HEIC to AVIF Converter
Convert HEIC to AVIF in your browser. HEIC files usually come from iPhones and iPads since iOS 11, and many recent Android phones; AVIF is the better fit for maximum compression on modern websites. You get an AVIF encoded with libavif (AV1) compiled to WebAssembly, at the quality you choose. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
HEIC expected · other image formats also work
How to use HEIC to AVIF
- 1
Add your HEIC files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Set the quality. AVIF quality numbers run lower than JPEG: around 55 to 65 already looks excellent. Encoding is slow on phones.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .avif files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for heic to avif
Where the AVIF goes next
AVIF opens in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 16 and later, Windows 11 Photos, macOS Preview and recent editors.
AVIF next to HEIC
Both formats are lossy, so the size mostly follows the quality setting; at the default the AVIF usually lands in the same range as the HEIC.
A second lossy pass
HEIC is lossy already, since it stores lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles, 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.
HEIC vs AVIF
What changes from HEIC to AVIF
Encoding: the HEIC uses lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles; AVIF uses lossy or lossless AV1 intra-frame coding, and the download is an AVIF encoded with libavif (AV1) compiled to WebAssembly, at the quality you choose.
Bit depth: 8 or 10 bits per channel in the HEIC; AVIF allows 8, 10 or 12 bits per channel, and the AVIF written here has 8 bits per channel. 10-bit HEIC photos are reduced to 8 bits per channel.
Colour: YCbCr, usually tagged Display P3 on iPhones in the HEIC; AVIF supports YUV 4:4:4 or 4:2:0 with BT.709, Display P3 or BT.2020 primaries, HDR curves possible, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the HEIC stores it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras; the AVIF keeps it as an auxiliary AV1 image stored beside the colour image.
Other images: the HEIC can hold a thumbnail, depth map, HDR gain map and burst shots as extra items; only the main image is converted.
Metadata: the HEIC can carry EXIF, XMP and an ICC profile, stored as items; AVIF can carry EXIF, XMP and ICC stored as HEIF items, but nothing is copied across.
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.
HEIC files usually come from iPhones and iPads since iOS 11, and many recent Android phones.
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.
When converting HEIC to AVIF makes sense
AVIF is the better choice for maximum compression on modern websites, while HEIC suits storing photos on Apple devices.
AVIF strengths: Often 50% smaller than JPEG; Excellent at low quality settings; Transparency, HDR and 10/12-bit colour. Drawbacks to weigh: Slow to encode, especially on phones; Not supported by some older software; Can smooth away fine texture at low quality.
Limitations
- HEIC is already lossy, so a second lossy pass should stay at a high quality setting.
- iPhone photos are usually Display P3; colours are mapped to sRGB, so very saturated reds and greens can look slightly less vivid.
- AVIF encoding is CPU-heavy, so large images and big batches take noticeably longer than JPG or WebP, especially on phones.
- Some older apps and operating systems cannot open AVIF yet; keep a JPG copy if you share the file widely.
More conversions
Related tools
Convert AVIF to HEIC in your browser, a HEIF file with JPEG compression inside. Batch, private, no uploads.
Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser, with transparency filled in a colour you pick. Batch, private, no uploads.
Convert HEIC to PNG in your browser, ready for screenshots, logos, graphics and anything that needs transparency. Batch, private, no uploads.
Convert HEIC to WebP in your browser, ready for images on websites and in apps. Batch, private, no uploads.
Convert any image (HEIC, PNG, WebP, AVIF, RAW, PSD, SVG and 26 more) to AVIF in bulk, right in your browser.
Convert JPG to AVIF in your browser, ready for maximum compression on modern websites. Batch, private, no uploads.
Shrink JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and GIF files with MozJPEG, OxiPNG and modern codecs, with a live before/after preview.
Resize to exact pixels, a percentage or a longest side, with Lanczos3 and Magic Kernel resampling. Batch ready.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to AVIF lose quality?
AVIF is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space. The HEIC was lossy already, so keep the quality high to avoid stacking artefacts. 10-bit HEIC photos are reduced to 8 bits per channel. Not carried over: any a thumbnail.
Is transparency kept in the AVIF?
Yes. HEIC stores it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras, and the AVIF is written with an alpha channel, so transparent areas stay transparent.
Why can't I open HEIC photos on Windows or websites?
HEIC uses the HEVC codec, which is patent-encumbered and not built into most browsers, Windows apps and upload forms. Converting makes the photo open where HEIC does not, and the HEIC is decoded inside your browser to do it.
What quality should I choose for AVIF?
AVIF quality numbers run lower than JPEG: around 55 to 65 already looks excellent. Lower values give much smaller files with gentle softening. Encoding is CPU-heavy, so large batches take a while on phones.
Which apps open AVIF files?
Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 16 and later, Windows 11 Photos, macOS Preview and recent editors. It opens in Chrome 85+, Edge, Firefox 93+ and Safari 16+.
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.