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How to Upload HEIC Photos to WordPress

The Problem: WordPress Doesn't Accept HEIC Files

If you've ever tried to upload an iPhone photo directly to WordPress, you've likely run into a frustrating error message: "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons." This happens because WordPress does not support HEIC uploads out of the box, and there is no built-in way to change that without server-side modifications.

Since iOS 11, every photo taken on an iPhone is saved in the HEIC format by default. That means millions of bloggers, small business owners, and content creators hit this wall every single day when they try to add fresh photos to their WordPress sites.

Why WordPress Doesn't Support HEIC

WordPress maintains an allowlist of accepted file types, and HEIC is simply not on it. There are a few reasons for this:

  • Limited server-side support: Most web hosting environments run PHP with the GD or Imagick libraries, neither of which has widespread HEIC decoding support.
  • Browser compatibility: While Safari and newer versions of Chrome can display HEIC images, many browsers still cannot render them, which would result in broken images for your visitors.
  • Security considerations: WordPress is conservative about adding new file types to prevent potential exploits.

Even if a plugin lets you force-upload HEIC files, your site visitors may not be able to view them. The real solution is to convert your images before uploading.

Best Image Format for WordPress

When converting your HEIC photos for WordPress, you have three solid choices:

  • WebP -- The best option for modern WordPress sites. WebP files are significantly smaller than JPG while maintaining excellent quality. WordPress has supported WebP natively since version 5.8, and all major browsers now handle it.
  • JPG -- The safest choice for maximum compatibility. Every browser and device on the planet can display a JPG. If your audience includes users on older systems, JPG is the reliable pick.
  • PNG -- Best for graphics, screenshots, or images that require transparency. Not ideal for photographs due to larger file sizes.

For most blog posts and pages, WebP is the recommended format because it gives you the best balance of quality and performance, which also helps your SEO.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG for WordPress

Converting your photos before uploading takes just a few seconds with our free HEIC2PIC:

  1. Open the converter in your browser.
  2. Drag and drop your HEIC photos onto the upload area, or click to select files.
  3. Choose your output format -- JPG, PNG, or WebP.
  4. Adjust the quality slider if you want to fine-tune the file size.
  5. Download your converted images and upload them to WordPress.

The entire process happens locally in your browser. Your photos are never sent to a server, so there are no privacy concerns and no file size limits to worry about.

Tips for WordPress Image Optimization

Converting from HEIC is just the first step. To keep your WordPress site fast, follow these additional best practices:

  • Resize before uploading. A 4032x3024 pixel iPhone photo is far larger than what most blog layouts need. Resize to 1600px or 2000px on the longest side for full-width images.
  • Aim for 200 KB or less per image. Adjust the quality slider during conversion to hit this target without visible quality loss.
  • Use descriptive file names. Rename files from "IMG_4521.jpg" to something like "homemade-sourdough-bread.jpg" before uploading. This helps with SEO.
  • Always fill in alt text in WordPress after uploading. Alt text improves accessibility and search engine indexing.

Batch Conversion for Multiple Blog Images

If you're preparing a photo-heavy blog post, converting images one by one is tedious. Our tool supports batch conversion -- you can drop multiple HEIC files at once and convert them all in a single step. You can also download everything as a ZIP file, making it easy to keep your converted images organized before uploading them to your WordPress media library.

Ready to get your iPhone photos onto your WordPress site? Convert your HEIC files now -- it's free, fast, and completely private.

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