Convert HEIC to PNG on Mac
Select the HEIC files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose PNG and press Return. FileFlip saves each PNG next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert HEIC to PNG with FileFlip
Select the HEIC files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from HEIC. Type “PNG” to jump to it.
Choose PNG and press Return
The PNG files appear next to the originals with the same names. The HEIC files stay as they are.
HEIC and PNG
iPhones save photos as HEIC to save space, but many websites, Windows PCs and older apps still can’t open it. PNG keeps every pixel and supports transparency, which is what you want for screenshots, graphics and further editing.
What changes when you convert
- PNG is lossless, so nothing more is lost, but it can’t bring back detail that HEIC compression already removed. Expect a bigger file.
| Property | HEIC | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | High Efficiency Image File Format | Portable Network Graphics |
| Made by | MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) | PNG Development Group |
| Introduced | 2015 | 1996 |
| Compression | Lossy (HEVC) | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Storing photos on Apple devices | Screenshots, logos, graphics and images with text or transparency |
| Opens in | Apple devices; Windows needs the HEIF and HEVC extensions; many websites don’t accept it | Everywhere, including every web browser |
| File extension | .heic, .heif | .png |
| In FileFlip | Opens and saves | Opens and saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Preview
Open the HEIC in Preview, choose File → Export, pick PNG from the Format menu and click Save. For several files, open them together, select all thumbnails in the sidebar and choose File → Export Selected Images.
Good for a few files now and then.
Photos
If the pictures are in your Photos library, select them, choose File → Export → Export Photos and set Photo Kind to PNG.
Good for pictures already in your library.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format png IMG_4021.heic \
--out IMG_4021.pngBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about HEIC and PNG
Does converting HEIC to PNG lose quality?
PNG is lossless, so nothing more is lost, but it can’t bring back detail that HEIC compression already removed. Expect a bigger file.
Can I convert many HEIC files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose PNG. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where is the PNG file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .png extension. The HEIC file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert PNG back to HEIC?
Yes, FileFlip converts PNG to HEIC as well.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole folder of images at once
FileFlip also handles video, audio, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac