High Efficiency Image File Format#HEIC: HEVC in HEIF

The requirements and main use cases of HEIF were defined in 2013.{{cite web |title=Requirements for still image coding using HEVC |url=http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-still-image-coding-using-hevc |website=chiariglione.org |access-date=2018-08-24 |date=2013-07-29 |archive-date=2021-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517080655/https://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-still-image-coding-using-hevc |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Requirements for HEVC image sequences |url=http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-hevc-image-sequences |website=mpeg.chiariglione.org |access-date=2018-08-24 |date=2013-07-29 |archive-date=2021-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517080156/https://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-hevc-image-sequences |url-status=live }}

The technical development of the specification took about one and a half years and was finalized in the middle of 2015.{{cite web |url=http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/sites/default/files/files/meetings/docs/w15328.docx |title=Evidence motivates MPEG to launch new standardization effort for HDR |website=chiariglione.org |date=2015-06-26 |access-date=2018-08-24 |archive-date=2021-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415074444/https://mpeg.chiariglione.org/sites/default/files/files/meetings/docs/w15328.docx |url-status=live }}

Apple was the first major adopter of the format in 2017 with the introduction of iOS 11 using HEIC variant. While HEIC became the default for iPhones, it remains possible to revert the settings to allow photos to be recorded in the more recognizable JPEG format.{{cite web |title=How to Stop iPhone from Taking Photos in HEIC-HEIF |url=https://heic.imobie.com/how-to/stop-iphone-from-taking-photos-in-heic.htm |website=Heic.Info |access-date=15 April 2024}}

Android devices containing the appropriate hardware encoders received support for HEIC files with the release of Android 10 (2019).{{Cite web |title=HEIF Imaging |url=https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/heif |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Android Open Source Project |language=en}}

On some systems, pictures stored in the HEIC format are converted automatically to the older JPEG format when they are sent outside of the system, although incompatibility has led to problems such as US Advanced Placement test takers failing due to their phones uploading unsupported HEIC images by default,{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21262302/ap-test-fail-iphone-photos-glitch-email-college-board-jpeg-heic |date=2020-05-02 |access-date=2022-08-25 |title=Students are failing AP tests because the College Board can't handle iPhone photos |publisher=The Verge |author= Monica Chin}} leading the College Board to request students change the settings to send only JPEG files.{{cite tweet |user=CollegeBoard |number=1260208235132436480 |title=If you want to submit a photo of a handwritten AP Exam answer from an iPhone or iPad, make sure to change your camera settings so your photos are saved as JPEGs, not HEICs.}}

Although HEIC is gaining in popularity, it is not universally supported; Adobe Photoshop is an example of a popular image editing software that only supports 8-bit HEIC and not 10-bit or 12-bit HEIC.{{Cite web |title=File formats in Adobe Photoshop |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/file-formats.html}}

Camera hardware (including mobile devices) are increasingly supporting outputting HEIC files and with color depth often higher than 8-bit color.{{Cite web |title=A bit confused: what's a HEIF and why do we need 10-bit stills and video? |url=https://www.dpreview.com/learn/6184595294/10-bit-stills-a-look-at-raw-log-and-the-future-of-photography |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=DPReview}}

HEIF files can store the following types of data:{{cite web |url=http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/doc_end_user/current_document.php?id=10265 |title=Overview of the High Efficiency Image File Format |website=JCT-VC |publisher=document JCTVC-V0072 |date=October 2015 |author1=M. M. Hannuksela |author2=E. B. Aksu |author3=V. K. Malamal Vadakital |author4=J. Lainema |access-date=2015-11-25 |archive-date=2021-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124172021/http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/doc_end_user/current_document.php?id=10265 |url-status=live }}

; Image items: Storage of individual images, image properties and thumbnails.

; Image derivations: Derived images enable non-destructive image editing, and are created on the fly by the rendering software using editing instructions stored separately in the HEIF file. These instructions (rectangular cropping, rotation by one, two or three quarter-turns, timed graphic overlays, etc.) and images are stored separately in the HEIF file, and describe specific transformations to be applied to the input images. The storage overhead of derived images is small.

; Image sequences:Storage of multiple time-related and/or temporally predicted images (like a burst-photo shot or cinemagraph animation), their properties and thumbnails. Different prediction options can be used in order to exploit the temporal and spatial similarities between the images. Hence, file sizes can be drastically reduced when many images are stored in the same HEIF file.

; Auxiliary image items: Storage of image data, such as an alpha plane or a depth map, which complements another image item. These data are not displayed as such, but used in various forms to complement another image item.

; Image metadata: Storage of EXIF, XMP and similar metadata which accompany the images stored in the HEIF file.

