HEIC on Android: Compatibility and Solutions

Everything you need to know about viewing and managing HEIC photos on Android devices

Published: January 2024 • 7 min read

Understanding HEIC on Android

If you've ever received photos from an iPhone user and couldn't open them on your Android device, you've encountered the HEIC compatibility challenge. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the default photo format for iPhones since iOS 11, but Android's support for this format remains limited and inconsistent. This guide explains Android's HEIC compatibility landscape and provides practical solutions for viewing and sharing these images.

The Android HEIC Support Story

Unlike Apple's unified ecosystem where HEIC works seamlessly across all devices, Android's HEIC support is fragmented across different manufacturers, Android versions, and device models. This fragmentation creates confusion and frustration when trying to work with HEIC files on Android phones and tablets.

Native Android Support

Google added basic HEIC support to Android starting with Android 9 (Pie), released in 2018. However, this support is not comprehensive and comes with several important limitations:

Even with these Android versions, whether HEIC files actually work depends on additional factors beyond just the Android version number. Device manufacturers must include the necessary codecs, and individual apps need to implement HEIC support in their code.

Manufacturer-Specific Support

Different Android manufacturers have taken varying approaches to HEIC support:

Why HEIC Support is Limited on Android

The primary technical barrier to universal HEIC support on Android is licensing. HEIC relies on HEVC (H.265) compression technology, which is subject to patent licensing fees. Device manufacturers must pay licensing fees to include HEVC codecs in their devices. Some manufacturers, particularly in the budget segment, choose to omit these codecs to reduce costs.

Additionally, Google has been cautious about making HEIC a first-class citizen in Android because it prefers open, royalty-free formats. This is why Google has invested in developing alternatives like AVIF rather than promoting HEIC adoption across the Android ecosystem.

How to View HEIC Files on Android

If your Android device doesn't natively support HEIC files, you have several practical solutions available:

Method 1: Use Google Photos

Google Photos is the most reliable solution for most Android users. The app includes HEIC support regardless of your device's native capabilities. Simply install Google Photos from the Play Store, and it will automatically handle HEIC files when you receive them via email, messaging apps, or download them from the web.

Google Photos can:

Method 2: Install a HEIC Viewer App

The Google Play Store offers several dedicated HEIC viewer applications that add HEIC support to any Android device. Popular options include:

These apps typically work by either converting HEIC to JPG on-the-fly or including their own HEVC decoding libraries to bypass the system's limitations.

Method 3: Convert HEIC to JPG

The most universally compatible solution is converting HEIC files to JPG before trying to view them on Android. This approach ensures the images work everywhere without worrying about app compatibility or device capabilities.

You can convert HEIC files:

Method 4: Update Your Android System

If you're running an older version of Android (Android 8 or earlier), updating to Android 9 or later may add native HEIC support to your device. Check for system updates in your device settings. However, remember that even with a newer Android version, your specific device manufacturer must have included the necessary codecs.

Sharing Photos Between iPhone and Android

The HEIC compatibility issue most commonly arises when iPhone users share photos with Android users. Here are strategies to make this process smoother:

For iPhone Users: Change Camera Settings

iPhone users can configure their devices to capture photos in JPG format instead of HEIC, ensuring maximum compatibility when sharing with Android users:

This setting makes the iPhone capture photos as JPG files. The downside is JPG files take up more storage space (approximately double the space of HEIC), so this tradeoff may not be worth it if the iPhone user primarily shares photos with other iPhone users.

For iPhone Users: Auto-Conversion When Sharing

Many iPhone apps automatically convert HEIC to JPG when sharing outside the Apple ecosystem. For example:

However, this auto-conversion isn't universal. AirDrop, direct file transfers, and some messaging apps may send HEIC files unchanged, causing compatibility issues for Android recipients.

For Android Users: Request Compatible Formats

If you frequently receive photos from iPhone users and experience compatibility issues, politely ask them to send images in JPG format or use apps that auto-convert. Most iPhone users are unaware their photos are in HEIC format and will appreciate understanding why you're having trouble viewing their images.

Cloud Storage and HEIC

Cloud storage services handle HEIC files differently:

Future of HEIC on Android

While HEIC support is improving with each Android version, universal compatibility remains years away. The patent licensing issues and Google's preference for open formats mean HEIC will likely never receive the same first-class support on Android that it enjoys on iOS.

Instead, the industry is gradually moving toward newer formats like AVIF (AV1 Image Format), which offers similar compression benefits to HEIC without patent licensing concerns. Android 12 includes native AVIF support, and this royalty-free format may eventually replace both JPG and HEIC as the universal standard.

Until that future arrives, Android users dealing with HEIC files will need to rely on workarounds like conversion, third-party apps, or using Google Photos as their primary photo management solution.

💡 Quick Tip

Received HEIC photos that won't open on your Android device? Use HEICdrop.net to instantly convert them to JPG. The conversion happens entirely in your browser - no app installation, no uploads to servers, and it works on any Android device.

Conclusion

HEIC compatibility on Android remains a challenge due to fragmented support across manufacturers, licensing complexities, and Google's strategic preferences. While newer Android devices (Android 9+) generally include basic HEIC support, the most reliable solution for Android users is converting HEIC files to JPG or using Google Photos for comprehensive HEIC handling. As the industry evolves toward open formats like AVIF, these compatibility issues will eventually diminish, but for now, understanding the limitations and available workarounds helps Android users successfully navigate the HEIC landscape.
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