HEIC to PNG on Mac
Finder's Convert Image quick action writes PNG from a HEIC, and Preview's Export dialog does too, so for one file the native routes work. Press adds the Max size field, which matters more for PNG than for any other target: a lossless PNG of a 12-megapixel photo is many times the size of the HEIC, and the same photo at 1600 pixels on the long edge is a fraction of that. It also takes a folder in one drop.
- Drop the HEIC files onto Press.
- Under Image, choose PNG. There is no quality slider, since PNG is lossless; set a Max size in pixels if you want smaller files.
- Click Convert. Each file is written as name (Press).png beside its source.
What you get
- Container
- A .png beside the HEIC.
- Codec
- PNG through ImageIO, lossless. The quality slider is hidden for PNG because the encoder ignores it.
- Quality
- Every pixel of the decoded HEIC is preserved. HEIC is a lossy format, so the PNG is only as good as the HEIC was. It will not recover detail, and it will be much larger.
- Metadata
- EXIF is not carried over. Orientation is baked into the pixels.
Why is the PNG so much bigger than the HEIC?
HEIC compresses with the same codec family as HEVC video and throws detail away; PNG keeps every pixel. Use the Max size field if the file is headed for a screen rather than a print.
Should I pick PNG or JPG?
PNG for screenshots, graphics, and anything you will edit again. JPG for photos going to the web or email. Press offers both under Image, and the HEIC stays put either way.
Is HEIC to PNG free?
Yes, one file at a time. Batch and Max size are Press Pro.
Press converts video and images on your Mac. The download is free, and Press Pro is a one-time $14.99 unlock for batch conversion, size presets, and WebP.