HEIC to PNG: How to Convert on Mac, Windows & Online (2026)

Need to convert HEIC to PNG? This guide covers every method for Mac, Windows, and online tools — including batch conversion and a comparison of HEIC vs PNG.

HEIC to PNG: How to Convert on Mac, Windows & Online (2026)

You just transferred photos from your iPhone to your computer, and now half of them show up as .heic files that nothing wants to open. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. The HEIC to PNG conversion question comes up constantly, and for good reason — HEIC is a format most software still doesn't natively support outside Apple's ecosystem.

This guide walks through every practical method to convert HEIC to PNG on Mac, Windows, and online, including batch conversion for large photo libraries. By the end, you'll know exactly which approach fits your situation.

What Is HEIC and Why Convert to PNG?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format, introduced in iOS 11. It uses the HEVC codec to compress images roughly twice as efficiently as JPEG, meaning a HEIC file at equivalent visual quality is about half the size of a JPEG.

So why would anyone want to convert HEIC to PNG?

  • Compatibility. PNG opens in virtually every application, operating system, and web browser. HEIC does not.
  • Transparency support. PNG supports alpha channels; HEIC does not handle transparency the same way.
  • Editing workflow. Most image editors — Photoshop, Figma, Sketch, GIMP — work natively with PNG without requiring plugins or workarounds.
  • Web publishing. No browser renders HEIC images inline. PNG works everywhere.
  • Archival use. PNG is a lossless, open standard with no licensing concerns.

The tradeoff is file size. A HEIC file at 3 MB might become a 10–15 MB PNG. If storage and bandwidth matter, consider whether PNG is actually the right target format — more on that in the comparison table below.

Method 1: Convert HEIC to PNG on Mac

Mac users have several built-in options that require no third-party software.

Using Preview (Quickest Method)

Preview handles HEIC natively since macOS High Sierra and can export to PNG in a few clicks.

  1. Open your HEIC file in Preview (double-click or right-click > Open With > Preview).
  2. Go to File > Export.
  3. In the Format dropdown, select PNG.
  4. Adjust the quality slider if needed (PNG is lossless, so this mainly affects metadata behavior).
  5. Click Save.

For multiple files at once:

  1. Select all your HEIC files in Finder.
  2. Right-click and choose Open With > Preview. All files open in one Preview window.
  3. In Preview, press Cmd + A to select all images in the sidebar.
  4. Go to File > Export Selected Images.
  5. Choose PNG as the format and pick an output folder.
  6. Click Choose to convert them all.

Preview handles batches of dozens of files without issue. For hundreds or thousands of files, see the batch conversion section below.

Using Automator (Reusable Quick Action)

Automator lets you build a right-click shortcut that converts HEIC to PNG directly from Finder — no app opening required.

  1. Open Automator (find it in Applications or Spotlight).
  2. Choose New Document > Quick Action.
  3. Set "Workflow receives current" to image files in Finder.
  4. Search for the action Change Type of Images and drag it into the workflow.
  5. When prompted, click Add to preserve your originals.
  6. Set the To Type dropdown to PNG.
  7. Save the Quick Action with a name like "Convert HEIC to PNG".

Now, whenever you select HEIC files in Finder and right-click, you'll see your Quick Action under the Quick Actions submenu. One click converts them all to PNG without opening any app.

Using the Terminal (sips Command)

For developers and command-line users, macOS ships with sips — a scriptable image processing tool.

Convert a single file:

sips -s format png photo.heic --out photo.png

Convert all HEIC files in the current folder:

for f in *.heic; do sips -s format png "$f" --out "${f%.heic}.png"; done

This approach is fast, scriptable, and works well in automated pipelines.

Method 2: Convert HEIC to PNG on Windows

Windows 10 and 11 do not support HEIC out of the box. You have a few options.

Install the HEIF Image Extensions (Microsoft Store)

Microsoft offers an official HEIF Image Extensions codec that adds HEIC support to Windows Photos and other apps.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store and search for "HEIF Image Extensions".
  2. Install the free extension (there is also a paid codec for HEVC video — the image one is free).
  3. Once installed, Windows Photos can open HEIC files.
  4. Open your HEIC file in Photos, click the three-dot menu > Save as, and choose PNG.

This only handles files one at a time through the Photos app.

Use IrfanView (Free, Batch-Capable)

IrfanView is a free Windows image viewer and converter with batch processing support.

  1. Download and install IrfanView from irfanview.com (also install the Plugins package).
  2. Open IrfanView and go to File > Batch Conversion/Rename.
  3. Add your HEIC files to the input list.
  4. Set Output Format to PNG.
  5. Choose an output directory.
  6. Click Start Batch.

IrfanView processes hundreds of files quickly and handles HEIC after the plugins package is installed.

Use XnConvert (Free, Cross-Platform)

XnConvert is a free batch image converter that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  1. Download XnConvert from xnview.com.
  2. Add your HEIC files via drag-and-drop or the Add Files button.
  3. Go to the Output tab, set Format to PNG.
  4. Click Convert.

XnConvert gives you additional options like resizing, color adjustments, and watermarking during conversion — useful if you need to process images for a specific use case.

Method 3: Online HEIC to PNG Converters

Online converters are useful for one-off conversions when you don't want to install software. The tradeoff is that you're uploading your photos to a third-party server, so avoid using online tools for sensitive or personal images.