HEIF container specification describes various encodings that can be stored inside:

• JFIF (JPEG)
• AV1
• HEVC

These leads to confusion, as users cannot tell what kind of encoding has been used. Simply saying that “HEIF is better than JPEG” as promotional material doesn't mean anything to the user.

Inside the HEIF container, JFIF (JPEG) can be stored. It can also contain AV1 encoding. The user would also need to know the encoding parameters in which the encoding happened (e.g., color quality "q", if delta in chroma planes were used, if some advanced tuning for ssim/psnr was used, or what quantization mode was applied).

If a user creates a ".HEIF" photo with their phone, the user or the receiver of the photo cannot determine which image format inside the file was used. It could be:

• a JFIF (JPEG);
• a poor quality (default settings) AV1; or
• a very high quality AV1 encoding (which takes a lot of processing power and takes a few minutes to encode); or
• an HEVC with poor quality parameters; or
• an HEVC with high quality parameters.

Hence, simply stating in promotional materials that “HEIF is better” doesn't mean anything at all, as HEIF is just a container specification. What is contained inside the container must be described.

It's impossible to easily determine exactly what you receive in HEIF container. At best, users can use graphics magic to determine if it's impossible by visual inspection (gradients transitions are broken in 8-bit photos) to tell if the photo is 12-bit or 10-bit per channel, or 8-bit.

{{anchor|MIAF}}{{anchor|MPEG-A}}

The Multi-Image Application Format (MIAF) is a restricted subset of HEIF specified as part of MPEG-A.

It defines a set of additional constraints to simplify format options, specific alpha plane formats, profiles and levels as well as metadata formats and brands, and rules for how to extend the format.{{citation |title= ISO/IEC 23000-22. Multimedia application format (MPEG-A) — Part 22: Multi-image application format (MIAF) |publisher= ISO/IEC MPEG |url= https://www.iso.org/standard/74417.html |access-date= 2020-04-29 |archive-date= 2020-04-26 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200426173836/https://www.iso.org/standard/74417.html |url-status= live }}

{{anchor|HEIC}}{{anchor|HEVC}}

High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC, ITU-T H.265){{cite web|url=https://tidbits.com/2020/06/26/what-the-heic-apples-highly-compressed-image-format-still-confuses/|title=What the HEIC? Apple's Highly Compressed Image Format Still Confuses|publisher=TidBITS|first=Glenn|last=Fleishman|date=26 June 2020|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628103743/https://tidbits.com/2020/06/26/what-the-heic-apples-highly-compressed-image-format-still-confuses/|url-status=live}} is an encoding format for graphic data, first standardized in 2013.

It is the primarily used and implied default codec for HEIF as specified in the normative Annex B to ISO/IEC 23008-12 HEVC Image File Format.

While not introduced formally in the standard, the acronym HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Codec) is used as a brand and in the MIME subtypes image/heic and image/heic-sequence. If the content conforms to certain HEVC profiles, more specific brands can be used: HEIX for Main 10 of HEVC, HEIM for (Multiview) Main profile, and HEIS for (Scalable) Main (10) profile of L-HEVC.

A HEIC photo takes up about half the space of an equivalent quality JPEG file.{{cite news |title=On HEVC still picture coding performance |first1=Jani |last1=Lainema |first2=Kemal |last2=Ugur |publisher=JCT-VC |url=http://phenix.it-sudparis.eu/jct/doc_end_user/current_document.php?id=5721 |date=2012-04-20 |access-date=2013-01-22}} The initial HEIF specification already defined the means of storing HEVC-encoded intra images (i-frames) and HEVC-encoded image sequences in which inter prediction is applied in a constrained manner.

HEVC image players are required to support rectangular cropping and rotation by one, two, and three quarter-turns. The primary use case for the mandatory support for rotation by 90 degrees is for images where the camera orientation is incorrectly detected or inferred. The rotation requirement makes it possible to manually adjust the orientation of a still image or an image sequence without needing to re-encode it. Cropping enables the image to be re-framed without re-encoding. The HEVC file format also includes the option to store pre-derived images.{{cite web |url=https://nokiatech.github.io/heif/technical.html |title=HEIF Technical Information |subject=High Efficiency Image File Format |publisher=Nokia |website=nokiatech.github.io |at=Images in HEIF Files |access-date=2018-02-01 |archive-date=2018-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201152802/http://nokiatech.github.io/heif/technical.html |url-status=live }}

Samples in image sequence tracks must be either intra-coded images or inter-picture predicted images with reference to only intra-coded images. These constraints of inter-picture prediction reduce the decoding latency for accessing any particular image within a HEVC image sequence track.

