Does the shortcut delete my original HEIC photos?

No. The shortcut only creates new PNG copies. Your original HEIC photos remain untouched. You can delete them later if you want.

Can I convert photos without using the Share button?

Yes. Open the Shortcuts app and tap your shortcut. It will ask you to pick photos, then convert them. This works even if you do not enable Show in Share Sheet.

Why are the PNG files much larger than the HEIC files?

HEIC is a compressed format that saves space. PNG is lossless, meaning it keeps all image data without compression, so the file size is much larger.

How do I see the .png extension on the saved file?

If you used Save File, open the Files app, long-press the file, and choose Get Info. The file name and extension will be shown there.

How to Convert HEIC to PNG on iPhone With Shortcuts

Converting HEIC to PNG on an iPhone takes a few minutes with the Shortcuts app already installed on iOS. Build one reusable workflow, then select photos, convert them, and save the results. No computer, no extra software, no cost. Open Shortcuts and start now.

What the Shortcut Does

The workflow uses three actions: Select Photos, Convert Image, and Save to Photo Album or Save File. Choose the photos, convert them to PNG format, and store the new files. The original HEIC photos remain untouched. Because PNG is lossless, the converted files will be much larger than the originals. Run the workflow from the Photos app's Share button or directly from the Shortcuts app. It handles one photo or several at once.

Creating the Shortcut Step by Step

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. Tap the plus sign (+) to create a new workflow. Name it "HEIC to PNG". Then add the three actions in order.

Add the Select Photos Action

Tap the search bar at the bottom and type "Select Photos". Choose the action. Tap the word "Select" to open options. Turn on "Select Multiple" if you want to convert several photos at once. This action lets you pick photos from your gallery when you run the workflow.

Add the Convert Image Action

Search for "Convert Image" and tap it. The action has a "Format" field. Tap it and choose "PNG". The workflow now converts whatever photos you selected into PNG files.

Add the Save Action

Search for "Save to Photo Album" or "Save File". With Save to Photo Album, the PNG goes into a new album in the Photos app. With Save File, the PNG lands in the Files app. In Files, you can see the .png extension by long-pressing the file and choosing Get Info. Either option works. Tap Done to finish.

Enabling the Shortcut in the Share Sheet

To run the workflow directly from the Photos app, enable "Show in Share Sheet". Open your new workflow in the Shortcuts app. Tap the settings icon (the circle with three dots or lines) at the top right. Turn on "Show in Share Sheet". Now, when you open a photo or select multiple photos in the Photos app, tap the Share button. Your workflow appears in the list. Tap it to run the conversion.

Running the Shortcut

There are two ways to use the workflow:

From the Photos app: Open a photo or select several by tapping "Select" then tapping each photo. Tap the Share button, then tap your workflow. It asks you to confirm the photos, then converts and saves them.
From the Shortcuts app: Open the Shortcuts app and tap your workflow. It asks you to choose photos, then converts and saves.

On the first run, iOS asks for permission to access your photos. Tap Allow. After that, the workflow runs without further prompts.

Tips for Working with Multiple Photos

Turning on "Select Multiple" in the Select Photos action lets you convert several HEIC photos at once. When you run the workflow from the Photos app, select multiple photos before tapping Share. The workflow processes each one and saves a separate PNG file for each. Since PNG is lossless, the total file size will be much larger than the original HEIC group. Make sure you have enough free space on your iPhone. The original photos stay on your phone, so you can delete the HEIC files later if you want to free up space.

What to Do with the Converted PNG Files

After conversion, the PNG files appear in the location you chose. If you used Save to Photo Album, look in the Photos app under Albums for a new album named after the workflow. If you used Save File, open the Files app and look in the default save folder, usually "Shortcuts" or "Downloads". Long-press a file and choose Get Info to see its extension and size. From there, share, move, or delete the PNG files as needed. The PNG format is widely supported, so you can send them to others or upload them to services that do not accept HEIC.

Alternative Option Heictopng.me

If you prefer not to build a workflow, use a website like heictopng.me. It converts iPhone HEIC photos to lossless PNG for free, online, without a watermark. That option requires an internet connection and uploading files. The Shortcuts method works entirely offline on your iPhone. Both give you PNG files that are much larger than the original HEIC photos.