Images conversion
Convert HEIF to PSD
Updated Jul 2026
HEIF is the compressed photo format used by iPhones and other Apple devices, and PSD is the layered file format used for editing in image editors. To convert HEIF to PSD, open the file in a converter and export it as PSD. Doing this on your own computer means the photo, and any location data it carries, never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .heif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Apple devices
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .psd
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Photoshop files
- Transparency
- Supported
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert HEIF to PSD on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert HEIF to PSD
- Open Morphjet and drag in the HEIF photo you want to convert. You can add a single file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose PSD as the output format.
- Convert. The PSD is written next to your original, ready to open in an image editor, and nothing leaves your machine.
HEIF vs PSD: what actually changes
| HEIF | PSD | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens in | Apple devices and apps with HEIF support | Photoshop and other editors that read PSD |
| File size | Small, compressed | Much larger, uncompressed and lossless |
| Quality | Lossy, compressed when the photo was taken | Lossless, the pixels you export are preserved exactly |
| Transparency | No | Yes, once you add layers or a mask in an editor |
| Editable layers | No, flat image only | Yes, PSD is built around layers |
| Keeps date and location (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, unless you strip it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert HEIF to PSD when you want to open a photo in an image editor for retouching, compositing, or any edit that benefits from layers, and you want a working file that doesn't lose quality every time you save it.
Keep the HEIF original if you're just viewing, sharing, or backing up the photo, since PSD files are far larger and add nothing until you actually start editing.
Why not just use an online converter?
HEIF photos from an iPhone can carry the exact date, time, and GPS location the picture was taken, stored right in the file. Send that file to an online converter to get a PSD, and the photo along with its location history sits on someone else's server. Converting on your own computer keeps the image, and where it was taken, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting HEIF to PSD lose quality?
No, the conversion itself doesn't lose anything further. PSD is lossless, so it preserves exactly what was in the HEIF. Any compression already happened when the photo was captured as HEIF, and that can't be undone, but exporting to PSD won't add more loss.
Will the PSD have layers?
Not at first. A HEIF photo is a single flat image, so the PSD opens as one background layer. You can add masks, adjustment layers, and new layers once it's open in your editor.
Why convert to PSD instead of just JPG?
PSD is the right choice when you plan to actually edit the photo, retouch it, composite it with other images, or use non-destructive adjustments. If you just need to view or share the photo, JPG is the simpler, smaller option.
Does the PSD keep the photo's metadata?
Yes. The date, camera, and GPS location stored in the HEIF carry over to the PSD unless you deliberately strip it. Worth checking before you share an edited file publicly.
Can I convert HEIF to PSD without uploading my photos anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts HEIF, PSD, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.