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HEIC to JPEG XL — Archive iPhone Photos at Maximum Efficiency

Convert HEIC to JPEG XL for highly efficient archival. Achieve smaller files than HEIC with lossless compression.

Local Processing Only

Drop HEIC files here or click to select

.heic, .heif (multiple files)

Format comparison

Source

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a high-efficiency photo format commonly used on iPhone and iPad. It often produces smaller files, but compatibility varies across apps and platforms.

Pros

  • Efficient compression for photos
  • HEIF container features (metadata, sequences)
  • Common default on Apple devices

Cons

  • Compatibility can be limited in some apps/browsers
  • May require extra codecs on some platforms (e.g., Windows)
Target

JPEG XL is a newer image format designed to support both lossless and lossy compression modes. Support can vary by browser and toolchain.

Pros

  • Supports both lossless and lossy modes
  • Designed for high compression efficiency across content types
  • Suitable for archiving with metadata when supported

Cons

  • Limited browser support
  • Developing tool ecosystem

When to Convert HEIC to JPEG XL

Convert HEIC to JPEG XL for experimentation or archiving. Keep JPEG/PNG alongside it if you need broad compatibility.

Technical Format Details

HEIC Technical Specifications

Technical details


HEIC/HEIF is commonly used for photos on iPhone and iPad. It can keep file sizes smaller, but compatibility varies across Windows, browsers, and editing tools.

Good for

- On-device photo storage: Efficient photo saving
- Keeping metadata: Managing capture info alongside the image

Notes

- Compatibility: You may need JPEG/PNG/WebP for sharing and uploads
- Environment differences: Decoding and conversion behavior depends on browser/platform support

Reference: Apple: HEIF/HEVC
JPEG XL Technical Specifications

Technical details


JPEG XL is designed to support both lossless and lossy compression. It can be attractive for experiments and archiving, but real-world support still varies by browser and app.

Good for

- Testing/archiving: Trying a next-gen format where supported
- Fallback conversions: Converting back to PNG/JPEG for compatibility

Notes

- Compatibility: Confirm the recipient platform supports JXL
- Publishing: WebP/JPEG/PNG is often the safer default for the web

Reference: JPEG XL (JPEG Committee)

How to Use

1

Add files

Drop or click to select your HEIC files (multiple supported)

2

Confirm output

Default is JPEG XL. You can change to another supported output format if needed.

3

Adjust options

Set quality, resize, and metadata options only if you need them.

4

Convert & download

Download each file, or download everything as a ZIP for batch outputs.

FAQ

What's the advantage of HEIC to JXL?

JPEG XL lossless compression is more efficient than HEIC, producing smaller files at the same quality. Ideal for archiving.

Can browsers display the output?

Safari supports JXL, but Chrome and Firefox don't. For web display, convert to AVIF or WebP instead.

Is this good for archiving iPhone photos?

Yes. For long-term storage of large iPhone photo collections, JXL lossless compression maximizes storage savings.

Will converting reduce image quality?

It depends on the output format. PNG is lossless, so quality stays the same. Lossy formats like JPEG/WebP/AVIF/JXL can change file size and appearance depending on the quality setting. Always verify with the final output before publishing.

Can I keep Exif metadata?

When "Keep Exif/Metadata" is ON, we try to carry over things like capture time, camera info, and GPS where possible. Some tags may be dropped depending on the input, output format, and browser environment. Turn it OFF if you want to remove location data before sharing.

Can I convert multiple files at once?

Yes. You can select multiple files, convert them in one run, and download each file individually. For multiple outputs, you can also download everything as a ZIP. For very large batches, splitting into smaller runs is more stable.

Are my images uploaded to a server?

No. Conversion runs locally in your browser, and your images are not sent to an external server.

What if conversion fails or is slow?

Some formats (like HEIC/HEIF) depend on browser support. If it fails, try another browser, reduce the number of files, or resize before converting.

References