Images conversion
Convert HEIC to AVIF
Updated Jul 2026
HEIC is the photo format iPhones save by default, and AVIF is a newer image format built for the web, with smaller files and support for transparency. To convert HEIC to AVIF, open the file in a converter and export it as AVIF. Doing this on your own computer means the photo, and any location data inside it, never has to be uploaded anywhere.
- Extension
- .heic
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Default iPhone photo format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .avif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Next-gen web images
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert HEIC to AVIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert HEIC to AVIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the HEIC photos you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose AVIF as the output format.
- Convert. The AVIF files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
HEIC vs AVIF: what actually changes
| HEIC | AVIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, needs a recent Apple device or plugin | In modern browsers, yes; some older apps and devices still can't open it |
| File size | Small, modern compression | Usually smaller still, at the same visual quality |
| Quality | High, modern compression | High, with a small one-time loss on export |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Keeps date and location (EXIF) | Yes | Depends on the tool; Morphjet can carry it over or strip it |
| Built for | Storing photos on Apple devices | Displaying images on websites |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert HEIC to AVIF when you're publishing a photo on a website or app and want a smaller file than JPG at similar quality, or you need transparency, which HEIC doesn't support.
Keep the HEIC original, or convert to JPG instead, if the photo needs to open in older apps, email clients, or devices that don't recognize AVIF yet.
Why not just use an online converter?
Photos straight off an iPhone carry EXIF metadata, including the exact location where they were taken. An online HEIC to AVIF converter has to receive that file, and everything in it, on its own server before handing back a result. Converting on your own computer skips that step entirely: the photo and its metadata stay put.
Questions
Does converting HEIC to AVIF lose quality?
There's a small, one-time loss on export, same as with any lossy format conversion. At normal quality settings it's not visible to the eye, and AVIF often produces a smaller file than HEIC for the same look.
Will AVIF photos open on other people's devices?
Modern browsers and recent operating systems open AVIF fine. Some older phones, apps, and photo viewers don't support it yet, so if you need something that opens absolutely everywhere, JPG is the safer bet.
Does the AVIF keep the photo's date and location?
It can, but it depends on the converter. Morphjet lets you keep the original metadata or strip it during export, so you decide whether the location data travels with the file.
Why convert to AVIF instead of just keeping HEIC?
HEIC works well on Apple devices but browsers don't display it directly, so it's a poor fit for the web. AVIF was designed for that use case: smaller files, transparency support, and growing browser support.
Can I convert HEIC to AVIF without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to travel over the internet. You could do it with your wifi off and it would still work.
Morphjet converts HEIC, AVIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.