"HEIC Not Supported": What It Means (And How to Fix It)

If you have ever tried to open or upload an iPhone photo and gotten a message like “HEIC not supported”, you are not alone. HEIC is common on iPhones, but it is not universally accepted across apps, websites, and older devices.

The fastest fix is to convert HEIC to a more compatible output like JPG (or PNG).

• Converter: HEIC to JPG
• Alternative: HEIC to PNG

Why the error happens

“Not supported” usually means one of these:

• The app/website does not include a HEIC decoder.
• Your device can view HEIC, but the specific program you are using cannot.
• The upload service only accepts JPG/PNG/WebP.

This is not your fault. It is a compatibility gap.

Quick checks before converting

If you want to keep HEIC and avoid converting, a couple of quick checks can help:

• Try a different viewer/editor: Some apps support HEIC while others don’t.
• Update your OS/app: Support improves over time.
• On Windows, add HEIF support: Some Windows setups can enable HEIC viewing via optional codecs/extensions.

Even if you add support on your own device, converting is still useful because the person you are sharing with may not have HEIC support.

Fix 1: Convert HEIC to JPG (best compatibility)

JPG is the safest “works everywhere” choice.

1. Open: HEIC to JPG
2. Drop in your HEIC file(s).
3. Convert and download.
4. Upload the JPG instead.

Fix 2: Convert HEIC to PNG (best for text/graphics)

If the HEIC is actually a screenshot or has sharp text, PNG can look cleaner:

• HEIC to PNG

Fix 3: Change iPhone camera settings (prevent it next time)

If you never want to deal with HEIC again, you can change your iPhone settings so it captures JPG by default. The tradeoff is larger file sizes.

Even if you keep HEIC enabled (recommended for storage), converting when you need to share is usually the better workflow.

A good long-term workflow

• Keep originals as HEIC in your photo library.
• Convert to JPG only for sharing, web uploads, or compatibility.
• Convert to PNG for screenshots or assets you will edit repeatedly.

Common places HEIC fails

If you’re wondering “why here?”, HEIC often fails in:

• Older web upload forms that only accept JPG/PNG
• Legacy Windows software
• Some printers and photo kiosks
• Some collaboration tools that generate previews poorly

In all of those cases, JPG is the least risky output.

Related reading

• Windows steps: HEIC to JPG on Windows
• Format comparison: HEIC vs JPG

FAQ

• Should I convert to JPG or PNG? For photos and maximum compatibility, use JPG. For screenshots/text-heavy images, PNG can look cleaner.
• Does converting remove metadata? QuickImager can remove metadata (including EXIF) as a privacy-friendly default.
• Is this private? Yes. Conversion runs locally in your browser with no uploads.

Need a quick fix right now? Convert HEIC to JPG.