The .heic and .heics file name extensions are conventionally used for HEVC-coded HEIF files.{{cite web |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/511 |title=Working with HEIF and HEVC - WWDC 2017 - Videos |website=Apple Developer |access-date=2019-01-19 |archive-date=2019-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120194504/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/511 |url-status=live }} Apple products, for instance,{{cite web |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/513 |title=High Efficiency Image File Format |time=0:09:26 |publisher=Apple |date=June 2017 |access-date=2017-11-22 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032622/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/513 |url-status=live }} will only produce files with these extensions, which indicate clearly that the data went through HEVC encoding.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-ios-boosts-heif-photos-over-jpeg-wwdc |title=How Apple is squeezing more photos into your iPhone – FAQ: Apple's newest iPhone software attempts to move the world out of the JPEG era. |publisher=CNET |first=Stephen |last=Shankland |date=June 16, 2017 |access-date=2017-11-21 |archive-date=2017-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116181530/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-ios-boosts-heif-photos-over-jpeg-wwdc/ |url-status=live }}

{{anchor|AVCI}}{{anchor|AVC}}

Advanced Video Coding (AVC, ITU-T H.264) is an older encoding format for video and images, first standardized in 2003.

It is also specified as a codec to be supported in HEIF in normative Annex 5 to ISO/IEC 23008-12.

The registered MIME types are image/avci for still images and image/avcs for sequences. The format is simply known as AVCI.

Apple products support playback of AVC-encoded .avci still image files and .avcs image sequence files but will only generate .heic files.

{{About|AV1 and AVIF|AVI|Audio Video Interleave|section=yes}}

{{Main|AVIF}}

AV1 is a video encoding format that is intended to be royalty-free, developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia). AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) is an image format based on this codec.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/google-mozilla-av1-photo-format-could-outdo-aging-jpeg/ |title=Apple wants to shrink your photos, but a new format from Google and Mozilla could go even farther |date=2018-01-19 |work=CNET |access-date=2018-02-01 |archive-date=2018-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201171037/https://www.cnet.com/news/google-mozilla-av1-photo-format-could-outdo-aging-jpeg/ |url-status=live }}

The registered MIME type is image/avif for both still images and image sequences, and .avif is the file name extension.{{cite web |url=https://aomediacodec.github.io/av1-avif/ |title=AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) |website=AOMediaCodec.GitHub.io |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224122030/https://aomediacodec.github.io/av1-avif/ |url-status=live }}

The original JPEG standard is the most commonly used and widely supported lossy image coding format. It was first released in 1992 by ITU-T and ISO/IEC. Although Annex H to ISO/IEC 23008-12 specifies JPEG (and indirectly Motion JPEG) as a possible format for HEIF coded image data, it is used in HEIF only for thumbnails and other secondary images. Therefore, neither a dedicated MIME subtype nor a special file extension is available for storage of JPEG files in HEIF container files.

Several other compression formats defined by the JPEG group can be stored in HEIF files:

• Part 16 of the JPEG 2000 standard suite (ISO/IEC 15444-16 and ITU-T Rec. T.815) defines how to store JPEG 2000 images in HEIF container files.{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/80620.html |title=ISO/IEC 15444-16:2021 - Information technology — JPEG 2000 image coding system — Part 16: Encapsulation of JPEG 2000 images into ISO/IEC 23008-12 |publisher=ISO |date=2020-01-22 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211428/https://www.iso.org/standard/80620.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=tsbmail |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.815 |title=T.815 : Information technology - JPEG 2000 image coding system - Encapsulation of JPEG 2000 images into ISO/IEC 23008-12 |publisher=Itu.int |date=2021-11-11 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211438/https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.815 |url-status=live }} Part 2 of the JPEG 2000 suite (ISO/IEC 15444-2 and ITU-T Rec. T.801){{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/81547.html |title=ISO/IEC 15444-2:2021 - Information technology — JPEG 2000 image coding system — Part 2: Extensions |publisher=ISO |date=2020-07-29 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211410/https://www.iso.org/standard/81547.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=tsbmail |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.801 |title=T.801 : Information technology-JPEG 2000 image coding system - Extensions |publisher=Itu.int |date=2021-10-29 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211433/https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.801 |url-status=live }} also defines a different format for storing JPEG 2000 images in files that is also based on ISOBMFF.
• Annex F of the JPEG XR image coding standard (ISO/IEC 29199-2 and ITU-T Rec. T.832) defines how to store JPEG XR images in HEIF container files.{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/79414.html |title=ISO/IEC 29199-2:2020 - Information technology — JPEG XR image coding system — Part 2: Image coding specification |publisher=ISO |date=2019-08-29 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211417/https://www.iso.org/standard/79414.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=tsbmail |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.832 |title=T.832 : Information technology - JPEG XR image coding system - Image coding specification |publisher=Itu.int |date= |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116084448/https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.832 |url-status=live }} Annex A of JPEG XR also defines a different file format for storing JPEG XR images in files that is TIFF-based, and Part 2 of the JPEG 2000 suite (ISO/IEC 15444-2 and ITU-T Rec. T.801) also supports a third file format for storing JPEG XR images in files that is based on ISOBMFF.
• JPEG XS has its HEIF container support defined in ISO/IEC 21122-3.{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/74537.html |title=ISO/IEC 21122-3:2019 - Information technology — JPEG XS low-latency lightweight image coding system — Part 3: Transport and container formats |publisher=ISO |date=2017-08-25 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211402/https://www.iso.org/standard/74537.html |url-status=live }}

