Images conversion
Convert AVIF to HEIF
Updated Jul 2026
AVIF is a newer image format built for the web, using very efficient compression. HEIF is the format Apple devices use for photos and camera captures. To convert AVIF to HEIF, open the file in a converter and export it as HEIF, the whole process running on your own computer instead of a stranger's server.
- Extension
- .avif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Next-gen web images
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- Supported
- Extension
- .heif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Apple devices
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert AVIF to HEIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert AVIF to HEIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AVIF images you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose HEIF as the output format, and set a quality level if you want to balance size against sharpness.
- Convert. The HEIF files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
AVIF vs HEIF: what actually changes
| AVIF | HEIF | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Very small, among the more efficient common formats | Small, close to AVIF but sometimes a bit larger |
| Quality | High quality at low file sizes, with some loss from compression | High quality, with a similar loss profile |
| Opens everywhere | Supported in modern web browsers, but many photo apps and older software still can't open it | Native on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but needs an extra step to open on Windows or many non-Apple apps |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Keeps date and location (EXIF) | Supported, but not always carried through by every app that creates AVIF files | Yes, this is one of the format's strong points, built to carry a camera's full metadata |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AVIF to HEIF when you're moving an image from a website or app onto an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, where HEIF is the format those devices expect for photos.
Keep the AVIF if the image is staying on the web or in an app that already supports it, since AVIF is typically just as small or smaller, and converting adds another round of compression on top of what's already there.
Why not just use an online converter?
An online converter means uploading your AVIF file to a server you don't control, waiting for it to process, then downloading the result, with the file sitting on someone else's machine in between. Morphjet converts it right on your Mac or PC, so an image you're moving onto your phone or into your photo library never has to pass through anyone else's server first.
Questions
Does converting AVIF to HEIF lose quality?
A small amount. Both formats are lossy, so re-encoding from one to the other adds a little extra compression on top of what's already there. For everyday photos it's usually not noticeable.
Will the HEIF file keep the original metadata?
HEIF is built to carry a full set of metadata, including date and camera details, so if the AVIF already had that information it should carry over during conversion.
Why convert to HEIF instead of just keeping AVIF?
Because iPhones, iPads, and Macs treat HEIF as their native photo format, while AVIF, though efficient, is designed mainly for websites and doesn't get the same treatment in Apple's photo apps and camera roll.
Can I convert AVIF to HEIF without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so it never leaves your computer, and you don't need an internet connection for the conversion itself.
Does HEIF support transparent backgrounds like AVIF does?
No. AVIF can keep a transparent background, but HEIF doesn't support transparency, so converting a transparent AVIF to HEIF fills in a solid background instead.
Morphjet converts AVIF, HEIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.