Convert HEIC to AVIF

Convert your images

Add one image or a whole batch — every conversion happens right here on your device.

Source format HEIC
Smaller file Higher quality 82%

Controls the size-versus-quality trade-off for JPG, WebP, and AVIF — higher looks closer to the original, lower makes a smaller file.

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How it works

  1. Drop your HEIC photos here, or select them from your iPhone or Mac.
  2. The converter decodes HEIC and re-encodes it as AVIF — right in your browser.
  3. Adjust the quality slider; AVIF encoding takes a little longer than JPG.
  4. Download the AVIF files individually, or as one ZIP.

HEIC and AVIF are closer relatives than their names suggest: both are HEIF container formats, just wrapping a different video codec — HEIC uses HEVC, AVIF uses AV1. That means this conversion is really a codec swap more than a format change, and it comes with a real upside: AV1 has far better browser and software support than HEVC, and typically no worse compression, all while staying in essentially the same container structure. This tool decodes the HEIC and re-encodes it as AVIF entirely in your browser, with EXIF and GPS metadata stripped from the output, not uploaded.

Why use convert.pics?

  • A modern, web-friendly codec (AV1) that browsers actually support, unlike HEVC/HEIC.
  • Similar or better compression than HEIC, with far wider compatibility.
  • No upload: decoding and encoding both happen locally, on your device.
  • No hidden location data: EXIF and GPS metadata are stripped automatically.
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Frequently asked questions

Are HEIC and AVIF the same thing?

Not quite, but they're close: both use the HEIF container format, just with different video codecs inside — HEIC wraps HEVC, AVIF wraps AV1. Think of it as the same box holding a different, more modern engine.

Is AVIF smaller than HEIC?

Roughly comparable in most cases — both codecs are highly efficient, and neither reliably beats the other by a wide margin. The main reason to convert isn't file size, it's that AVIF has far better software and browser support.

Can my iPhone open AVIF files?

Yes, modern iOS and macOS support AVIF for viewing, though the iPhone camera itself still shoots HEIC by default rather than AVIF. Converting is mainly useful for sending the photo somewhere that needs a more universally compatible file.

Why not just keep the HEIC?

HEIC works fine within Apple's ecosystem, but a lot of non-Apple software and older Windows tools still can't open it at all, while AVIF has much broader support across browsers and modern apps. Converting trades a format few outside Apple can open for one almost everyone can.

Related image converters

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Proof: your images never leave this device Your images: 0 bytes sent Open the live network log and check for yourself

Live request log

Every network request this page and its conversion workers have made since the page loaded. None of them carries image data.

No network requests recorded yet.

    Codec files are WebAssembly decoders. They are downloaded to your device once and then run inside your browser.

    Airplane-mode challenge

    Do not take our word for it — cut the connection and watch the converter keep working.

    1. Load this page once, then switch on airplane mode or turn off Wi-Fi.
    2. Drop an image into the converter and convert it as usual.
    3. The conversion finishes and the download works. A converter that uploaded your files could not do that.

    Check it in your browser's developer tools

    1. Press F12 (⌥⌘I on macOS) and open the Network tab, then reload the page.
    2. Convert an image and watch the requests that appear.
    3. You will see our scripts and codec files being downloaded, and no request that uploads your image — check the size and payload column of every entry.

    Background caching by the service worker also shows up in DevTools: it downloads our app files for offline use. It never uploads anything.