Convert HEIC to PNG on Mac
When you need the highest possible quality from your iPhone photos, or when your workflow requires transparency support, converting HEIC to PNG is the right choice. PNG uses lossless compression, so no image data is discarded during conversion. Jollycat decodes your HEIC files using Apple Silicon's hardware HEVC decoder and saves them as pixel-perfect PNGs on your Mac.
HEIC vs PNG
| Property | HEIC | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Type | lossy | lossless |
| Compression | HEVC-based lossy | DEFLATE lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Animation | No | No |
| Bit Depth | 8/10-bit | 8/16-bit |
| File Extension | .heic | .png |
| Key Advantage | 50% smaller than JPEG | Lossless quality preservation |
How to Convert HEIC to PNG on Mac
Import your HEIC files
Drag .heic photos from Finder or an AirDrop transfer into Jollycat. You can import hundreds of files at once for batch processing.
Select PNG as output
Choose PNG format from the output options. Since PNG is lossless, there is no quality slider — you get an exact pixel-for-pixel conversion of the decoded HEIC image.
Convert and save
Click Convert. Jollycat uses Apple Silicon hardware decoding for the HEIC source and writes lossless PNGs. Files are saved to your chosen folder with the original filenames preserved.
When to Convert HEIC to PNG
Photo editing without quality loss
If you plan to edit your iPhone photos in Photoshop, Affinity Photo, or GIMP, converting to PNG first ensures you start with lossless quality. Every edit from that point forward preserves full detail.
Design and overlay work
PNG supports full alpha transparency, making it essential for design work where photos need to be layered, composited, or placed over backgrounds in graphic design applications.
Archiving at maximum quality
For important photos you want to preserve at the highest quality outside of Apple's ecosystem, PNG gives you a lossless, universally supported format that any software can open decades from now.
HEIC to PNG Conversion Tips
PNG files will be significantly larger than the original HEIC files — often 5-10x larger — because PNG uses lossless compression while HEIC uses lossy HEVC compression. Make sure you have enough storage space for batch conversions.
HEIC supports 10-bit color depth (common in iPhone photos shot in HDR). Jollycat preserves this extended color information in the PNG output when possible, giving you more editing headroom.
If you don't need lossless quality or transparency, consider converting to JPG instead. JPG files are much smaller than PNG while still looking excellent for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HEIC to PNG conversion lossless?
The conversion itself is lossless — Jollycat decodes the HEIC image fully and writes every pixel to PNG without further compression loss. However, HEIC is already a lossy format (it uses HEVC compression), so the original camera data was compressed when the photo was first saved. The PNG preserves the decoded HEIC quality perfectly.
Why are my PNG files so much larger than HEIC?
HEIC uses HEVC (H.265) lossy compression, which is extremely efficient. PNG uses lossless compression, which preserves every pixel but cannot achieve the same file size. A 2 MB HEIC photo might become a 15-20 MB PNG. This is normal and expected.
Should I convert HEIC to PNG or JPG?
Choose PNG if you need lossless quality for editing, transparency support, or archival purposes. Choose JPG if you want smaller files for sharing, web use, or emailing. For most everyday sharing, JPG is the better choice. For editing workflows, PNG preserves more quality.
Ready to Convert HEIC to PNG?
Jollycat handles HEIC to PNG conversion and 1,650+ other format conversions. All offline on your Mac.
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