Why convert HEIC to PNG?
PNG uses lossless compression, making it the right output format whenever you need pixel-perfect quality with no generation loss. Designers and photographers use HEIC → PNG when they want to open iPhone photos in tools like Figma, GIMP, or older versions of Photoshop that do not support HEIF natively, without any risk of additional compression artefacts.
PNG is also the format of choice for screenshots, product images, and graphics that will be edited or composited further. If you shoot iPhone photos of documents, product prototypes, or UI mockups for use in design workflows, PNG preserves every pixel exactly as captured — no lossy re-compression that could blur fine text or moiré patterns.
The trade-off is file size: PNG files are considerably larger than JPG or the source HEIC. For a 12 MP iPhone shot, a PNG at full resolution can be 8-20 MB versus 3-5 MB for a quality-85 JPG. If you need the smallest possible sharing file, choose JPG. If quality is non-negotiable, PNG is the right call.
File Converter Pro converts HEIC to PNG entirely offline on Windows 10 and 11 — no Apple software needed, no upload, no per-file limit. The batch queue handles a full Camera Roll folder in one pass, with each output file named identically to its source HEIC.
How to convert HEIC to PNG on Windows
- Install File Converter Pro. Get File Converter Pro from the Microsoft Store. The free trial supports full-resolution HEIC to PNG conversion before the €6.49 one-time purchase.
- Add HEIC photos to the queue. Drag individual HEIC files, a multi-selection, or an entire folder into the app. HEIC files from any iPhone or iPad model are supported.
- Select PNG as the output format. Choose PNG in the output panel. PNG has no lossy quality slider — lossless compression is automatic. You can choose PNG-8 (256 colours, smaller) or PNG-24 (full colour depth, default for photos).
- Convert locally. Click Convert. Files are processed on your Windows PC with no upload. Output PNGs are saved to your chosen folder. A 12 MP HEIC converts to PNG in roughly one second on a modern CPU.
Batch conversion for big folders
For design workflows that ingest batches of iPhone photos — product shoots, site visits, research documentation — PNG output means every image is ready for direct import into Figma, Adobe XD, or Photoshop without an intermediate conversion step in the design tool itself.
- Process a full shoot (200+ HEIC photos) in a single batch run.
- Preserve the source folder structure on output, keeping project files organised.
- Strip or retain EXIF metadata in bulk — useful when sharing prototype photos externally.
- Mix HEIC and other input formats in the same queue run if needed.
Quality settings that actually matter
PNG is inherently lossless — there is no quality setting that degrades pixel data. What you can tune is compression level, which affects file size and encode speed but not visual quality at all.
- Compression 0: fastest encode, largest file size. Good for intermediate files in a pipeline where disk space is not a concern.
- Compression 6 (default): balanced speed and size. Recommended for most workflows.
- Compression 9: smallest file, slowest encode. Useful when the output PNGs will be served on a website or sent over slow connections.
- Colour depth: PNG-24 (true colour, 16M colours) is the default for photos. PNG-8 reduces to 256 colours — suitable only for simple graphics, not photographs.
Common issues and fixes
- Output PNG files are very large. That is expected — PNG is lossless. A 12 MP photo PNG is typically 10-20 MB. If file size matters, use JPG output at quality 85-90 instead.
- Wide-gamut colours look oversaturated. iPhone P3 wide-gamut images need a colour-space conversion to sRGB for correct rendering in non-colour-managed apps. Enable the sRGB conversion option in File Converter Pro.
- Alpha channel missing. HEIC photos do not carry transparency. The PNG output will have a white or black background depending on settings — this is expected behaviour for photographic HEIC sources.
- Conversion speed is slower than JPG. PNG lossless compression is CPU-intensive. Use compression level 0 if you need the fastest possible batch run.
Related conversions
FAQ
Is HEIC to PNG conversion really lossless?
Yes, the PNG output is lossless — no pixel data is discarded during PNG compression. However, HEIC itself is a lossy format (like JPEG), so the PNG preserves the HEIC image exactly, including any compression already applied by the camera.
Why are my PNG files so much larger than the source HEIC?
HEIC uses very efficient lossy compression, while PNG uses lossless compression. A 3 MB HEIC photo may expand to 15 MB as PNG. This is normal and expected. Use JPG output if smaller files are more important than losslessness.
Can I batch-convert an entire iPhone Camera Roll to PNG?
Yes. Connect your iPhone to Windows, open File Converter Pro, and drag the DCIM folder into the queue. The app processes all HEIC files in subfolders automatically.
Do I need Apple iCloud or iTunes to convert HEIC to PNG on Windows?
No. File Converter Pro has its own built-in HEIF decoder. It works on a completely clean Windows 10 or 11 installation without any Apple software.
Ready to convert your HEIC files?
Download File Converter Pro from the Microsoft Store and convert your HEIC photos to lossless PNG offline — full quality, no upload, no watermark, no per-file size cap.