How do I optimize HEIC files?

Run "npx optimo photo.heic" in your terminal. Optimo applies format-specific ImageMagick-powered compression that reduces HEIC file size while preserving quality. The original file is kept if the optimized output is not smaller.

Is HEIC optimization lossless?

By default, optimo uses lossless optimization for HEIC. For additional compression, add the --lossy flag to allow minor quality trade-offs for significantly smaller files.

What tools does optimo use for HEIC?

Optimo uses ImageMagick, MozJPEG, and SVGO (depending on format) under the hood with format-specific settings tuned for HEIC files.

Optimize HEIC for the web

A common camera output format (especially Apple devices) with efficient compression.

Last updated: 2026-03-18

To optimize HEIC images, run npx optimo photo.heic. Optimo applies format-specific ImageMagick-powered compression that typically reduces HEIC file size by 15–40% without visible quality loss. The original file is kept if the output is not smaller.

Command

Start here. Run optimo on a image file:

npx optimo photo.heic

Tip: add --dry-run to preview changes.

When to use HEIC

photos from phones
camera exports

Trade-offs

Not web-native; often needs conversion for the browser

Related formats

PNG

Lossless image format with sharp edges and great support for transparency.

JPEG

The classic photo format: widely supported, good quality-to-size for photographs.

WebP

Modern image format with great compression and broad browser support.

AVIF

High-compression modern image format that can beat WebP on size at similar quality.

JPEG XL

Next-gen image format designed for high quality and efficient compression.

GIF

Legacy animated image format that is still widely used for simple loops.

SVG

Vector format: crisp at any size and excellent for icons and illustrations.

Related conversions

Convert HEIC to JPEG Convert HEIC to WebP Convert PNG to HEIC Convert JPEG to HEIC Convert WebP to HEIC Convert AVIF to HEIC Convert HEIC to PNG Convert HEIC to AVIF

More for HEIC

Compress HEIC Resize HEIC What is HEIC?

Compare formats

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Frequently asked questions

How do I optimize HEIC files?: Run "npx optimo photo.heic" in your terminal. Optimo applies format-specific ImageMagick-powered compression that reduces HEIC file size while preserving quality. The original file is kept if the optimized output is not smaller.
Is HEIC optimization lossless?: By default, optimo uses lossless optimization for HEIC. For additional compression, add the --lossy flag to allow minor quality trade-offs for significantly smaller files.
What tools does optimo use for HEIC?: Optimo uses ImageMagick, MozJPEG, and SVGO (depending on format) under the hood with format-specific settings tuned for HEIC files.