# HEIC for Photoshop

> Convert HEIC for Photoshop as lossless PNG or maximum-quality JPG with the colour profile and metadata kept. Reliable on any OS, private, no upload needed.

URL: https://ihateheic.com/convert-heic-for-photoshop  
Updated: 2026-10-04

Get iPhone photos into Photoshop without codec drama. Convert to lossless PNG for editing or a top-quality JPG, with the Display P3 profile and all metadata intact.

This tool runs entirely in the browser: photos are decoded and encoded on the visitor’s device and are never uploaded. It is free, needs no sign-up and works offline after the first visit.

## How to use it

1. Drop your HEIC photos onto the box above. PNG output and **Keep everything** for metadata are already set.
2. Switch to JPG at quality 95 if you'd rather have smaller files, otherwise leave PNG for lossless editing.
3. Download, then open the files in Photoshop. Accept the embedded profile if Photoshop asks.

## Why HEIC and Photoshop don't always get along

Photoshop doesn't ship its own HEIC decoder in every setup. It leans on what the operating system provides, so whether "Open" works depends on your OS, its installed codecs and your Photoshop version. Results vary:

- **Mac:** macOS has decoded HEIC since High Sierra, and Photoshop on a Mac often opens them, though behaviour can differ between versions.
- **Windows:** usually needs Microsoft's HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. Without them, expect an error or an unsupported format message.
- **Shared studio machines:** whatever the IT department installed, which may be nothing.

Converting first means every machine in the workflow gets a file it can open, today and in five years.

## The editing-friendly defaults on this page

This page is tuned for editors rather than for sharing:

| Setting | Default here | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Format | PNG | Lossless, no artefacts to amplify when you push curves |
| JPG quality (if chosen) | 95 | Archival quality, artefacts invisible |
| Metadata | Keep everything | Bridge and Lightroom can sort by date, lens and location |
| Colour profile | Display P3 embedded | Colours match the iPhone in a managed workflow |

Most of our other tools drop GPS by default. Here everything is kept because these files are usually going into your own catalogue. Remember to strip location before exporting for the web; [Remove GPS from HEIC](https://ihateheic.com/remove-gps-from-heic) or your Photoshop export settings will do it.

## Colour management tips

1. When Photoshop opens a P3-tagged file, choose to **use the embedded profile**. Converting to your working space on open is fine too, as long as it's deliberate.
2. If your working space is sRGB and you see a warning about a profile mismatch, that's expected; iPhone photos are wider gamut than sRGB.
3. If a downstream tool ignores profiles and colours look flat, re-run the conversion with the sRGB option on.

## Batching a shoot

Dropped a whole session of iPhone photos? Drop the folder here and download a ZIP of PNGs. For JPG at specific sizes, the [batch HEIC converter](https://ihateheic.com/batch-heic-converter) adds resizing and presets. Heading to print instead? See [Convert HEIC for printing](https://ihateheic.com/convert-heic-for-printing).

## Client work stays on your machine

Unreleased product shots and client photos aren't things to upload to a random converter. Here the decode and PNG encode happen in your browser, on your hardware, and the page carries on working offline.

## FAQ

### Can Photoshop open HEIC files?

Sometimes. Photoshop's HEIC support depends on the operating system's codecs and the version you're running. On Windows it typically needs Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions installed; on a Mac it's usually more reliable. Converting removes the guesswork.

### Should I use PNG or JPG for Photoshop?

PNG if you're going to edit, because it's lossless and won't add compression artefacts. JPG at 95 is fine if you only need a quick retouch and smaller files.

### Is the colour profile preserved?

Yes. iPhone photos are Display P3 and the converted PNG or JPG embeds that profile, so Photoshop can show the colours accurately in a colour-managed workflow.

### Can I convert a whole shoot at once?

Yes. Drop a folder or a large selection and download all the PNGs or JPGs as one ZIP. Files are processed in parallel on your computer.

### Why are the PNG files so big?

PNG stores every pixel without lossy compression. A 12 MP photo as PNG is many times larger than the HEIC. That's the price of lossless editing headroom.

### Is the EXIF data kept for Lightroom or Bridge?

Yes. This page keeps all metadata by default, including date, camera, lens and location, so cataloguing tools can read it. Switch to Remove location if you plan to publish the files directly.