Convert HEIC to GIF
Turn HEIC photos from your iPhone or iPad into GIF images. Everything happens in your browser, so your photos never leave your device.
Why convert HEIC to GIF?
iPhones save photos as HEIC to save space, but Windows, most browsers and many websites can't open them. GIF opens everywhere, from browsers to chat apps, and suits simple graphics with few colours.
GIF's 256-colour limit
GIF can only show 256 colours in an image, so a HEIC with photos, gradients or soft shadows will be reduced to a palette and may show banding or a grainy dithered look. Logos, line art and flat graphics with few colours convert cleanly.
Where GIF files work
Every browser, chat app and image viewer supports GIF, animation included.
HEIC and GIF compared
| Property | HEIC | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless, 256 colours |
| Transparency | Supported, rarely used | On/off only |
| Animation | No | Yes |
| Typical file size | Small (about half a JPG) | Small for simple graphics; large for animations |
| Best for | Storing photos on Apple devices | Short animations, simple graphics |
| Support | Apple devices; limited elsewhere | Universal |
Questions
Will converting HEIC to GIF reduce quality?
It can. GIF is limited to 256 colours, so photos and gradients lose colour detail. Simple graphics with few colours look the same.
Can I convert several HEIC files at once?
Yes. Add as many HEIC files as you like and they're converted one after another on your device. There's no file-size or file-count limit beyond your device's memory, and you can download the results together as a zip.
Are my HEIC photos uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs in your browser, on your own device, so your photos are never sent to a server. Once the page and converter have loaded, it keeps working even if your connection drops.