One page for HEIC and HEIF searches
HEIC is the HEVC-coded kind of HEIF file, so a photo called either name is the same job here. Our test used a .heic file from a camera-style sample.
HEIC to PNG Converter
Add a HEIC photo and get a PNG back. The pixels are exactly what the photo decodes to, in a file larger than the HEIC.
To convert heic to png, add the .heic photo, keep PNG as the output format and download the result. In our test, a 157 KB heic photo became a 340 KB png, 2.17 times larger, with the same 1200 × 900 pixels and the camera EXIF tags still inside. A HEIC file that held two images failed instead.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the PNG file once before you share it.
FromHEICLossyTransparency
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container)
The still-image format iPhones have used by default since iOS 11. It wraps HEVC-compressed pictures in the HEIF container, usually smaller than a JPG of the same picture, and can also hold deeper colour, depth maps and image sequences.
ToPNGLosslessTransparency
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
A lossless raster format with a full alpha channel. It preserves every pixel it is given and supports transparency, which makes it the usual choice for logos, screenshots, and any image with sharp edges or text.
A 1200 × 900 HEIC test photo with EXIF tags, converted on indox.org
- HEICthe original, 8-bit, 300 bytes of EXIF
- 157 KB
- PNGfrom indox, 8-bit RGB, 2.17 times larger
- 340 KB
Why use indox to convert HEIC to PNG?
Nothing to install
The conversion runs on indox servers, so it works in the browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android or an iPhone. You do not need extra codecs or a photo editor.
Camera details stay in the PNG
In our test the EXIF Make, Model, DateTimeOriginal and GPSLatitude tags were all still in the PNG. That helps when you archive photos. Take care when you share them, because the location travels too.
Decoded by libheif, with nothing added
The engine listed for this pair is libheif. The PNG we downloaded was byte for byte identical (same sha256) to the one libheif 1.15.1 wrote on our own computer.
No sign-in in our test
We ran it without an account. We saw no limit message, no 429 error and no paywall, though limits may still exist for other files or heavier use.
What happens to your HEIC
Stays
- Your original HEIC, which is not touched
- The pixel size, 1200 × 900 in our test
- The picture as it decodes, with no extra compression loss
- EXIF tags such as Make, Model, date and GPS latitude
Changes
- File size: 2.17 times larger in our test
- Format: lossy HEVC replaced by lossless PNG
- Extra images in the file: a HEIC with two images failed
- Depth maps and HDR gain maps: not tested
- Transparency: none is created
PNG or JPG for a HEIC photo?
| If you need | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Exact decoded pixels for editing | PNG | No further loss when you re-save |
| The smallest shareable file | JPG | PNG photos are typically much larger |
| A file that opens everywhere | Either | Both open on Windows, Mac and the web |
| Transparency | Neither from a photo | A camera photo has no alpha channel |
How do I convert HEIC to PNG online?
- 1
Add your HEIC photo
Drop the .heic file on the box or choose it from your device. Keep the original: the HEIC is smaller, and the PNG cannot be turned back into it.
- 2
Confirm PNG as the output
Check that PNG is the output format on the converter, then start the conversion.
- 3
Wait for Completed
In our test it took 6.8 seconds from the click to Completed, including the upload. Larger files will take longer.
- 4
Download and check the PNG
Open the PNG and check the size. If it is too large for where you are sending it, use JPG instead.
What do I get from indox's HEIC to PNG converter?
You hand over a HEIC photo and take away a PNG that opens in Windows apps, editors and upload forms that reject HEIC. The page lists what happens to the file, so you can tell before you convert whether PNG fits the job.
- One PNG per photo, in a few clicks
- Nothing installed on Windows, Mac or a phone
- Camera EXIF tags kept in our test
- Where it fails, stated plainly
What are the limits for HEIC to PNG?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
HEIC in, PNG out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- A HEIC file that holds several images fails. Our test file with two images ended with status Failed and no file to download. If your file comes from a burst or a sequence, convert a single-image copy instead.
