HEIC to JP2 Converter
Convert HEIC to JP2 in your browser. HEIC files usually come from iPhones and iPads since iOS 11, and many recent Android phones; JP2 is the better fit for archival masters and specialist imaging. You get a lossless JPEG 2000 (.jp2) using the reversible 5/3 wavelet. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
HEIC expected · other image formats also work
How to use HEIC to JP2
- 1
Add your HEIC files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
There is nothing to tune: the JP2 is written losslessly. