Modern smartphones are constantly striving to optimize memory use, and one of the tools for this has become the format HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container). This standard allows you to save high-quality photos at a significantly smaller file size compared to the usual JPEG. However, not all users are happy with such savings, since HEIC files often cannot be opened on old computers, social networks or specialized apps without additional converters.
If you are faced with a situation where your pictures are not recognized by friends’ devices or work software, it becomes necessary to change the camera settings. In this article we will examine in detail how to disable HEIC on Android and return a universal compression format. The setup process may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer of your device, but the general principle remains the same for the entire ecosystem.
Switching to standard JPEG will solve most compatibility problems, although it will take up a little more space in the internal memory. Let's take a step-by-step look at how to find the desired switch in the menu of your smartphone and what alternative methods exist if the standard disabling option is not provided by the developer.
Why there is a problem with the HEIC format
The format HEIC was developed as a successor to JPEG, offering better compression efficiency. The technology uses HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) encoding algorithms, which allows you to reduce the file size by almost half without any visible loss of quality. This is especially true for owners of smartphones with a small amount of built-in memory, where every gigabyte counts.
However, the widespread implementation of this standard has encountered a compatibility problem. Many operating systems, particularly older versions of Windows, and web services simply do not have built-in codecs to decode such images. As a result, the user receives a file that looks “broken” or is not displayed at all.
In addition, some instant messengers and social networks, when downloading HEIC, can automatically convert them on their servers, which sometimes leads to artifacts or changes in color rendering. Android systems from different manufacturers implement this function in different ways: in some places it is enabled by default, and in others it requires manual activation.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling the high efficiency format will increase the size of photos by approximately 1.5–2 times. Make sure you have enough free space on your device before making wholesale changes to your camera settings.
Understanding the reasons for incompatibility helps you make an informed choice of format. If you often transfer photos via Bluetooth or via USB to a PC without additional software, switching to JPEG would be the most logical solution.
The standard way to disable HEIC in the camera settings
The simplest and most reliable method is to use the built-in menu of the "Camera" application. In most modern shells, such as One UI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi, this option is made permanent. You don't need to install third-party utilities or get root access.
First, open the camera app and look for the gear icon, usually located in the top corner of the screen. This is where the main shooting parameters are hidden. The interface may look different, but the logic behind the arrangement of elements is similar.
Look for an item related to file formats. It may be called "Picture Format", "Advanced Options" or "Photo Effectiveness". In some models, this setting is hidden inside the “Saving” or “Quality” submenu.
- 📸 Open the application Camera on your smartphone.
- ⚙️ Click on the icon
Settings(gear) in the corner of the screen. - 📂 Find the section
Image formatorSave options. - ✅ Switch the toggle switch Highly efficient images to the "Off" position.
After performing these steps, all new pictures will be saved in the format JPEG. Please note that already taken photos in HEIC format will not be changed automatically - they will require a separate conversion, which we will talk about below.
☑️ Checking camera settings
Setting features on different smartphone models
Android device manufacturers often modify standard software, adding their own names for the same functions. Therefore, the path to disabling HEIC may vary depending on the brand of your gadget.
On devices Samsung this option is often called “Image format” and is located at the very top of the camera settings menu. It offers a choice between "High Efficiency (HEIF)" and "Compatible (JPEG)". Selecting the second item guarantees maximum compatibility.
In smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi i Poco the setting may be hidden deeper. Sometimes you need to go into additional settings by scrolling to the bottom of the menu. In some versions, the option to disable HEIC is only available in Pro mode or is hidden in experimental features. Owners of phones and devices with pure MIUI The option to disable HEIC is only available in Pro mode or hidden in experimental features.
Phone owners Google Pixel and devices with clean Android may find that they do not have an explicit switch. In such cases, the system uses JPEG by default, or the format depends on the operating system version. Below is a table with approximate paths for popular brands.
| Smartphone brand | Setting name | Menu location | Option status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy | Image format | Camera settings (top of list) | Available |
| Xiaomi / Redmi | HEIC format | Settings → Advanced | Available (depending on version) |
| Google Pixel | No explicit options | Uses JPEG by default | Not required |
| Huawei / Honor | High efficiency mode | Settings → More settings | Available |
| OnePlus / OPPO | Photo format | Camera settings | Available |
If you do not find the corresponding item in the menu of your device, the manufacturer may have decided to fix the format at the firmware level. In such a situation, you will have to resort to third-party solutions or the use of converters.
Why do some phones not have a switch?
Some budget models or older firmware versions do not support HEIC hardware encoding, so they always shoot in JPEG. Conversely, some flagships may force the use of HEIC to save space, without giving the user a choice in the standard menu.
