HEIC to PDF Converter
Convert HEIC to PDF in your browser. HEIC files usually come from iPhones and iPads since iOS 11, and many recent Android phones; PDF is the better fit for sharing, printing and submitting documents. You get a one-page PDF with the image embedded as a JPEG. 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 PDF
- 1
Add your HEIC files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Pick the colour that replaces transparent areas, since PDF has none.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .pdf files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for heic to pdf
Where the PDF goes next
PDF opens in every browser, operating system and office suite.
PDF next to HEIC
Both formats are lossy, so the size mostly follows the quality setting; at the default the PDF 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 PDF
What changes from HEIC to PDF
Encoding: the HEIC uses lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles; PDF uses per object: images inside are usually JPEG or Flate-compressed, and the download is a one-page PDF with the image embedded as a JPEG.
Bit depth: 8 or 10 bits per channel in the HEIC; PDF allows whatever the embedded images use, and the PDF 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; PDF supports RGB, CMYK, greyscale or spot colours, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the HEIC stores it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras; the PDF has none, so transparent areas are filled with the colour you choose.
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; PDF can carry document info and XMP, 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 PDF
PDF is the standard for documents that look identical everywhere. Images placed in a PDF can be printed, emailed and combined into multi-page documents.
When converting HEIC to PDF makes sense
PDF is the better choice for sharing, printing and submitting documents, while HEIC suits storing photos on Apple devices.
PDF strengths: Opens identically on every device; Multiple pages in one file; Print-ready page sizes. Drawbacks to weigh: Not an image format: harder to edit or embed.
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.
- The page matches the image size unless you choose a paper size, and the image is embedded as a JPEG.
- To put several images into one multi-page PDF, use Image to PDF.
More conversions
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to PDF lose quality?
PDF 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.
What happens to transparency when converting HEIC to PDF?
HEIC stores transparency as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras. PDF 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.
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.
Can I put several images in one PDF?
This converter creates one PDF per image. To combine many images into one multi-page PDF with page size and margins, use Image to PDF.
Which apps open PDF files?
Every browser, operating system and office suite.
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.