In 2017, Apple announced that it would adopt HEIC as the default image format in its new operating systems, gradually replacing JPEG.{{cite web |last1=Rus |first1=Cristian |title=Así es HEIF, el nuevo formato de imagen con el que Apple quiere acabar con JPEG |url=https://www.applesfera.com/ios/asi-es-heif-el-nuevo-formato-de-imagen-con-el-que-apple-quiere-acabar-con-jpeg |website=Applesfera |access-date=2020-03-22 |language=es |date=2017-06-26 |archive-date=2020-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321225141/https://www.applesfera.com/ios/asi-es-heif-el-nuevo-formato-de-imagen-con-el-que-apple-quiere-acabar-con-jpeg |url-status=live }}

{{Cleanup section|reason=reliable and independent English sources are hard to find|date=December 2021}}

The proprietary image format WXAM (or wxHEPC) developed by Tencent (used within, e.g., WeChat) is apparently based upon HEVC,{{cite web|url=https://blog.51cto.com/u_13591395/2066880|date=2018-01-30|author=Tencent Technology|title=如何节省1Tb图片带宽？解密极致图像压缩！_腾讯技术工程的技术博客_51Cto博客|trans-title=How do we save 1TB on image bandwidth? Declassifying our extreme image compression! |publisher=51CTO}} as is SharpP, which was developed by their SNG (Social Network Group) division.{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1004404|date=2017-06-30|title=图片流量节省大杀器：基于 CDN 的 sharpP 自适应图片技术实践 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Image bandwidth-saving weapon: Practical CDN-deployed self-adapting sharpP images }}{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1555426|date=2019-12-17|title=秒开率达90%：腾讯看点客户端 Gif 转视频优化方案 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Instant load in 90% of cases: Tencent Kandian GIF-to-video solution }}{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1029772|date=2017-12-27|title=腾讯社交网络图片带宽优化技术演进之路 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Timeline for Tencent's optimization of social network image delivery |quote=SharpP工具从17年3月开始，已采用AVS2作为新的内核；17年5月正式对外推出基于AVS2的图片格式，联合北大、AVS组织一起完善相关规范，并命名为TPG（Tiny Portable Graphics）|trans-quote=Since March 2017, SharpP uses AVS2 as its new core. In May 2017, [we] made the new AVS2-based format public, completing the standard with Peking University and AVS the organization, and named it TPG (Tiny Portable Graphics)}} However, their container format may not be HEIF-compatible. In March 2017, SharpP switched to AVS2{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1871646|date=2018-02-01|trans-title=Avs2-based image container: TPG: current situation and roadmap for improvement (Interview with Tencent's Audio-Video Lab)|title=基于Avs2的图片容器——TPG：现状与改进之路 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云 }} and was renamed TPG (Tiny Portable Graphics).{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1005004|date=2017-05-10|title=超越 Google，腾讯推出自研图片编码格式 TPG - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Ahead of Google: Tencent introduces independent image codec TPG }}

{{See also|AVIF#Support}}

• Nokia provides an open source C++ HEIF decoder, that also has a Java API.
• The open source library "libheif" supports reading and writing HEIF files.{{cite web |url=https://github.com/strukturag/libheif|title=strukturag/libheif |date=May 17, 2021|via=GitHub |access-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-date=June 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602131612/https://github.com/strukturag/libheif |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=strukturag/libheif|url=https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/releases|access-date=2020-06-17|website=GitHub |archive-date=2020-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618003355/https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/releases|url-status=live}} From version 1.8.0, both reading and writing HEIC and AVIF are supported.
• An image codec called CopyTrans HEIC, which is free for personal use and available for Windows versions 7 through 10, supports opening HEIF files in Windows Photo Viewer without the Microsoft codec installed. (The Microsoft HEIC codec is only available for Windows 10, version 1803 and up in the Photos UWP app.){{cite web|url=https://www.copytrans.net/copytransheic/|title=Open HEIC files on Windows|website=CopyTrans.net|access-date=2018-09-27|archive-date=2018-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916121137/https://www.copytrans.net/copytransheic/|url-status=live}}

