{"id":"mac-storage-basics.do-heic-and-hevc-save-space","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/do-heic-and-hevc-save-space","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"photos-music-video","title":"Photos, music and video"},"question":"Do HEIC photos and HEVC videos save space compared with JPEG and H.264?","alt_questions":["heic vs jpeg file size","hevc saves storage","high efficiency format mac","should I convert heic to jpeg","is heic smaller"],"short_answer":"Generally yes — HEIC and HEVC usually give similar quality in smaller files than JPEG and H.264. Converting HEIC to JPEG typically makes files bigger.","answer_markdown":"Generally yes. HEIC and HEVC are the high-efficiency formats Apple devices use by default; they typically store a photo or video at similar quality in a noticeably smaller file than JPEG or H.264.\n\nConverting your existing HEIC photos to JPEG will usually make them *bigger*, so only do it when an app or person needs JPEG. Most current software on Mac and Windows opens HEIC and HEVC.","answer_html":"

Generally yes. HEIC and HEVC are the high-efficiency formats Apple devices use by default; they typically store a photo or video at similar quality in a noticeably smaller file than JPEG or H.264.

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Converting your existing HEIC photos to JPEG will usually make them bigger, so only do it when an app or person needs JPEG. Most current software on Mac and Windows opens HEIC and HEVC.

","answer_text":"Generally yes. HEIC and HEVC are the high-efficiency formats Apple devices use by default; they typically store a photo or video at similar quality in a noticeably smaller file than JPEG or H.264.\n\nConverting your existing HEIC photos to JPEG will usually make them bigger, so only do it when an app or person needs JPEG. Most current software on Mac and Windows opens HEIC and HEVC.","tags":["heic","hevc","photos","video"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.where-is-the-photos-library-stored-on-a-mac","question":"Where is my Photos library stored on my Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-is-the-photos-library-stored-on-a-mac"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Do HEIC photos and HEVC videos save space compared with JPEG and H.264? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Generally yes — HEIC and HEVC usually give similar quality in smaller files than JPEG and H.264. Converting HEIC to JPEG typically makes files bigger.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"Do HEIC photos and HEVC videos save space compared with JPEG and H.264?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/do-heic-and-hevc-save-space"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/do-heic-and-hevc-save-space","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do HEIC photos and HEVC videos save space compared with JPEG and H.264?","alternateName":["heic vs jpeg file size","hevc saves storage","high efficiency format mac","should I convert heic to jpeg","is heic smaller"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Generally yes. HEIC and HEVC are the high-efficiency formats Apple devices use by default; they typically store a photo or video at similar quality in a noticeably smaller file than JPEG or H.264.\n\nConverting your existing HEIC photos to JPEG will usually make them bigger, so only do it when an app or person needs JPEG. Most current software on Mac and Windows opens HEIC and HEVC.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/do-heic-and-hevc-save-space"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Photos, music and video

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Do HEIC photos and HEVC videos save space compared with JPEG and H.264?

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Short answer: Generally yes — HEIC and HEVC usually give similar quality in smaller files than JPEG and H.264. Converting HEIC to JPEG typically makes files bigger.

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Generally yes. HEIC and HEVC are the high-efficiency formats Apple devices use by default; they typically store a photo or video at similar quality in a noticeably smaller file than JPEG or H.264.

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Converting your existing HEIC photos to JPEG will usually make them bigger, so only do it when an app or person needs JPEG. Most current software on Mac and Windows opens HEIC and HEVC.

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