HEIC to XZ Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Unpack XZ into ZIP/TAR for tools that cannot read LZMA2. If your files are still in HEIC format, this page is the shortcut: HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the default photo format of iPhones. It stores photos in roughly half the space of JPG, but many programs and older systems still cannot open it directly.
This converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device, nothing is uploaded, and there are no watermarks, sign-ups or queues. Drop in several files at once to convert them as a batch.
How HEIC compares to XZ
| HEIC | XZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy HEVC (lossless variant exists) | LZMA2 |
| Best for | iPhone photo storage | Packages and releases |
How to convert HEIC to XZ
- 1
Select your files
Select your HEIC file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The file bytes are gzip-compressed in place — the same archive your server or build tool produces, made locally.
- 3
Download results
Download the .gz file — ready to upload, serve or attach.
About the HEIC format
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the HEIF container carrying HEVC-compressed image data, and it has been the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11. At equivalent quality it stores photos in roughly half the space of JPG, keeps 10-bit color and HDR information intact, and can hold multiple images — bursts,Live Photos pairs, even depth maps — in one file.
Its weakness is everything outside Apple's ecosystem. Windows needs an extension from the Store to preview it natively, many web services still reject the upload, and HEVC's patent licensing slowed hardware adoption on non-Apple devices. Android 9+ phones generally handle it, but the desktop web remained JPG territory for years.
+Strengths
- ✓About half the size of JPG at the same quality
- ✓10-bit color and HDR survive the pipeline
- ✓One file can hold bursts, sequences and depth data
!Limitations
- −Windows and many web services need extras to open it
- −HEVC patent licensing complicated adoption outside Apple
- −Thumbnail and preview performance on old hardware is poor
About the XZ format
XZ wraps the LZMA2 algorithm: the best ratio of the common Unix compressors, which is why distribution packages and source releases pick it when bandwidth matters more than CPU.
Windows Explorer and many cross-platform tools cannot open it — unpacking to ZIP or TAR makes the payload portable.
+Strengths
- ✓Highest common ratio
- ✓Standard for Linux packages
- ✓Integrity checks built in
!Limitations
- −Memory-hungry at high settings
- −Sparse support outside Linux
Why convert HEIC to XZ?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of XZ meet what HEIC cannot give you. Highest common ratio Meanwhile Windows and many web services need extras to open it One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this HEIC to XZ converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Will I lose quality converting HEIC to XZ?
No — XZ is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original HEIC file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
What about folders and directory structure?
The full directory tree is preserved: folders stay folders, and deep paths arrive exactly as they were packed in the HEIC file.
Are the files inside my HEIC archive modified?
No. Contents are unpacked in memory and repacked into XZ byte-for-byte — the conversion changes the container, never the files inside it.