• Windows 10 version 1803 and later (HEIC), version 1903 and later (AVIF): [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/heif-image-extensions/9pmmsr1cgpwg HEIF Image Extension] is needed to read and write files that use the HEIF format. [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/hevc-video-extensions/9nmzlz57r3t7 HEVC Video Extensions] is needed to play and produce HEVC-encoded video content. A small amount of money is charged for the use of the HEVC codec, whereas support for the generic HEIF format and the AVC and AV1 extensions are free.{{cite news |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/16/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-17123-for-fast/#UpPIwc3yVgJHc5Q8.97 |title=Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17123 for Fast Ring Subscribers |access-date=2018-03-16 |archive-date=2020-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806161103/https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/16/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-17123-for-fast/#UpPIwc3yVgJHc5Q8.97 |url-status=live }}{{citation needed|reason=This material is by Microsoft itself and doesn't address the possibility to plug Open-Source encoders/decoders into the system|date=October 2024}}
• Windows 11: since 22H2, Windows 11 has HEIF Image Extension built-in by default.{{cite web|url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/all/heic-format-support-changes-in-2023-11-cumulative|title=HEIC format support changes in 2023-11 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5032190)|date=2023-11-19}}
• macOS High Sierra and later (HEIC only){{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-answers-iphone-storage-woes-with-smaller-photos-videos/ |title=Apple answers iPhone storage woes with smaller photos, videos |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2017-06-05 |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=2017-09-30 |archive-date=2021-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122041854/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-answers-iphone-storage-woes-with-smaller-photos-videos/ |url-status=live }} Since macOS Mojave, Apple uses HEIF in creating the Dynamic Desktop feature.{{cite web |url=https://itnext.io/macos-mojave-dynamic-wallpaper-fd26b0698223 |title=macOS Mojave dynamic wallpaper |publisher=ITNEXT |first=Marcin |last=Czachurski |date=2018-06-29 |access-date=2018-09-18 |archive-date=2019-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303005413/https://itnext.io/macos-mojave-dynamic-wallpaper-fd26b0698223 |url-status=live }}
• iOS 11 and later (HEIC only){{cite web |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/3226490/ios/ios-11-hevc-heif-and-what-you-need-to-know-about-these-new-video-and-photo-formats.html |title=iOS 11: HEVC, HEIF, and what you need to know about these new video and photo formats |last=Snell |first=Jason |date=2017-09-20 |work=Macworld |access-date=2017-09-30 |archive-date=2018-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116061419/https://www.macworld.com/article/3226490/ios/ios-11-hevc-heif-and-what-you-need-to-know-about-these-new-video-and-photo-formats.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/heif-and-hevc-ios-11-macos-high-sierra/ |title=Here's what HEIF and HEVC are, and why they'll improve your iPhone with iOS 11 |last=Shu |first=Les |date=September 19, 2017 |website=Digital Trends |access-date=2017-09-30 |archive-date=2021-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122002905/https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/heif-and-hevc-ios-11-macos-high-sierra/ |url-status=live }} iOS 16 and later AVIF{{cite web | url=https://webkit.org/blog/13152/webkit-features-in-safari-16-0/ | title=WebKit Features in Safari 16.0 | date=12 September 2022 }}
• Apple supports playback of .heif for still image files and .heifs for image sequence files created on other devices that are encoded using any codec, provided that codec is supported by the operating system.{{cite web |date=2017-06-06 |title=Introducing HEIF and HEVC |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/503 |access-date=2017-11-22 |publisher=Apple |time=0:13:47 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040858/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/503 |url-status=live }}
• Android 8 (Oreo) and later (HEIF), Android 10 and later (HEIC), Android 12 and later (AVIF).{{cite web|url=https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/media/media-formats|title=Supported media formats|access-date=2021-08-19|archive-date=2016-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220161956/https://developer.android.com/guide/appendix/media-formats.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=HEIF Imaging |url=https://source.android.com/devices/camera/heif |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Android Open Source Project }}{{cite news |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2018/03/previewing-android-p.html |title=Previewing Android P |work=Android Developers Blog |access-date=2018-03-07 |archive-date=2021-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518102003/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2018/03/previewing-android-p.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2019/03/introducing-android-q-beta.html|title=Introducing Android Q Beta|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-date=2019-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507090246/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2019/03/introducing-android-q-beta.html|url-status=live}} Android 13 and higher support 10-bit camera output.{{Cite web |title=10-Bit Camera Output |url=https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/10-bit-camera-output |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Android Open Source Project |language=en}}
• Ubuntu 20.04 and later (HEIC){{cite web|title=software recommendation - Any app on Ubuntu to open and/or convert HEIF pictures (.HEIC, High Efficiency Image File Format)?|url=https://askubuntu.com/questions/958355/any-app-on-ubuntu-to-open-and-or-convert-heif-pictures-heic-high-efficiency-i|access-date=2020-10-09|website=Ask Ubuntu|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111221257/https://askubuntu.com/questions/958355/any-app-on-ubuntu-to-open-and-or-convert-heif-pictures-heic-high-efficiency-i|url-status=live}}
• Debian 10.13 ("buster") or later{{cite web|url=https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/libheif|title=Libheif - Debian Package Tracker }}

