How to Convert HEIC to PNG: Step-by-Step Tutorial

By Bill Crawford  ·  March 2026  ·  6 min read  ·  Last updated March 5, 2026

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What This Tutorial Covers

This tutorial walks you through converting HEIC and HEIF photos to lossless PNG format using the browser-based tool on this site. No software installation required. You will learn how to add files, understand the per-file status system, use batch ZIP download, and verify your output quality.

For background on why you might want PNG and when to use it, see the companion HEIC to PNG Complete Guide.

What You Need

• One or more .heic or .heif files (typically from an iPhone or iPad)
• A modern browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari (2023 or later)
• No account, no software, no subscription

Step 1: Open the Converter

Navigate to dataconversioncenter.com/image-tools/heic-to-png/. The page loads all required libraries (heic2any, JSZip) from CDN — no install needed. The PNG encoder uses the browser's native canvas API, which runs entirely in your browser with no server communication.

Step 2: Add Your HEIC Files

You have two ways to add files:

• Drag and drop: Open your file manager and drag one or more .heic files directly onto the drop zone labeled "Drop HEIC/HEIF files here". The zone highlights in blue when you hover over it.
• Browse: Click anywhere on the drop zone (or the "Browse Files" link) to open your file picker. Select multiple files using Ctrl+click (Windows) or Cmd+click (Mac).

As soon as files are added, the tool generates thumbnail previews for each one. You will see an Input Files grid with a card per file showing the filename, file size, and a Ready status badge.

Note: Files with an extension other than .heic or .heif are automatically rejected with an inline error message. They are not added to the conversion queue.

Step 3: Choose Download Mode

Before converting, decide how you want to download your PNG files:

• Individual downloads (default): Leave "Download as ZIP" unchecked. After conversion, each output card has its own Download button, and a "Download All PNGs" button appears for sequential bulk download.
• ZIP archive: Check "Download as ZIP". After conversion, a single "Download ZIP" button downloads all PNGs in one file named dataconversioncenter_heic_to_png_YYYYMMDDHHMM.zip using your local date and time.

For batches of more than 5 files, the ZIP option is strongly recommended to avoid multiple browser download dialogs.

Step 4: Click "Convert to PNG"

Click the blue Convert to PNG button. The button label changes to "Converting…" and is disabled while conversion runs.

For each file in sequence:

1. The status badge on the input card changes from Ready to Converting…
2. heic2any decodes the HEIC to raw pixel data in memory.
3. The pixel data is drawn to an HTML Canvas element at full original resolution.
4. The canvas is encoded to a lossless PNG blob using the browser's native canvas.toBlob('image/png') API.
5. The status changes to Converted and an output card appears.

The progress bar tracks overall progress — "Converted X of N". Files are processed two at a time for throughput efficiency.

Step 5: Review the Results

After conversion completes, a summary banner appears: "✓ All N files converted successfully" or "Completed: X succeeded, Y failed."

An Output Files grid displays cards for each successfully converted PNG, showing:

• A thumbnail preview (JPEG preview of the converted image for display efficiency)
• The output filename — same base name as the input with .png extension (e.g. photo.heic → photo.png)
• Output file size (typically 10–25 MB for a 12 MP photo — larger than HEIC because PNG is lossless)
• A per-file Download PNG button

Any files that failed to convert show a red Error badge. Common causes: the file was not a genuine HEIC (e.g. a renamed JPG), or the browser ran out of memory on a very large file. The tool continues processing remaining files when one fails.

Step 6: Download Your PNGs

Individual download

Click the ⬇ Download PNG button on any output card to save that file. The filename matches the input with a .png extension.

Download All (no ZIP)

With "Download as ZIP" unchecked, click Download All PNGs. The tool triggers sequential browser downloads with a 120 ms delay between each to prevent browser throttling.

Download ZIP

With "Download as ZIP" checked, click Download ZIP. JSZip assembles all PNG blobs in memory and downloads a single file named, for example, dataconversioncenter_heic_to_png_202603051709.zip.

Step 7: The Tool Resets Automatically

After a ZIP download or "Download All" completes, the tool automatically resets to its initial empty state. All thumbnails, cards, and file references are cleared. The checkbox resets to unchecked. This prevents accidental re-downloads and keeps browser memory clean between sessions. Click Start Over to reset manually at any point.

Bonus: Verifying Output Quality

Since PNG is lossless, the converted file should look identical to the original HEIC when viewed at 100% zoom. To verify:

1. Open the original HEIC in a viewer that supports it (macOS Preview, iPhone Photos).
2. Open the converted PNG in any viewer (Windows Photos, macOS Preview, web browser).
3. Compare at 100% zoom — they should look identical. Any visible difference indicates the original HEIC's existing lossy compression, not a problem with the PNG conversion.

You can also check the output file size. A 12 MP iPhone HEIC (roughly 4032×3024 pixels) typically produces a PNG in the 15–25 MB range. Much smaller than that may indicate a problem with the decode; much larger may indicate an unusually high-detail or low-compression source.

Troubleshooting

• File shows Error status: Verify the file is a genuine HEIC captured on an Apple device. Renamed files (e.g. a JPG with a .heic extension) will fail to decode.
• Thumbnails not generating: Some very large HEIC files (48 MP from iPhone 15 Pro) may take 5–10 seconds to decode the preview. The tool will proceed when ready.
• Safari issues: Safari's HEIC support in JavaScript depends on OS version. macOS 12+ and iOS 16+ typically work. On older Safari, use Chrome or Edge instead.
• PNG file opens with wrong colors: This is rare and usually caused by an embedded color profile conflict. Open in a different viewer or use a PNG color profile tool to normalize.
• ZIP not downloading: Some browsers require a direct user interaction to trigger downloads. Ensure you clicked the Download ZIP button directly.

Next Steps After Conversion

• Edit in design software: Open the PNG in Photoshop, GIMP, Figma, or Affinity Photo for editing. PNG is the best source format for non-destructive editing workflows.
• Share cross-platform: Send the PNG to Windows or Android users who cannot open HEIC files.
• Compress for web: Use Image Compressor to reduce the PNG file size before publishing to the web.
• Convert to WebP for web use: If you need the image on a website, use Image to WebP for smaller files than PNG with better quality than JPG.
• Resize for social media: Use Image Resizer to scale the PNG to specific social media or app store dimensions.

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