Convert HEIC to AVIF
Turn HEIC, the HEIF image format iPhones shoot photos in, into AVIF, the AV1-based image format with best-in-class compression. FileChanger runs the image conversion in one call, no local tooling to install.
In the browser
Upload a file and download the result, no pipeline required. Open the converter.
One API call
POST the file with from=heic and to=avif, get the converted bytes back. Jump to the code.
From an agent
FileChanger ships an MCP server, so agents can run this conversion themselves. See the docs for setup.
Uploading something you care about? How to convert files safely explains what to check before you trust any converter, and Security and data handling describes exactly what we store and for how long.
Convert HEIC to AVIF in code
The same call from any language: POST the file to /api/convert, the response body is the converted file.
curl -X POST https://filechanger.io/api/convert \
-H "X-Api-Key: fc_your_api_key_here" \
-F "file=@input.heic" \
-F "from=heic" \
-F "to=avif" \
-o output.avifimport requests
with open("input.heic", "rb") as f:
response = requests.post(
"https://filechanger.io/api/convert",
headers={"X-Api-Key": "fc_your_api_key_here"},
files={"file": f},
data={"from": "heic", "to": "avif"},
)
response.raise_for_status()
with open("output.avif", "wb") as out:
out.write(response.content)const formData = new FormData();
formData.append("file", fileInput.files[0]);
formData.append("from", "heic");
formData.append("to", "avif");
const response = await fetch("https://filechanger.io/api/convert", {
method: "POST",
headers: { "X-Api-Key": "fc_your_api_key_here" },
body: formData,
});
const output = await response.blob();import java.net.http.HttpRequest.BodyPublishers;
import java.net.http.HttpResponse.BodyHandlers;
import java.nio.file.Path;
String boundary = "----FormBoundary" + System.currentTimeMillis();
byte[] fileBytes = java.nio.file.Files.readAllBytes(Path.of("input.heic"));
String body = "--" + boundary + "\r\n"
+ "Content-Disposition: form-data; name=\"file\"; filename=\"input.heic\"\r\n"
+ "Content-Type: application/octet-stream\r\n\r\n"
+ new String(fileBytes) + "\r\n"
+ "--" + boundary + "\r\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\"from\"\r\n\r\nheic\r\n"
+ "--" + boundary + "\r\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\"to\"\r\n\r\navif\r\n"
+ "--" + boundary + "--";
HttpClient client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();
HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
.uri(URI.create("https://filechanger.io/api/convert"))
.header("X-Api-Key", "fc_your_api_key_here")
.header("Content-Type", "multipart/form-data; boundary=" + boundary)
.POST(BodyPublishers.ofString(body))
.build();
HttpResponse<byte[]> response = client.send(
request, BodyHandlers.ofByteArray());
java.nio.file.Files.write(Path.of("output.avif"), response.body());import Network.HTTP.Client
import Network.HTTP.Client.MultipartFormData
import qualified Data.ByteString.Lazy as BL
main :: IO ()
main = do
manager <- newManager defaultManagerSettings
initialReq <- parseRequest "POST https://filechanger.io/api/convert"
let req = initialReq
{ requestHeaders = [("X-Api-Key", "fc_your_api_key_here")] }
request <- formDataBody
[ partFileSource "file" "input.heic"
, partBS "from" "heic"
, partBS "to" "avif"
] req
response <- httpLbs request manager
BL.writeFile "output.avif" (responseBody response)About HEIC
HEIC is Apple's packaging of the HEIF image format, what iPhones and iPads have shot photos in by default since iOS 11. It stores HEVC-encoded stills at roughly half the size of an equivalent JPEG, and a single file can carry several frames plus depth and metadata. The catch is reach: Windows, Android, and most upload forms still expect JPEG or PNG, which is why HEIC photos so often need converting before they can be shared.
About AVIF
AVIF is the AV1 Image File Format, which puts the AV1 video codec's compression behind still images: at the same visual fidelity a photo lands far smaller than the equivalent JPEG or PNG. It also carries HDR, wide colour gamut, and full alpha transparency, and every current browser decodes it, which is why bandwidth-sensitive sites serve photographic imagery as AVIF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert HEIC to AVIF?
Upload your file in the browser converter and pick AVIF as the target, or POST it to /api/convert with from=heic and to=avif. The response body is the converted file.
Is converting HEIC to AVIF free?
Yes. Every account gets 200 MB of conversions free, metered on input size. After that you pay only for what you convert, from $0.10 per GB, with no monthly fee. See pricing for the paid tiers.
Is there an API for HEIC to AVIF conversion?
Yes, this whole conversion is one POST to /api/convert (the code examples above show it in five languages), plus an MCP server so AI agents can run it directly.
Why won't my HEIC photos open on Windows or Android?
HEIC is Apple's default photo format, and most Windows, Android, and web tools still need an extra codec to decode it. Converting to JPEG or PNG gives you a file every device, browser, and upload form already understands.
What happens to the extra frames inside a HEIC file?
A HEIC file can hold several images, such as the frames behind a Live Photo or a burst. The conversion takes the primary image, the one Photos shows as the still, and writes that single frame out, so you get one predictable picture rather than a pile of them.