FILE FORMAT GUIDE
HEIC File: What It Is & How to Open It
A HEIC file is a high-efficiency image file that contains HEVC-compressed images. HEIC is a codec-specific member of the broader HEIF family.
Quick facts
- Extension
- .heic
- Format
- HEVC Image File
- Category
- image
- MIME type
- image/heic
- Standard / developer
- ISO/IEC
- Open with
- Photos or Preview, Microsoft Photos, OneDrive
What is HEIC?
The .heic extension and public.heic type identify HEIF content using HEVC image coding. A file can contain more than one image and metadata, so treating it as a single raw bitmap loses structure.
How to open HEIC
HEIC support varies by operating-system version and installed codecs. Use the system photo app first, then a browser-based preview or conversion workflow when local support is missing.
Photos or PreviewmacOS / iPhone / iPad
Open the HEIC image in Photos or Preview. Current Apple devices support HEIF media; older devices or software may need an update or a converted copy.
Microsoft PhotosWindows
Open the image in Photos. If Windows reports that an extension is required, install the HEIF Image Extensions and any codec required by the file.
OneDriveWeb
Upload or open the HEIC file in OneDrive to preview it in a browser when the local computer does not have HEIF support.
Common uses and compatibility
- Store HEVC-compressed still images and multi-image content
Things to check
- HEIC is not a synonym for every HEIF file; HEIF can contain images encoded with other codecs.
Advanced inspection
These developer and command-line workflows inspect structure or metadata. They are not the default way most people open the file.
ImageMagick identifyCommand-line tool
First run magick identify -list format and confirm HEIC read support in this installation. Then run magick identify -verbose -- input.heic to inspect the format and image characteristics without overwriting the source.
Technical details
- Signature
- Not reviewed
- Encoding
- Not applicable
- Container
- HEIF / ISO Base Media File Format
- Compression
- HEVC image coding
Related formats
- High Efficiency Image File Format
HEIC is a codec-specific HEIF usage, while HEIF can contain images coded with other codecs.
- AV1 Image File Format
Both use ISO Base Media File Format structures, but AVIF uses AV1 image coding rather than HEVC.
- JPEG Image
JPEG is a broadly used single-image format and a common compatibility export target for HEIC workflows.
Sources & review
Sources reviewed 2026-09-19.