[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"extension:v3:en:heif":3},{"resolvedFromAlias":4,"canonicalExt":5,"ext":5,"name":6,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"createdAt":9,"updatedAt":10,"indexable":11,"reviewedBy":12,"reviewedAt":13,"popularity":14,"summary":15,"howToOs":16,"quickAnswer":22,"answerIntro":23,"whatIs":24,"description":25,"furtherReading":26,"otherMeanings":36,"unverifiedMeaning":4,"openInstructions":37,"recommendedSoftware":51,"commonIssues":52,"securityNotes":65,"faq":69,"aliases":76,"mimeTypes":77,"relatedExtensions":79,"breadcrumbs":127,"categoryAnchor":137,"categoryFuturePath":138,"metaDescription":139,"availableHowToOs":140,"openOnDeviceLinks":141,"cannotOpenReasons":157,"cannotOpenFixes":158,"convertOptions":159,"convertIntentPath":162,"securityAffiliateMessaging":181,"securityAffiliates":182,"repairAffiliates":183,"recoveryAffiliates":184,"editAffiliates":195},false,"heif","HEIF image","images","Images","2026-03-17T08:09:09+01:00","2026-03-19T09:05:24.075Z",true,"Julian Stricker","2026-03-18T12:00:00+01:00",29,".HEIF files are advanced image files known for efficient compression and high image quality, widely supported on modern devices.",[17,18,19,20,21],"windows","mac","linux","ios","android","To open .HEIF files on Windows, right-click the .HEIF file and choose Open with.",".HEIF files are high-efficiency image files that can be opened with compatible apps on various platforms. Use the appropriate software to view them.",".HEIF, or High Efficiency Image Format, is a modern image file format that offers superior compression and quality. It is commonly used in mobile photography and digital imaging.","HEIF, developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), is designed to store images and image sequences efficiently. It uses advanced compression techniques similar to those in HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), allowing for high-quality images at smaller file sizes compared to traditional formats like JPEG. This makes it particularly popular in mobile devices, where storage space is at a premium. Apple has adopted HEIF as the default image format in iOS 11 and later, contributing to its widespread use. Besides its efficiency, HEIF supports features like transparency, live photos, and burst photography, making it versatile for various applications.",[27,30,33],{"title":28,"url":29},"HEIF on Wikipedia","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Image_File_Format",{"title":31,"url":32},"Apple's HEIF and HEVC Overview","https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022",{"title":34,"url":35},"Microsoft HEIF Image Extensions","https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/heif-image-extensions/9pmmsr1cgpwg",[],{"windows":38,"macos":41,"linux":44,"ios":47,"android":49},[39,40],"Right-click the .HEIF file and choose Open with.","Select the Photos app or another compatible application.",[42,43],"Control-click the .HEIF file and choose Open With.","Select Preview or another compatible app.",[45,46],"Open the .HEIF file from your file manager and choose Open With.","Select an app like GIMP or install a HEIF plugin if necessary.",[48],"Tap the .HEIF file in the Photos app or Files app to view it.",[50],"Open the .HEIF file using the default gallery app or a third-party app that supports HEIF.",{},[53,59],{"title":54,"description":55,"steps":56},"HEIF file won't open","The file may not open due to missing support in the current application.",[57,58],"Ensure the app supports HEIF format.","Update the app or use an alternative app that supports HEIF.",{"title":60,"description":61,"steps":62},"Poor image quality","Images may appear low quality if viewed in unsupported apps.",[63,64],"Use a viewer that fully supports HEIF features.","Check the file for corruption or incomplete download.",[66,67,68],"Open HEIF files only from trusted sources.","Ensure your software is up to date to handle HEIF files securely.","Avoid executing any embedded scripts within HEIF files.",[70,73],{"question":71,"answer":72},"Can I convert a JPEG to HEIF by renaming?","No, renaming does not change the file format. Use a conversion tool.",{"question":74,"answer":75},"Why is my HEIF file not opening on Windows?","Ensure you have the HEIF Image Extensions installed from the Microsoft