Images conversion
Convert HEIF to GIF
Updated Jul 2026
HEIF is the compact photo format used by Apple devices, and GIF is the simple, universally supported format used for memes and short animations. To convert HEIF to GIF, open the file in a converter and export it as GIF. Doing this on your own computer keeps the photo, and any location data stored inside it, off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .heif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Apple devices
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .gif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Animations, memes
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert HEIF to GIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert HEIF to GIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the HEIF photo you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose GIF as the output format.
- Convert. The GIF is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
HEIF vs GIF: what actually changes
| HEIF | GIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Color depth | Millions of colors, photographic quality | 256 colors max, a real step down for photos |
| File size | Small, efficient compression | Often larger for photos, since GIF compresses color-reduced images less efficiently |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs a recent Apple device or plugin | Yes, one of the oldest, most universally supported formats |
| Transparency | No | Yes, but only fully on or off, no soft edges |
| Animation | No, still images only | Yes, GIF can hold multiple frames |
| Keeps date and location (EXIF) | Yes | No, GIF doesn't store this kind of metadata |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert HEIF to GIF when you need a photo in a format that opens on nearly anything, including very old software, or when you're turning a shot into a simple graphic or meme rather than keeping it as a photo.
Keep the HEIF, or convert to JPG or PNG instead, if you actually care about how the photo looks, because GIF's 256-color palette will visibly flatten skin tones, skies, and gradients.
Why not just use an online converter?
HEIF photos from an iPhone typically carry EXIF data, including the exact location where the picture was taken. An online converter would receive that file, and its location history, on its own servers before handing back a GIF. Converting on your own computer means the photo never leaves your machine, and since GIF drops EXIF entirely, none of that metadata survives into the output either.
Questions
Will converting HEIF to GIF make my photo look worse?
Yes, noticeably. GIF can only use 256 colors at once, so photographic images lose smooth gradients and can look banded or blotchy. It's fine for simple graphics, but not ideal for real photos.
Why would I convert a photo to GIF instead of JPG or PNG?
Mostly for compatibility with very old systems, or because you specifically want a static image saved in a format that also supports simple animation and hard-edged transparency, like a meme or a small icon.
Does the GIF keep the photo's location and date?
No. GIF doesn't have a slot for EXIF metadata, so the date, camera, and GPS location stored in the HEIC are dropped automatically during conversion.
Can I convert HEIF to GIF without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi turned off.
Morphjet converts HEIF, GIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.