What's the difference between HEIF and HEIC?

HEIF is the container standard; HEIC is Apple's implementation of it using HEVC compression. In practice the terms are used interchangeably, and both behave the same way in browsers.

Why won't it display in my browser?

Only Safari renders HEIF. Chrome and Firefox download it instead. Converting to JPEG or WebP makes it display everywhere.

How do I convert HEIF to JPEG?

On a Mac, open in Preview and export as JPEG. On iPhone, use Share then Options then Most Compatible. Then host the JPEG.

Host a HEIF file and share it as a link

Put a HEIF image online at its own address — the container behind iPhone photos, and why most browsers won't display it.

You can host:

Drop your HEIF image here

Any other file works too — up to 25.0 MB, or 100.0 MB for a whole site

Free to use. Your HEIF file is live at your-name.99helpers.site in about ten seconds.

What is a .heif file?

HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the container standard that HEIC implements. It stores images at roughly half the size of JPEG at equivalent quality, and can hold image sequences, depth maps and edits alongside the picture. Apple adopted it for iPhone photos; browser support outside Safari never followed.

What people use HEIF files for

Photos from iPhones and recent Android devices
Image sequences and burst photos
Storage-efficient photo libraries

What opens a HEIF file

Photos and Preview on Apple devices
Windows, with HEIF Image Extensions installed
Safari displays it; Chrome and Firefox generally don't
Recent Photoshop and Lightroom versions

How to host a HEIF file

1
Drop your HEIF file in
Drag it onto the box at the top of this page, or click to choose it. Files up to 25 MB are supported, and nothing is uploaded until you publish.
2
Pick an address
Type a name and we'll tell you straight away whether it's free. That becomes the link: photo.99helpers.site
3
Publish and share
Create a free account — that step exists so the file is yours to update, replace or delete — and the link is live within seconds.

The same three steps work for any file — see how file hosting works on 99helpers.com.

What happens when someone opens the link

In most browsers the file downloads instead of displaying, because Chrome and Firefox don't render HEIF. Safari shows it inline.

Why host a HEIF file instead of emailing it?

HEIF files are what modern phones produce, and sending them to people on Windows or Android causes reliable confusion. A link delivers the file intact — converting to JPEG first is usually kinder.

Worth knowing before you publish

Export as JPEG for a photo anyone needs to view — it displays in every browser.
HEIF and HEIC are effectively the same thing; HEIC is Apple's naming for HEIF with HEVC compression.
These files carry location data by default; strip it before publishing anything public.

HEIF hosting questions

What's the difference between HEIF and HEIC?: HEIF is the container standard; HEIC is Apple's implementation of it using HEVC compression. In practice the terms are used interchangeably, and both behave the same way in browsers.
Why won't it display in my browser?: Only Safari renders HEIF. Chrome and Firefox download it instead. Converting to JPEG or WebP makes it display everywhere.
How do I convert HEIF to JPEG?: On a Mac, open in Preview and export as JPEG. On iPhone, use Share then Options then Most Compatible. Then host the JPEG.

Put your HEIF file online now

It takes about ten seconds, and you only make an account once the file is ready to go live.

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Hosting guides for related formats

Host a HEIC photo Host a JPG photo Host a WebP image Host an AVIF image Host a PNG image

HEIF is one of over 211 formats you can host — see free file hosting for any file type for the full list, or read the hosting guides for other file types.