{{As of|2024|August}}, only Safari supports HEIC format natively.{{cite web|title=Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc|url=https://caniuse.com/heif|access-date=2024-08-27|website=caniuse.com}}

For AVIF, Chrome, Firefox and Opera for desktop and Android support it. Safari on iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 supports AVIF format.{{Cite web|title=AVIF image format {{!}} Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc|url=https://caniuse.com/avif|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126001819/https://caniuse.com/avif|archive-date=2022-01-26|access-date=2022-02-07|website=caniuse.com}}

• Adobe Lightroom{{cite web |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/kb/heic-files-support.html |title=HEIC and HEVC media files support in Lightroom and Camera Raw |website=helpx.adobe.com |access-date=2019-07-29 |archive-date=2021-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122040947/https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/kb/heic-files-support.html |url-status=live }} (macOS 10.13+, iOS 11+, Windows 10+, and Android 9+)
• Adobe Photoshop
• (Note that Photoshop for Windows requires the installation of both the HEIF and HEVC CODECs available from Microsoft.){{cite web|title=File formats in Adobe Photoshop|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/file-formats.html#HEIFHEIC|access-date=2020-12-14|website=helpx.adobe.com|archive-date=2020-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208062335/https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/file-formats.html#HEIFHEIC|url-status=live}}
• Photoshop reads HEIC files, but as of 2022 does not allow saving to that format.
• Affinity Photo
• GIMP supports reading and exporting to HEIF since version 2.10.2, released in May 2018.{{cite web |last=Pagès |first=Jehan |title=GIMP 2.10.2 Released |url=https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |website=gimp.org |access-date=2019-11-22 |date=2018-05-20 |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012529/https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |title=GIMP 2.10.2 Released |work=GIMP News |date=2018-05-20 |access-date=2018-05-22 |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012529/https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |url-status=live }}
• Darktable
• Digikam (supports 10-bit HEIC)
• GraphicConverter
• ImageMagick
• Krita{{Cite news |title=Krita 4.1 Release Notes |url=https://krita.org/en/krita-4-1-release-notes |url-status=live |access-date=2018-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214332/https://krita.org/en/krita-4-1-release-notes/ |archive-date=2018-11-19}}
• Paint.net{{Cite news |url=https://blog.getpaint.net/2019/07/13/paint-net-4-2-is-now-available/ |title=paint.net 4.2 is now available! |date=2019-07-13 |access-date=2019-07-13 |archive-date=2019-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714000839/https://blog.getpaint.net/2019/07/13/paint-net-4-2-is-now-available/ |url-status=live }}
• PaintShop Pro
• Pixelmator{{cite web |last=Friday |first=William Gallagher |date=2018-11-16 |title=How to work with, edit, and share HEIC images without data loss |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120093502/https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss |archive-date=2019-01-20 |access-date=2019-01-19 |website=Apple Insider }}
• Zoner Photo Studio X{{Cite news |url=https://www.dpreview.com/news/2259298719/zoner-photo-studio-x-brings-support-for-the-heif-image-format-to-windows |title=Zoner Photo Studio X brings support for the HEIF image format to Windows |work=DPReview |access-date=2018-03-20 |archive-date=2021-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123080840/https://www.dpreview.com/news/2259298719/zoner-photo-studio-x-brings-support-for-the-heif-image-format-to-windows |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.diyphotography.net/heif-support-comes-windows-zoner-photo-studio/ |title=HEIF support comes to Windows with Zoner Photo Studio |date=2017-11-28 |work=DIY Photography |access-date=2018-03-20 |archive-date=2021-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024929/https://www.diyphotography.net/heif-support-comes-windows-zoner-photo-studio/ |url-status=live }}
• ACDSee (read-only)
• XnView{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=GOUGELET |title=Supported graphic and image formats {{!}} XnView.com |url=https://www.xnview.com/en/image_formats/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=XnView Software |language=en}}

