FlowBatch

Format Conversion • HEIC • iPhone Photos

The HEIC Problem: Why iPhone Photos Are Hard to Use (And How FlowBatch Solves It)

Published: December 1, 2025

If you've ever tried to use iPhone photos on Windows, upload them to a website, or open them in older software, you've encountered the HEIC problem: files that simply don't work where you need them to.

What is HEIC?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11 (2017). It's based on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) standard, which uses the same compression technology as HEVC/H.265 video.

Why Apple Uses HEIC

  • 50% smaller files: A 12MP HEIC photo is roughly half the size of an equivalent JPG at the same quality
  • Better quality: At the same file size, HEIC retains more detail than JPG
  • Advanced features: Supports 16-bit color depth, transparency, and image sequences (Live Photos)
  • Storage savings: Users can store twice as many photos on their devices

From Apple's perspective, HEIC is a clear technical improvement. The problem is that the rest of the computing world wasn't ready for it.

The Compatibility Problem

HEIC files are not widely supported outside the Apple ecosystem:

Won't Open

  • • Windows 10/11 (without codec install)
  • • Older versions of Photoshop
  • • Most web browsers (direct viewing)
  • • Many website upload forms
  • • Older Android versions
  • • Linux (most distributions)

Works

  • • macOS (native support)
  • • iOS (native support)
  • • Recent Adobe products
  • • Google Photos
  • • Dropbox

The result: millions of users with iPhone photos they can't easily use on their Windows computers, share with non-Apple users, or upload to websites and services.

Why HEIC Conversion is Technically Challenging

Converting HEIC files isn't as simple as renaming them or using a basic image library. There are several technical obstacles:

1. Tiled Image Structure

iOS stores HEIC images as a grid of 512x512 pixel tiles. A 12MP photo (4032x3024 pixels) is stored as 48 separate tiles that must be reassembled correctly. Many conversion tools fail to properly compose these tiles, resulting in tiny 512x512 output images or corrupted files.

2. Patent and Licensing Issues

HEVC/H.265 (the compression behind HEIC) is covered by patents held by multiple companies. Software that decodes HEIC may need to pay royalties, which is why open-source tools and free software often lack native HEIC support.

3. Metadata Preservation

HEIC files contain EXIF metadata (camera settings, GPS location, date taken) in a different structure than JPG. Proper conversion tools must extract and correctly map this metadata to the output format to preserve information like photo orientation, date, and location.

4. Color Profile Handling

HEIC supports wide color gamuts (Display P3) that exceed standard sRGB. Converting without proper color management can result in washed-out or oversaturated images.

How FlowBatch Handles HEIC Conversion

FlowBatch uses a dedicated HEIC decoder (libheif) to properly handle iPhone photos. When you process HEIC files, FlowBatch:

  1. 1
    Detects HEIC/HEIF files automatically based on file extension
  2. 2
    Decodes the full image by properly composing all tiles from the grid structure
  3. 3
    Preserves metadata including EXIF data, orientation, and timestamps
  4. 4
    Converts to JPG at 90% quality (configurable) for universal compatibility

The HEIC to JPG Preset

FlowBatch includes a factory preset specifically for HEIC conversion. This preset is available in both the free and licensed versions.

Processing Pipeline

Input → Filter (HEIC only) → Convert to JPG (90% quality) → Output

What the Preset Does

  • Input: Scans your selected folder (including subfolders) for image files
  • Filter: Only processes files with .heic or .heif extensions, passing through others unchanged
  • Convert: Converts to JPG format at 90% quality, preserving EXIF metadata
  • Output: Saves to your chosen destination with the original filename

How to Use It

  1. Open FlowBatch and select the HEIC to JPG preset from the preset panel
  2. Set your input folder (where your iPhone photos are)
  3. Set your output folder (where you want the JPGs saved)
  4. Click Start

Batch Converting Hundreds of HEIC Files

The real value of FlowBatch for HEIC conversion is batch processing. Instead of converting files one at a time with online tools or manual processes, you can:

  • Process entire photo libraries: Point FlowBatch at your iPhone backup folder and convert thousands of photos
  • Include subfolders: Enable "Include Subfolders" to process nested directory structures (like date-organized photo folders)
  • Filter automatically: The preset only converts HEIC files, leaving existing JPGs and other formats untouched
  • Preserve organization: Output files maintain the same naming structure as your originals

Free vs Licensed

The HEIC to JPG preset is available in the free version of FlowBatch. Here's what differs between versions:

Free Version

  • ✓HEIC to JPG preset
  • ✓All factory presets
  • ✓Unlimited batch processing
  • ✓Full node-based editor
  • ✓Customize presets during session

Licensed Version

  • +Everything in Free
  • +Save custom presets
  • +Watch Mode (auto-process new files)
  • +Priority support

Other Ways to Handle HEIC Files

For completeness, here are other approaches to the HEIC problem:

Change iPhone Settings

Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. This makes your iPhone shoot JPG instead of HEIC. Downside: larger file sizes, and doesn't help with existing photos.

Windows HEVC Codec

Install the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store ($0.99). This enables HEIC viewing in Windows but doesn't provide batch conversion.

Online Converters

Various websites offer HEIC to JPG conversion. Downsides: privacy concerns (uploading photos to third parties), file size limits, slow for batches.

iCloud/AirDrop Transfer

When you share via AirDrop to a Mac or download from iCloud on Windows, Apple can auto-convert to JPG. Works for small numbers of files but not practical for large libraries.

Summary

HEIC is technically superior to JPG, but its limited compatibility creates real problems for anyone who needs to use iPhone photos outside the Apple ecosystem. FlowBatch provides a straightforward solution:

  • • A dedicated HEIC to JPG preset that handles the technical complexity
  • • Proper decoding of tiled iOS images
  • • Batch processing for converting entire photo libraries
  • • Available in the free version

For users with hundreds or thousands of iPhone photos that need to be converted, FlowBatch eliminates the tedious one-by-one conversion process.

Keywords: HEIC to JPG, HEIC converter, iPhone photo converter, HEIF conversion, batch HEIC conversion, convert iPhone photos Windows, HEIC Windows, iOS photo format, Apple HEIC, high efficiency image format