Convert HEIC to TIFF on Mac
Select the HEIC files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose TIFF and press Return. FileFlip saves each TIFF next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert HEIC to TIFF 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 “TIFF” to jump to it.
Choose TIFF and press Return
The TIFF files appear next to the originals with the same names. The HEIC files stay as they are.
HEIC and TIFF
iPhones save photos as HEIC to save space, but many websites, Windows PCs and older apps still can’t open it. TIFF is lossless and accepted by print shops and archives.
What changes when you convert
- TIFF 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 | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | High Efficiency Image File Format | Tagged Image File Format |
| Made by | MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) | Aldus, now Adobe |
| Introduced | 2015 | 1986 |
| Compression | Lossy (HEVC) | Usually lossless or uncompressed |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Storing photos on Apple devices | Printing, scanning and archiving |
| Opens in | Apple devices; Windows needs the HEIF and HEVC extensions; many websites don’t accept it | Preview, Photoshop and most image editors; most web browsers don’t display it |
| File extension | .heic, .heif | .tiff, .tif |
| 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 TIFF 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 TIFF.
Good for pictures already in your library.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format tiff IMG_4021.heic \
--out IMG_4021.tiffBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about HEIC and TIFF
Does converting HEIC to TIFF lose quality?
TIFF 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 TIFF. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Will the TIFF keep the date, camera and location?
Yes, metadata is copied by default. Turn on “Remove location” in the options before you share photos publicly.
Where is the TIFF file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .tiff extension. The HEIC file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert TIFF back to HEIC?
Yes, FileFlip converts TIFF 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