Images conversion
Convert HEIC to PSD
Updated Jul 2026
HEIC is the compressed photo format iPhones save by default, and PSD is the layered file format built for image editing software like Photoshop. To convert, open the HEIC photo in a converter and export it as PSD. Doing this on your own computer means the image and its metadata never leave your machine.
- Extension
- .heic
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Default iPhone photo format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .psd
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Photoshop files
- Transparency
- Supported
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert HEIC to PSD on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert HEIC to PSD
- Open Morphjet and drag in the HEIC photo, or a whole folder of them, that you want to convert.
- Choose PSD as the output format.
- Convert. Morphjet writes the PSD next to your original, and nothing ever leaves your machine.
HEIC vs PSD: what actually changes
| HEIC | PSD | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, needs a recent Apple device or plugin | No, needs image editing software that reads PSD |
| File size | Small, built for compact storage | Much larger, stores full uncompressed image data |
| Quality | Lossy, some detail is discarded to save space | Lossless, every pixel is preserved exactly |
| Transparency | No | Yes, supports transparent layers |
| Editable in layers | No, it's a flat photo | Yes, opens as an editable layer you can build on |
| Keeps date and location (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, usually carried over |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert HEIC to PSD when you want to open an iPhone photo in image editing software to retouch it, composite it with other layers, or do detailed editing work that benefits from a lossless, layered file.
Keep the HEIC original if you're just archiving or sharing the photo as is, since a PSD is much larger and doesn't buy you anything until you actually start editing in layers.
Why not just use an online converter?
HEIC photos carry EXIF metadata, including the exact GPS location and time the picture was taken. An online converter would receive that photo, and everything embedded in it, on its own servers before handing back a PSD. Converting on your own computer keeps the photo, and where and when you took it, entirely on your machine.
Questions
Does converting HEIC to PSD lose quality?
No. PSD is a lossless format, so the pixel data comes across unchanged. The photo won't look any different, it's just saved as a flat, editable layer instead of a compressed HEIC file.
Will the PSD keep the photo's metadata?
Yes, the date, camera details, and GPS location stored in the HEIC generally carry over into the PSD, unless whatever you use afterward strips it out.
Why convert to PSD instead of editing the HEIC directly?
Many image editing programs either can't open HEIC at all or handle it awkwardly. Converting to PSD first gives you a format built for layers, adjustments, and non-destructive editing.
Does a PSD file take up more space than the original HEIC?
Yes, substantially more. PSD stores full, uncompressed image data, so a PSD made from a single HEIC photo can be many times the size of the original.
Can I convert HEIC to PSD without uploading the photos anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally on your own computer, so nothing is sent over the internet, you could even do it with wifi off.
Morphjet converts HEIC, PSD, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.