above.
2. Open the converted image in any application that supports printing (Preview on Mac, Photos on Windows, or a web browser).
3. Select File > Print, then choose Save as PDF (Mac) or Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows) as the printer.
4. Click Save — your HEIC image is now a PDF document.

For batch HEIC-to-PDF conversion, use a free tool like LibreOffice Impress: import all your converted images into slides, then export the entire presentation as a single PDF. If you need high-quality PNG source files for this workflow, our free PNG Downloader can help you gather crisp images before assembling your PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions