If you’re trying to upload photos to Facebook but keep getting error messages, the issue likely lies with the HEIC photo file format. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a newer type of compressed image file that takes up less storage space on Apple devices. However, Facebook doesn’t currently support this format.
What are HEIC photos?
HEIC is the default photo format on newer iPhone models running iOS 11 or later. Apple switched to HEIC because these files are 50% smaller than JPEG files, so they take up less storage space on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
HEIC photos use compression technology to optimize file size without sacrificing image quality. This allows you to store more photos and videos without having to delete content or buy more storage.
Why won’t Facebook accept HEIC photo uploads?
When you try uploading HEIC photos to Facebook, you’ll get an error saying the files are not supported. This is because Facebook currently only supports JPEG and PNG image formats.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) has been the standard photo file format for many years. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is another common image format that supports transparency.
Facebook has not yet updated its platform to support the newer high efficiency HEIC format. So if you upload HEIC photos directly, Facebook won’t be able to recognize them.
How can I upload HEIC photos to Facebook?
To upload HEIC photos to Facebook, you need to convert the files to a supported format like JPEG first. There are a few different ways to do this:
Use the Facebook app
The latest version of the Facebook app for iOS allows you to upload HEIC photos directly from your iPhone camera roll. The app will automatically convert the files to JPEG before uploading.
To upload HEIC photos through the Facebook app:
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or iPad
- Tap Photo/Video at the top
- Select the HEIC photos you want to upload from your camera roll
- Tap Next, then choose where you want to upload the photos
The Facebook app will handle converting the HEIC originals to JPEG for you.
Use iCloud
You can also convert HEIC photos using iCloud Photo Library:
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud
- Enable iCloud Photo Library
- Choose “Download and Keep Originals”
This will upload your full-resolution HEIC photos to iCloud and convert them to JPEG versions accessible from any device. You can then download the JPEG copies to your computer and upload them to Facebook.
Use Image Conversion Software
There are various free online tools and desktop apps you can use to batch convert HEIC files to JPEG:
- Online Converter
- CloudConvert
- Adobe Photoshop
- Preview on Mac
- HEIC Converter apps for Windows and Mac
These provide easy options to convert multiple HEIC photos to JPEG at one time. Then you can upload the JPEG versions to Facebook without issues.
Should I switch my camera to save JPEG instead?
Instead of converting HEIC manually each time, you may want to just change your iPhone camera setting to save photos as JPEG instead of HEIC.
Here’s how to switch to JPEG format:
- Go to Settings > Camera > Formats
- Select “High Efficiency” to switch to HEIC format
- Select “Most Compatible” to switch to JPEG format
Now any new photos you take will automatically save as JPEGs. This ensures compatibility with Facebook and other sites.
However, keep in mind JPEG files take up more storage space. If you want to conserve iPhone storage, shooting in HEIC format may still be better.
Why doesn’t Facebook support HEIC?
HEIC is still a relatively new format, even though Apple has made it the default since 2017. Facebook likely just hasn’t gotten around to adding support since JPEG remains the dominant photo format.
Adding compatibility for a new file format takes time and resources to develop. Facebook may be focused on other priorities right now.
However, as more and more people start shooting in HEIC on the latest iPhones, the demand for HEIC support will increase. We can likely expect Facebook and other major sites to add HEIC capability eventually.
Will Facebook ever support HEIC?
Facebook has not made any definitive public announcements about if or when they plan to support HEIC uploads.
However, HEIC is growing in usage and it’s clear JPEG has its limitations in terms of file size. At some point, supporting more modern formats could improve the Facebook user experience.
It’s likely just a matter of time before Facebook updates its platform to allow direct HEIC uploads. This would prevent the headache of having to convert files before sharing them.
For now, JPEG remains the best format to use for Facebook photos. But hopefully HEIC support is on the horizon.
Conclusion
HEIC is not currently supported on Facebook, so you’ll need to convert the files to JPEG before uploading. You can do this using the Facebook app, iCloud, or third party conversion tools. Switching your iPhone camera to capture JPEG is another option. Facebook may add HEIC support down the road, but there’s been no official announcement yet.