Camera RAW conversion
Convert RAW to HEIF
Updated Jul 2026
RAW files are the unprocessed data straight off a camera's sensor, huge and unopened by most apps. HEIF is Apple's compact photo format used on iPhones and modern Macs. To convert, open the RAW file in a converter and export it as HEIF. Doing this on your own computer keeps the original sensor data off someone else's server.
- Extension
- .raw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Various cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .heif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Apple devices
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert RAW to HEIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert RAW to HEIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the RAW file you want to convert, or drop in a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose HEIF as the output format.
- Convert. The HEIF files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
RAW vs HEIF: what actually changes
| RAW | HEIF | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Very large, often 20 to 80 MB per photo | Much smaller, a fraction of the RAW size |
| Quality / editing headroom | Full sensor data, complete latitude for editing | Processed and compressed, most editing headroom already used up |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs software tied to your camera or a dedicated viewer | Mostly, native on Apple devices, though some non-Apple apps and older software still can't read it |
| Ready to view or share | No, needs processing first | Yes, ready to view and share as-is |
| Keeps date and camera info (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, carried over unless stripped |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert RAW to HEIF once you've finished editing a photo and want a smaller, ready-to-view file to share, back up to your camera roll, or view on an iPhone or Mac without special software.
Keep the RAW file if you plan to edit the photo further, since HEIF locks in the exposure and color choices you've already made and there's no way to get the original sensor data back afterward.
Why not just use an online converter?
RAW files carry the EXIF data your camera recorded, including the exact time and, on many cameras and phones, the GPS location of the shot. Uploading a batch of RAW photos to an online converter means that location history sits on someone else's server, along with the original, unprocessed image. Converting on your own computer keeps both the photos and where you took them on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting RAW to HEIF lose quality?
Yes, a little. RAW holds the sensor's full, uncompressed data, and HEIF compresses the image on export. If you've already made your editing choices, the difference is generally not visible, but you can't get the original sensor data back afterward.
Will the HEIF keep the photo's date and location?
Yes. The date, camera model, and GPS location stored in the RAW file carry over to the HEIF unless you strip the metadata during conversion.
Can I open HEIF files on a Windows PC?
Support is uneven. Recent versions of Windows and some photo apps can open HEIF, but plenty of older software still can't, so check before you rely on it for sharing outside Apple devices.
Why convert RAW to HEIF instead of JPG?
HEIF stores similar quality in less space than JPG, so if you're staying within Apple's ecosystem, mostly iPhones and Macs, it's a smaller file with no visible downside. If you need something that opens absolutely anywhere, JPG is still the safer bet.
Can I convert RAW to HEIF without uploading my photos?
Yes. Morphjet runs the conversion on your own computer, so the RAW files and everything in them stay local. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts RAW, HEIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.