AVIF to HEIC Converter
Convert AVIF to HEIC in your browser. AVIF files usually come from image CDNs, modern web build pipelines and some recent phones; HEIC is the better fit for storing photos on Apple devices. You get a HEIF file whose picture is JPEG-compressed rather than HEVC, because no HEVC encoder runs in a browser. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
AVIF expected · other image formats also work
How to use AVIF to HEIC
- 1
Add your AVIF files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Pick the colour that replaces transparent areas, since HEIC has none.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .heic files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for avif to heic
Where the HEIC goes next
HEIC opens in Apple devices, recent Android phones, and Windows with the HEIF and HEVC extensions.
HEIC next to AVIF
Both formats are lossy, so the size mostly follows the quality setting; at the default the HEIC usually lands in the same range as the AVIF.
A second lossy pass
AVIF is lossy already, since it stores lossy or lossless AV1 intra-frame coding, so keep the quality at or above the default to avoid stacking a new layer of artefacts on the old one.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
AVIF vs HEIC
What changes from AVIF to HEIC
Encoding: the AVIF uses lossy or lossless AV1 intra-frame coding; HEIC uses lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles, and the download is a HEIF file whose picture is JPEG-compressed rather than HEVC, because no HEVC encoder runs in a browser.
Bit depth: 8, 10 or 12 bits per channel in the AVIF; HEIC allows 8 or 10 bits per channel, and the HEIC written here has 8 bits per channel. 10 and 12-bit AVIFs, including HDR ones, are decoded to 8 bits per channel.
Colour: YUV 4:4:4 or 4:2:0 with BT.709, Display P3 or BT.2020 primaries, HDR curves possible in the AVIF; HEIC supports YCbCr, usually tagged Display P3 on iPhones, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the AVIF stores it as an auxiliary AV1 image stored beside the colour image; HEIC could hold it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras, but this writer flattens it, so transparent areas are filled with the colour you choose.
Animation: an AV1 image sequence under the 'avis' brand; the HEIC holds one image, so only the first frame is converted.
Metadata: the AVIF can carry EXIF, XMP and ICC stored as HEIF items; HEIC can carry EXIF, XMP and an ICC profile, stored as items, but nothing is copied across.
About AVIF
AVIF uses the AV1 video codec for still images. It is the most efficient widely supported format, often half the size of JPEG, with HDR, wide colour and transparency, but encoding is slow.
An AVIF is a HEIF file, the same ISO base media boxes as MP4, with the brand 'avif'. The picture is an AV1 key frame stored as an image item, and its size, colour and pixel layout are item properties.
AVIF files usually come from image CDNs, modern web build pipelines and some recent phones.
About HEIC
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones and many Android phones. It is about half the size of JPEG, but Windows, many websites and older software cannot open it without converting.
A HEIC is a HEIF file (ISO base media boxes with the brand 'heic'). iPhone photos store the picture as a grid of 512×512 HEVC tiles that the decoder stitches together, with the thumbnail, depth map and HDR gain map as further items.
When converting AVIF to HEIC makes sense
HEIC is the better choice for storing photos on Apple devices, while AVIF suits maximum compression on modern websites.
HEIC strengths: About half the size of JPEG; Stores depth maps, Live Photos and HDR. Drawbacks to weigh: Not supported by most websites and Windows apps; Patent-encumbered codec.
Limitations
- Almost any other format needs more bytes than AVIF for the same picture, so expect the file to grow.
- HDR and wide-gamut AVIFs are mapped to standard sRGB on decode, so very bright highlights can look flatter than on an HDR screen.
- The file is a valid HEIF, but its picture is JPEG-coded rather than HEVC, so apps that expect HEVC (Apple Photos, Windows' HEVC extension) may not open it.
- The picture inside is JPEG-coded, so the file is about the size of a JPG at the same quality rather than the half size of a camera HEIC.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting AVIF to HEIC lose quality?
HEIC is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space. The AVIF was lossy already, so keep the quality high to avoid stacking artefacts. 10 and 12-bit AVIFs, including HDR ones, are decoded to 8 bits per channel.
What happens to transparency when converting AVIF to HEIC?
AVIF stores transparency as an auxiliary AV1 image stored beside the colour image. HEIC has no alpha channel, so transparent pixels are composited onto a solid colour, white unless you pick another. To keep transparency, convert to PNG, WebP or AVIF instead.
Will my animated AVIF stay animated?
No. HEIC holds a single image, so only the first frame is kept. Convert to animated WebP, APNG or GIF to keep the motion, or export every frame with the GIF Frame Extractor.
Will the HEIC open in Apple Photos?
Not always. The file is a valid HEIF container, but its picture is JPEG-compressed rather than HEVC, because no HEVC encoder can run in a browser. libheif-based apps such as GIMP, darktable and ImageMagick open it; Apple Photos and Windows' HEVC extension expect HEVC and may refuse it. For an iPhone, JPG is the safer choice.
Which apps open HEIC files?
Apple devices, recent Android phones, and Windows with the HEIF and HEVC extensions. It opens in Safari on recent Apple systems; other browsers do not display it.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.