- PNG is large for photos. Expect a bigger file than the HEIC, and a much bigger one for smooth gradients or deep colour. Use JPG when size matters more than exact pixels.
- We tested one 8-bit still photo only. It was a synthetic sample we made ourselves, not a real iPhone file, so Portrait depth maps, HDR gain maps and 10-bit files are not tested on indox.
- In a local check with the same decoder, a 10-bit HEIC became a 16-bit PNG roughly 18 times larger. That was a smooth test gradient and is not a typical ratio.
- The libheif engine does not resize the picture, and PNG cannot recover detail the HEIC never had.
- The file is uploaded to indox for conversion. Tools that say they work only in your browser do not upload, so consider that before you convert private photos.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The job shows Failed | The HEIC may hold more than one image, which failed in our test | Convert a single-image copy of the photo |
| The PNG is much bigger than the HEIC | PNG is lossless and HEIC is not | Use HEIC to JPG for a smaller file |
| The PNG has no transparency | A photo has none and a converter cannot add it | Cut out the subject in an editor first |
| The location is still in the file | The EXIF GPS tags carry over | Remove them in a metadata tool before you share |
| A site still rejects the file | The PNG may be over its size limit | Try JPG, or resize the picture in an editor |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to HEIC to PNG?
HEIC vs PNG: what is the difference?
| Compared on | HEIC | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy HEVC by default, small files | Lossless, every pixel stored, larger files |
| Standard | HEIF, ISO/IEC 23008-12, first published in 2017 | PNG, ISO/IEC 15948:2004, an open web standard |
| Bit depth | Can hold more than 8 bits per channel | 1 to 16 bits per channel |
| Several images | One file may hold bursts, sequences or depth maps | One image per file |
| Where it opens | Apple devices; others often need add-ons | Almost every browser, editor and operating system |
Who can use a HEIC to PNG converter?
When to use it
- Opening an iPhone photo someone emailed to you on a Windows PC.
- Uploading a photo to a site that accepts PNG and JPG only.
- Making a lossless working copy before editing a picture several times.
- Pasting a phone photo into a Word document or a slide.
- Handing a design tool or script a PNG when it cannot read HEIC.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- HEIF, High Efficiency Image File FormatLibrary of Congress
- PNG, Portable Network GraphicsLibrary of Congress
- libheif, an HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoderstrukturag on GitHub
- Use HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devicesApple Support
Facts checked on November 4, 2026
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HEIC to PNG FAQs
How do I convert HEIC to PNG?
Open the converter, add your HEIC photo, keep PNG as the output format and download the result. You need no software and, in our test, no account.
Does converting HEIC to PNG lose quality?
The conversion itself loses nothing: our PNG matched the output of the open-source libheif decoder exactly. The HEIC was already lossy, though, so a PNG cannot restore detail the HEVC compression removed.
Why is my PNG so much larger than the HEIC?
HEIC uses HEVC compression made for photos, while PNG stores every pixel without loss. In our test a 157 KB HEIC became a 340 KB PNG. Smooth or deep-colour pictures can grow far more.
Does the PNG keep the EXIF data and location?
In our test, yes. Make, Model, DateTimeOriginal and GPSLatitude were all in the PNG. Remember that GPS data travels with the file when you share it.
Will the PNG have a transparent background?
No. A camera photo has no transparency and a converter cannot add it. Our PNG was plain RGB with no alpha channel.
What happens with a HEIC that holds several images?
The job failed in our test, with status Failed and no file to download. A normal single-photo HEIC from the camera converted without trouble.
Can I convert HEIC to PNG on a Mac or Windows for free?
Yes. This converter works in the browser on both and needed no payment in our test. A Mac can also export PNG from Preview, and on an iPhone, Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible makes new photos JPEG.
Should I pick PNG or JPG for my iPhone photo?
Pick PNG for editing, archiving the decoded pixels or tools that need lossless input. Pick JPG for email, web pages and sharing, where a smaller file matters. The HEIC to JPG page covers that route.