• [https://github.com/strukturag/libheif libheif] – ISO/IEC 23008-12:2017 HEIF and AVIF decoder and encoder.
• [https://sail.software SAIL] – format-agnostic library with support of HEIC implemented on top of libavif.
• FFmpeg
• [https://github.com/Xelitan/AVIF-and-HEIC-for-Delphi-Lazarus AVIF and HEIC unit] - Delphi/Lazarus wrapper for libavif

• The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R6 and Canon EOS R8 cameras use the HEIF format to capture images in an HDR display format that use the PQ tone curve, BT.2100 color primaries and 10-bit.https://media.the-digital-picture.com/Information/Canon-EOS-1D-X-Mark-III-Still-Image-White-Paper.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121225222/https://media.the-digital-picture.com/Information/Canon-EOS-1D-X-Mark-III-Still-Image-White-Paper.pdf |date=2021-01-21 }} page 45{{cite web |url=https://github.com/lclevy/canon_cr3/blob/master/heif.md |title=Inside Canon HEIF |website=github.com |date=2020-03-16 |access-date=2020-03-16 |archive-date=2020-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101011728/https://github.com/lclevy/canon_cr3/blob/master/heif.md |url-status=live }} "We've moved on to HEIF files," Canon said in 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/canon-abandoning-jpg-weve-moved-on-to-heif-files |title=Canon graduates from JPG: 'We've moved on to HEIF files…' |work=Digital Camera World |date=October 29, 2019 |first=James |last=Artaius |access-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925114136/https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/canon-abandoning-jpg-weve-moved-on-to-heif-files |url-status=live }}
• The Sony α1{{cite web|url=https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/interchangeable-lens-cameras/full-frame/p/ilce1-b|title=Sony Alpha 1 Full-frame Interchangeable Lens Mirrorless Camera | ILCE1/B | Sony US |website=Electronics.Sony.com| access-date=2021-05-18|archive-date=2021-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518042416/https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/interchangeable-lens-cameras/full-frame/p/ilce1-b|url-status=live}} and Sony α7 IV{{cite web|url=https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7m4/specifications|title=ILCE-7M4 Specifications|website=electronics.sony.com|access-date=2021-12-07|archive-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207105947/https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7m4/specifications|url-status=live}} offer capturing images in 10-bit HEIF format with an HDR format that uses HLG.
• The Fujifilm X-H2S,{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-h2s/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X-H2S Specifications|access-date=2023-02-18}} Fujifilm X-H2,{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-h2/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X-H2 Specifications|access-date=2023-02-18}} Fujifilm X-T5,{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-t5/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X-T5 Specifications|access-date=2023-02-18}} and Fujifilm X100VI{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x100vi/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X100VI Specifications|access-date=2024-05-06}} offers a choice of JPEG or 10-bit HEIF file formats.
• The Nikon Z9 and Nikon Z8 offer 10-bit HEIF file formats.
• Multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs support capturing images in HEIC format (e.g. Snapdragon 888,{{Cite web |url=https://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/qualcomm-snapdragon-865-5g-mobile-platform-product-brief.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-05-22 |archive-date=2020-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410195009/https://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/qualcomm-snapdragon-865-5g-mobile-platform-product-brief.pdf |url-status=live }} Snapdragon 662{{cite web|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-662-mobile-platform|title=Snapdragon 662 Mobile Platform|date=January 14, 2020|website=Qualcomm|access-date=May 22, 2020|archive-date=February 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222180029/https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-662-mobile-platform|url-status=live}}). Some of their latest SoCs also support capturing in HEIC with HDR (e.g. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1,{{cite web|date=2020-11-17|title=Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform {{!}} Latest 5G Snapdragon Processor|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-888-5g-mobile-platform|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Qualcomm |archive-date=2021-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601172132/https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-888-5g-mobile-platform|url-status=live}} Snapdragon 780{{cite web|date=2021-03-25|title=Snapdragon 780G 5G Mobile Platform|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-780g-5g-mobile-platform|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Qualcomm |archive-date=2021-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607113025/https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-780g-5g-mobile-platform|url-status=live}}).
• The iPhone 7 and later devices from Apple can capture media in HEIF or HEVC format.{{Cite web |title=Using HEIF or HEVC Media on Apple Devices |website=Support.Apple.com |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022 |access-date=2021-07-08 |archive-date=2021-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614231328/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022 |url-status=live }}
• Android smartphones like Xiaomi 12, OPPO Reno 7 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G can capture images in HEIF format. Android 13 and higher support 10-bit camera output.
• The Hasselblad X2D camera following updates had been updated to support 10-bit HEIF output.{{Cite web |title=X2D-100c Firmware Update 3.1.0 |date=2022-07-05 |url=https://www.hasselblad.com/x-system/firmware/x2d-100c-firmware-update-3-1-0/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Hasselblad }} The CFV 100C digital back was released also supporting the HEIF format.{{Cite web |title=907X & CFV-100C Digital Back FAQ |url=https://www.hasselblad.com/v-system/907x-cfv-100c-faq/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Hasselblad }}