Store.",[],[78],"image/heif",[80,86,92,98,104,110,116,122],{"ext":81,"name":82,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":83,"summary":84,"howToOs":85},"jpg","JPEG Image",99,"JPEG is a widely used image format known for its lossy compression, making it ideal for digital photography and web graphics.",[17,18,19,20,21],{"ext":87,"name":88,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":89,"summary":90,"howToOs":91},"png","Portable Network Graphics",96,"PNG is a widely-used lossless image format known for its support of transparency and high-quality text rendering.",[17,18,19,20,21],{"ext":93,"name":94,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":95,"summary":96,"howToOs":97},"gif","Graphics Interchange Format",78,"GIF is a widely used image format known for its ability to support animations and limited color palettes.",[17,18,19,20,21],{"ext":99,"name":100,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":101,"summary":102,"howToOs":103},"svg","SVG vector image",74,"SVG files are XML-based vector graphics that maintain quality at any size, commonly used for web graphics.",[17,18,19,20,21],{"ext":105,"name":106,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":107,"summary":108,"howToOs":109},"heic","High Efficiency Image Container",72,"HEIC files offer high-quality images with reduced file sizes, commonly used by modern smartphones like iPhones.",[17,18,19,20,21],{"ext":111,"name":112,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":113,"summary":114,"howToOs":115},"arw","Sony Alpha Raw Image",50,"ARW files are raw image files created by Sony digital cameras. They contain unprocessed data directly from the camera's sensor.",[17,18,19,20,21],{"ext":117,"name":118,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":119,"summary":120,"howToOs":121},"dng","Digital Negative",45,"DNG is a raw image format created by Adobe to serve as a universal standard for raw files generated by digital cameras.",[17,18,19,20,21],{"ext":123,"name":124,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":119,"summary":125,"howToOs":126},"xcf","GIMP XCF image (native project format)",".xcf is the native, layered “work-in-progress” image format used by GIMP. It preserves editing data (layers, channels, selections, etc.) that regular image exports like PNG/JPEG may not.",[17,18,19,20,21],[128,131,134],{"label":129,"to":130},"Home","/",{"label":132,"to":133},"File Extension Index","/file-extension",{"label":135,"to":136},".HEIF","/file-extension/heif","category-images","/category/images","Learn what .HEIF files are, how to open them on every platform, common fixes, and security best practices.",[17,18,19,20,21],[142,145,148,151,154],{"os":17,"label":143,"to":144},"Open .HEIF on Windows","/how-to/open-heif-on-windows",{"os":18,"label":146,"to":147},"Open .HEIF on Mac","/how-to/open-heif-on-mac",{"os":19,"label":149,"to":150},"Open .HEIF on Linux","/how-to/open-heif-on-linux",{"os":20,"label":152,"to":153},"Open .HEIF on iOS","/how-to/open-heif-on-ios",{"os":21,"label":155,"to":156},"Open .HEIF on Android","/how-to/open-heif-on-android",[54,60],[57,58],[160,163,166,170,174,177],{"fromExt":5,"toExt":81,"toLabel":161,"path":162},".JPG","/how-to/convert/heif-to-jpg",{"fromExt":5,"toExt":87,"toLabel":164,"path":165},".PNG","/how-to/convert/heif-to-png",{"fromExt":5,"toExt":167,"toLabel":168,"path":169},"pdf",".PDF","/how-to/convert/heif-to-pdf",{"fromExt":5,"toExt":171,"toLabel":172,"path":173},"bmp",".BMP","/how-to/convert/heif-to-bmp",{"fromExt":5,"toExt":93,"toLabel":175,"path":176},".GIF","/how-to/convert/heif-to-gif",{"fromExt":5,"toExt":178,"toLabel":179,"path":180},"tiff",".TIFF","/how-to/convert/heif-to-tiff","media_parser",[],[],[185,190],{"name":186,"toolName":187,"description":188,"affiliateUrl":189},"MiniTool","MiniTool Power Data Recovery","Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.","https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101700412-15736689?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.minitool.com%2Fdata-recovery-software%2F&sid=recover-heif",{"name":191,"toolName":192,"description":193,"affiliateUrl":194},"Wondershare Repairit","Wondershare Recoverit","Windows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.","https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101700412-14465154?sid=recover-heif",[]]