Reliable options:

  • CloudConvert (cloudconvert.com) — supports HEIC to PNG, up to 25 files free per day
  • HEICtoJPEG.io — simple interface, also exports PNG, no account needed
  • Zamzar — supports HEIC to PNG, 50 MB file size limit on free tier
  • ILoveIMG — handles batch uploads, straightforward interface

For most online tools, the workflow is the same:

  1. Upload your HEIC file(s).
  2. Select PNG as the output format.
  3. Click Convert or Download.

File size limits (typically 10–50 MB per file) are the main constraint with free tiers.

Method 4: Convert HEIC to PNG with Compresto (Mac)

For macOS users who regularly deal with HEIC files — especially in bulk — Compresto is the most efficient option. Compresto is a native Mac app built for image compression and conversion, with hardware acceleration that makes batch processing significantly faster than Preview or Terminal scripts.

How to convert HEIC to PNG with Compresto:

  1. Launch Compresto on your Mac.
  2. Drag and drop your HEIC files or an entire folder into the app window.
  3. Select PNG as the output format.
  4. Adjust quality and compression settings as needed.
  5. Click Compress/Convert — Compresto processes all files simultaneously using Apple Silicon or Intel GPU acceleration.

Compresto also lets you compress PNG files after conversion if the output files are larger than you need — useful when PNG file sizes balloon compared to the original HEIC.

Key advantages over built-in methods:

  • Processes hundreds of files in parallel, not sequentially
  • Preserves or strips metadata selectively
  • Supports HEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, GIF, and more in one workflow
  • No file size limits
  • Entirely offline — your photos never leave your Mac

Download Compresto from the official site or the Mac App Store.

Batch Convert HEIC to PNG

If you have a large photo library — hundreds or thousands of HEIC files from your iPhone backups — batch conversion is the only practical approach.

Batch Conversion on Mac with Preview

As covered above, Preview handles multi-file exports via File > Export Selected Images. It works well for batches up to a few hundred files. Beyond that, it can become slow.

Batch Conversion with Compresto

Compresto's batch processing handles libraries of any size. Drag an entire folder (or multiple folders) into the app, set the output to PNG, and let it run. Hardware acceleration keeps conversion fast even for thousands of images. See our guide on batch convert images for a full workflow breakdown.

Batch Conversion via Terminal

The sips loop shown earlier processes all HEIC files in a directory:

for f in *.heic; do sips -s format png "$f" --out "${f%.heic}.png"; done

For recursive conversion across nested folders:

find . -name "*.heic" -exec sh -c 'sips -s format png "$1" --out "${1%.heic}.png"' _ {} \;

This works well in automation scripts and CI pipelines.

HEIC vs PNG: Quick Comparison

FeatureHEICPNG
File sizeSmall (efficient compression)Large (lossless, uncompressed data)
Image qualityExcellent (near-lossless at small sizes)Perfect (lossless)
TransparencyLimited supportFull alpha channel support
Browser supportNone (no native browser support)Universal
Software compatibilityApple apps onlyAll apps and platforms
Editing suitabilityLimited (proprietary codec)Excellent (universal support)
Best use caseiPhone photo storageWeb graphics, design assets, archives
Open standardNo (MPEG-licensed)Yes (ISO/IEC standard)

If file size is a priority and you're staying within the Apple ecosystem, HEIC wins. For anything else — sharing, web publishing, cross-platform editing — PNG is the safer choice.

It's also worth knowing that WebP has emerged as another modern format worth understanding. Like HEIC, WebP achieves small file sizes with high quality, but unlike HEIC it has near-universal browser support. If you're optimizing images for the web rather than for compatibility with desktop software, WebP may be a better target format than PNG. For a deeper look at how PNG compares to other lossless formats, see our TIFF vs PNG breakdown.

For web images specifically, check out our guide on the best image format for websites and how to compress images without losing quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert HEIC to PNG on a Mac for free?

Use the built-in Preview app. Open your HEIC file, go to File > Export, and select PNG. For batch conversion, open multiple HEIC files in Preview at once, select all in the sidebar, and use File > Export Selected Images.

Why is my HEIC to PNG file so much larger?

HEIC uses highly efficient lossy compression, so a 3 MB HEIC can expand to 10–15 MB as a PNG. PNG is lossless and stores uncompressed pixel data, which is inherently larger. If file size matters, consider converting to JPEG or WebP instead, or compress the PNG after conversion.

Can I convert HEIC to PNG on Windows without software?

Not reliably without adding the HEIF Image Extensions codec from the Microsoft Store. Once installed, Windows Photos can open HEIC files and export them as PNG. For batch conversion on Windows, IrfanView or XnConvert are the best free options.

Does converting HEIC to PNG lose quality?

No. PNG is a lossless format, so the conversion from HEIC to PNG does not introduce any additional compression artifacts. The PNG will represent the decoded HEIC image pixel-for-pixel. Note that the HEIC itself may already have lossy compression applied at the time of capture — that original compression is preserved in the PNG output.

What is the fastest way to batch convert HEIC to PNG on Mac?

For large batches, Compresto is the fastest option thanks to hardware-accelerated parallel processing. For smaller batches, Preview's Export Selected Images is quick and requires no additional software. For scripting and automation, the sips Terminal command handles batch conversion efficiently.

Conclusion

Converting HEIC to PNG is straightforward once you know the right tool for the job. On Mac, Preview and Automator cover most use cases without installing anything extra. On Windows, the HEIF Image Extensions codec combined with IrfanView handles batch jobs well. For online conversions, CloudConvert and Zamzar are reliable for one-off files.

If you're on a Mac and regularly deal with HEIC files from iPhone photo libraries, Compresto gives you the fastest batch conversion workflow — hardware-accelerated, offline, and with full control over output quality and compression.

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