• During May 2020, online Advanced Placement exams allowed students to submit photos of handwritten responses. Because the website was unable to process HEIF images, students whose phones defaulted to this image format were considered to have not submitted any response and often failed to complete the exam. College Board, which administers the exams, later provided a system for users to submit photos of answers via email. Because the iOS Mail app automatically converts HEIF images to JPEG, this mitigated the problem.{{cite news |last1=Chin |first1=Monica |title=Students are failing AP tests because the College Board can't handle iPhone photos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21262302/ap-test-fail-iphone-photos-glitch-email-college-board-jpeg-heic |access-date=22 May 2020 |work=The Verge |date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522000029/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21262302/ap-test-fail-iphone-photos-glitch-email-college-board-jpeg-heic |url-status=live }}
• Facebook supports the upload of HEIC but converts to JPEG or WEBP on display.{{cite web|last=Gallagher|first=William|date=2018-11-16|title=How to work with, edit, and share HEIC images without data loss|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss|access-date=2020-08-14|publisher=Apple Insider|archive-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813211920/https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss|url-status=live}}
• Discord does not support HEIC at all.{{cite web |last=Technik |date=2019-10-27 |title=Feature Request: Support for HEIF images - Discord Support Community |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360054609851-Feature-Request-Support-for-HEIF-images |website=Discord Support Community}}

{{Further|High Efficiency Video Coding#Patent holders}}

HEIF itself is a container that may not be subject to additional royalty fees for commercial ISOBMFF licensees. Note however that Nokia also grants its patents on a royalty-free basis for non-commercial purposes.{{cite web |title=Nokia High-Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) License |website=GitHub |url=https://github.com/nokiatech/heif/blob/master/LICENSE.TXT |access-date=2020-05-07 |archive-date=2020-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020815/https://github.com/nokiatech/heif/blob/master/LICENSE.TXT |url-status=live }} When containing images and image sequences encoded in a particular format (e.g. HEVC or AVC) its use becomes subject to the licensing of patents on the coding format.{{cite web |title=macOS High Sierra tech preview: A quick look at the stuff you can't see |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/06/macos-high-sierra-tech-preview-a-quick-look-at-the-stuff-you-cant-see/ |access-date=2017-07-04 |date=2017-06-19 |quote=If there's one major downside to both HEVC and HEIF, it's that they're covered by patents that may need to be licensed for use in various apps and services. |archive-date=2017-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620001037/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/06/macos-high-sierra-tech-preview-a-quick-look-at-the-stuff-you-cant-see/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Converting a JPEG to the new HEIF format |url=http://jpgtoheif.com/ |access-date=2017-07-04 |quote=HEIF and HEVC are extensively covered by patents, which means there could be legal implications to implementing HEIF support, particularly in paid software or a hardware product. |archive-date=2017-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707214211/http://jpgtoheif.com/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Apple Endorses New Image Format, HEIF |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/apple-endorses-new-image-format-heif-jan-ozer |access-date=2017-10-31 |date=2017-06-12 |first1=Jan |last1=Ozer |first2=Dror |last2=Gill |archive-date=2019-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321220755/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/apple-endorses-new-image-format-heif-jan-ozer |url-status=live }}

• Better Portable Graphics (BPG) – another image file format using HEVC encoding, published by Fabrice Bellard in 2014
• JPEG XL – an image file format developed since 2019 (standardization completed since 2022) and based on Google {{ill|PIK (image format)|lt=PIK|qid=Q72886365}} and Cloudinary FLIF (itself based upon {{ill|Free Universal Image Format|lt=FUIF|qid=Q72886200}}) claiming to outperform PNG, WebP, BPG and JPEG 2000 for lossless encoding at least
• WebP – an image file format that features both lossy (based on VP8 and VP9) and lossless (independently developed) compression

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/image-file-format HEIF] – MPEG Image File Format standard site
• [https://nokiatech.github.io/heif HEIF] – format site at Nokia with [https://github.com/nokiatech/heif source code] at GitHub
• [https://github.com/strukturag/libheif libheif] – source code at GitHub
• [https://heic.digital/samples/ Sample HEIC files] - image gallery at [https://heic.digital/ HEIC Digital]

{{Compression formats}}

{{MPEG}}

Category:Animated graphics file formats

Category:Computer-related introductions in 2015

Category:Graphics standards

Category:Image compression

Category:MPEG-H

Category:High dynamic range file formats