FILE FORMAT GUIDE
HEIF File: What It Is & How to Open It
A HEIF file is a container for compressed images and related data. The container is not tied to one image codec; inspect its brands and items rather than assuming HEVC.
Quick facts
- Extension
- .heif
- Format
- High Efficiency Image File Format
- Category
- image
- MIME type
- image/heif
- Standard / developer
- ISO/IEC
- Open with
- Photos or Preview, Microsoft Photos or OneDrive
What is HEIF?
HEIF can hold a primary image plus other image items and metadata. Apple registers public.heif and the .heif extension independently from the codec-specific public.heic type.
How to open HEIF
Photos or PreviewmacOS / iPhone / iPad
Open the HEIF image in Photos or Preview. Older Apple devices or software may need an update or a converted copy.
Microsoft Photos or OneDriveWindows / Web
Try Photos first. If Windows requests a codec, install the required HEIF extension, or preview the file in OneDrive in a browser.
Upload HEIF and HEVC photos and videos to OneDrive — Microsoft Support
Common uses and compatibility
- Package one or more compressed images and associated metadata
Things to check
- The filename alone does not identify the codec used for every image item.
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 HEIF read support in this installation. Then run magick identify -verbose -- input.heif 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
- Not reviewed
Related formats
- HEVC Image File
HEIC identifies HEIF content using HEVC image coding; HEIF itself is the broader image-file format.
- AV1 Image File Format
AVIF is an image-file format based on the same ISO Base Media File Format family and uses AV1 image coding.
- JPEG Image
JPEG is a simpler single-image compatibility target, while HEIF can package multiple image items and metadata.
Sources & review
Sources reviewed 2026-09-19.