Using third-party shooting applications
When the built-in camera application does not allow you to change the file format, alternative solutions from the store come to the rescue. Google Play. There are many apps that completely replace the standard shooting interface and allow flexible management of saving parameters.
One of the most popular and powerful tools is Open Camera. This is a free and open source application that provides access to all sensor settings. In the settings menu of this application, you can explicitly specify the preferred image format.
There are also converter applications that run in the background. They automatically detect new pictures in the DCIM folder and convert them from HEIC to JPEG immediately after creation. This is convenient if you do not want to change the usual camera application, but need compatible files.
- 📥 Install the application Open Camera from the Google Play Store.
- 🛠 Launch the application and go to
Settings(icon gears). - 💾 Select item
Photo settings→Image format. - 🖼 Set value JPEG and make sure that the checkbox next to HEIC is unchecked.
Using third-party software provides another advantage - the ability to adjust the JPEG compression level. You can choose a balance between quality and file size, something that standard applications often lack.
⚠️ Note: Third-party camera apps may not have access to all of your smartphone's specific features, such as optical stabilization, night mode, or multi-lens zoom. Check the quality of pictures after installing alternative software.
If you are using a third-party camera, give it all the necessary permissions when you first launch it, especially access to storage and microphone, otherwise the function of recording video or saving photos may not work correctly.
Converting already taken HEIC photos to JPEG
Disable the format on the future will not solve the problem with the archive of already taken photographs. If you have hundreds of photos in HEICthat you need to send to a colleague or upload to a website, you will have to convert them. Doing this manually for each file is inconvenient, so it is better to use batch processing.
On the smartphone itself, this can be done through the standard gallery or specialized converter applications. Many modern galleries have an "Export" or "Save a Copy" feature that allows you to choose the destination format. However, for large amounts of data it is more convenient to use a computer.
On a PC with the Windows 10 and 11 operating system, you can install the "HEIF Image Extensions" extension from the Microsoft Store, after which the system will begin to recognize these files. But for mass conversion it is better to use free utilities like iMazing HEIC Converter or online services.
The conversion process on a computer usually looks like this:
- Connect the phone to the PC in file transfer mode (MTP).
- Copy the folder with photos to your hard drive disk.
- Launch the converter app and drag files into it.
- Select the output format JPEG and quality (90-100% recommended).
- Click the "Convert" button and wait for the process to complete.
After this you will receive a new folder with images that will open on any device. The original HEIC files can be deleted to free up space if they are no longer needed.
Batch conversion on a computer is much faster and more convenient than processing each file separately on the phone, especially if we are talking about hundreds of photos from a vacation or event.
Solving display problems on social networks
Often users are looking for a way disable HEIC precisely because of problems with publishing photos on Instagram, WhatsApp or VKontakte. Social networks have their own algorithms for processing downloaded content, and non-standard formats can cause errors.
For example, WhatsApp on iOS automatically converts HEIC to JPEG when sending, but on Android this process may not work correctly depending on the version of the application. If the interlocutor sees a black screen instead of a photo, the problem is almost certainly in the file format.
In some cases, clearing the cache of the social network application helps. Go to Settings phone, select Applications, find the desired messenger and press Clear cache. This will not delete your conversations, but it will reset temporary files that could cause a codec conflict.
It is also worth checking the privacy and media download settings in the application itself. In Telegram, for example, there is an option “Send as file”, which sends the document without compression or conversion. If you need to preserve the original quality, use this method after converting the photo on your device.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces of social networks and instant messengers are updated very often. Auto-conversion functions may appear or disappear in new versions of applications, so always check that the settings are up to date in the official help center of the service.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I turn HEIC back on if I change my mind?
Yes, you can return the settings at any time back. Just go to the camera menu, find the "Image Format" item and switch the toggle switch to the "High Efficiency" or "HEIC" position. This will again save memory space.
Does the HEIC format affect the quality of pictures?
With the same file size, HEIC provides better quality than JPEG. However, if you compare them at maximum quality, the difference is often invisible to the human eye. The main difference is precisely the amount of space occupied.
Why, after disabling HEIC, photos still do not open on the computer?
Perhaps you have disabled the format only for future photographs, but are trying to open old files. The problem may also be in the video card drivers or the lack of codecs in the Windows operating system itself. Try installing the K-Lite codec pack or the HEIF extension from Microsoft.
Does the Open Camera app take up a lot of space?
No, it is a very lightweight app that only takes up a few megabytes. It does not contain advertising and works quickly even on older smartphone models, being an excellent replacement for heavy standard cameras.
Will my photo be removed from the gallery after conversion?
Depends on the conversion method. Most apps create a new copy of the JPEG file, leaving the original HEIC intact. You will have to manually delete the original files if you want to free up space.