Images conversion
Convert BMP to HEIF
Updated Jul 2026
BMP is an old Windows image format that stores pixels with little to no compression, which makes files large. HEIF is a modern, highly compressed format used on Apple devices. To convert BMP to HEIF, open the file in a converter and export it as HEIF. Doing this on your own computer keeps the image off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .bmp
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Legacy Windows images
- Transparency
- None
- Extension
- .heif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Apple devices
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert BMP to HEIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert BMP to HEIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the BMP file, or a whole folder of them, to convert in a batch.
- Choose HEIF as the output format.
- Convert. The HEIF files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
BMP vs HEIF: what actually changes
| BMP | HEIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Yes, supported by most software, especially on Windows | No, needs a recent Apple device or updated software |
| File size | Large, little to no compression | Much smaller, efficient compression |
| Quality | Lossless, every pixel stored exactly | Very good, with a small one-time loss on export |
| Transparency | No, not typically used | Yes |
| Metadata (date, camera info) | No, BMP doesn't store EXIF | Yes, can hold EXIF if present in the source |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert BMP to HEIF when you want to shrink old bitmap images down for storage, or need them in a format that works well on an iPhone or Mac.
Keep the BMP original if you need an exact, uncompressed copy of the pixels, since HEIF applies compression that changes the file even if the difference is hard to see.
Why not just use an online converter?
BMP files often come from old scans, screenshots, or software exports that you don't necessarily want floating around online. Running the conversion through a website means that image sits on someone else's server, if only briefly. Converting on your own computer keeps it local the whole time and gives you the same result.
Questions
Does converting BMP to HEIF lose quality?
A little. BMP stores every pixel exactly with no compression, and HEIF compresses the image to save space. For most photos and graphics the loss isn't visible, but it's no longer a byte for byte match.
Can I open a HEIF file on Windows?
Not always without help. Older Windows versions and many apps don't read HEIF natively, so if you're sending the file to someone on a PC, it's worth checking they can open it first.
Why convert an old BMP file at all?
BMP files are often many times larger than they need to be, because they store pixel data with little or no compression. Converting to HEIF can shrink a large bitmap down considerably while keeping it looking close to the original.
Does the HEIF file keep any metadata?
BMP itself doesn't carry EXIF metadata, so there's nothing inside the original to lose. If your BMP came from a camera or scanner that attached information separately, that won't automatically appear in the HEIF.
Can I convert BMP to HEIF without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to leave your machine or pass through anyone else's server.
Morphjet converts BMP, HEIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.