If an iPhone user sent you photos and they arrived as .heic files that Android can't open, you're experiencing a very common cross-platform frustration. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11, and while it's excellent for storage, it's not universally supported. Android added native HEIC support in Android 13, but many apps on older Android versions still can't open these files. The easiest fix: convert HEIC to JPG in your browser.

Why Android Often Can't Open HEIC Files

Android 12 and older — No native HEIC support. Files appear as unrecognized or show as broken icons in the gallery.
Android 13+ — Android added HEIC decode support, but not all apps have been updated to use the new API. Google Photos supports HEIC, but many third-party apps don't.
Messaging apps — WhatsApp, Telegram, and most messaging apps convert to JPEG on send when the sender is on iPhone. But some file transfers (email attachments, Google Drive, AirDrop to a shared folder) deliver the raw HEIC file.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Android

The simplest method works on any Android device with a browser:

Open Chrome (or any browser) on your Android device and go to Picovert's HEIC to JPG converter.
Tap the upload area and select your HEIC file from your downloads or files app.
The converter processes the file in your browser — no upload to any server.
Tap download. The JPG saves to your Downloads folder and opens in any gallery app.

This works on Chrome, Samsung Internet, Firefox, and any modern Android browser.

Converting HEIC Files Received via Email

If you received HEIC photos as email attachments:

Long-press the attachment in Gmail or your email app.
Choose "Save to Files" or "Download."
Open the HEIC to JPG converter in Chrome.
Select the downloaded HEIC file and convert.

Converting HEIC Files from Google Drive

When someone shares HEIC photos via Google Drive:

Open the file in Google Drive. Google Drive previews HEIC on mobile.
Tap the three-dot menu → "Download."
Convert the downloaded HEIC file using the browser converter.

Batch Converting Multiple HEIC Files on Android

If you have many HEIC photos to convert (e.g., from a shared album or email thread):

Download all HEIC files to your device.
Open the converter in Chrome.
Tap the upload area and select multiple files using the multi-select option in your file picker.
Convert all files and download each JPG.

Does Android 13+ Support HEIC Natively?

Android 13 added HEIC decode support through the ImageDecoder API. If you're on Android 13 or later, Google Photos, the default Gallery app, and some third-party apps can open HEIC files directly. However:

Many third-party apps (image editors, document scanners, social media apps) still don't support HEIC even on Android 13+.
If you need to share, edit in an older app, or upload to a platform that expects JPG, you still need to convert.

Ask the iPhone Sender to Send in JPEG

If you frequently receive HEIC photos from an iPhone user, they can change their iPhone to send in JPEG by default:

Camera format: iPhone Settings → Camera → Formats → select "Most Compatible." This makes the camera save as JPEG directly.
Transfer format: iPhone Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → select "Automatic." This converts HEIC to JPG automatically when sharing outside the Apple ecosystem.

The "Transfer to Mac or PC" setting only affects transfers via USB cable — not email or messaging. For email/messaging, the camera format setting is what matters.

Opening HEIC Files Without Converting

If you just need to view the HEIC photo (not edit or share it), some Android apps can display HEIC:

Google Photos — Supports HEIC viewing on Android 13+. Limited editing.
VLC for Android — Can display HEIC images.
HEIC File Viewer apps — Several free Android apps in the Play Store display HEIC but require the file to stay in HEIC format.

For any use beyond viewing — editing, sharing, uploading to apps — converting to JPG remains the most reliable approach.