How Do You Convert HEIC to PDF?
You convert HEIC to PDF by adding your iPhone or iPad photos to QuickCatPDF's HEIC to PDF tool and clicking Convert to PDF. There's no need to change them to JPG first, and the tool works on Windows, Android and Mac as well as iPhone, without uploading your photos.
HEIC (also called HEIF) is the photo format Apple devices use by default. It saves space on the phone but often won't open on other devices, which is why a PDF is easier to share.
How to Convert HEIC to PDF With QuickCatPDF
Turning HEIC photos into a PDF takes four steps.
- Click Select images or drop your .heic or .heif files on the page. On an iPhone, you can tap Take photo.
- Wait a moment while the photos are decoded; the progress line shows "Decoding HEIC photo 1 of 8…".
- Arrange the thumbnails, then choose Page size, Margins and Images per page if you need them.
- Click Convert to PDF, then Download PDF.
To get each photo as its own PDF, set Output to PDF per image (ZIP).
Why Use QuickCatPDF for HEIC to PDF?
QuickCatPDF converts iPhone photos on any device. Windows and Android often can't open HEIC files without extra software, but the tool decodes them right in your browser. On Safari, it uses Apple's own built-in decoder.
Your photos stay private. Nothing is uploaded, which matters for photos of documents, children or your home, and the GPS location stored in phone photos doesn't end up in the PDF.
Two honest limits: decoding HEIC takes a little longer than JPG, especially on older phones (about 1.4 seconds for one photo in our test), and some newer HEIC variants may not open yet. If that happens, the tool tells you which file failed and converts the rest.
What Is a HEIC File?
HEIC is Apple's name for photos saved in the HEIF format (High Efficiency Image File Format), compressed with the HEVC video codec. Apple made it the default camera format with iOS 11 in 2017, because it stores photos at roughly half the size of JPG at similar quality.
The downside is compatibility. Many Windows programs, older Android phones, websites and print shops still expect JPG or PDF. Converting a set of HEIC photos to one PDF gives you a single file that anyone can open.
Which Settings Suit iPhone Photos?
For sharing on screen, keep Page size on Fit to image, so each page has the photo's exact shape. For printing, choose A4 or US Letter with Small margins; Orientation on Auto turns each page to match the photo.
Image quality starts at High on this page. HEIC photos are large, and High keeps them sharp while making a PDF that's easy to email. Choose Original (no quality loss) if you need every pixel, or Balanced for a much smaller file.
For ID cards or receipts photographed with an iPhone, set Images per page to 2 or 4 so several photos share one sheet. If a form needs a small file, Image to PDF under 200KB accepts HEIC too.
How Do You Combine Several HEIC Photos Into One PDF?
To combine HEIC into PDF pages, add all the photos together and leave Output on One PDF. Each photo becomes one page, in the order of the thumbnails; use Sort to order them by name or by date taken.
You can mix HEIC with JPG, PNG and other images in the same PDF, or use Image to PDF for larger mixed batches. For photos of paper, Scan to PDF cleans up the page as well. In our test, three HEIC sample photos became a three-page PDF in 2.5 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Is HEIF the same as HEIC?
Yes, for photos they're the same thing. HEIF is the file format and HEIC is the name Apple uses for HEIF photos compressed with HEVC. HEIF to PDF works on this page too, with either .heic or .heif files.
Do I need to convert HEIC to JPG before making a PDF?
No, the tool reads HEIC directly. Converting to JPG first adds a step and can lose quality, so it's better to go straight to PDF.
Can I convert HEIC to PDF on Windows?
Yes, open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox on Windows and add your HEIC files. You don't need to install a codec or app, because the decoding happens inside the page.
How do I convert iPhone HEIC to PDF on the phone itself?
Yes, open the page in Safari, tap Select images and choose photos from your library. Your iPhone decodes them with its built-in support, which is usually fast.
Does HEIC to PDF work offline?
Yes, after you've opened the page once with an internet connection, it keeps working offline. We tested this with the internet switched off: two photos still converted.
Is there a free HEIC to PDF converter?
Yes, it's free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit.
Why did one of my HEIC photos fail?
A few newer HEIC types, such as some burst, depth or HDR variations, may not decode yet. The tool skips that photo and explains why. On a Mac or iPhone, try converting in Safari, or export the photo as JPG from the Photos app and use JPG to PDF.
Last updated: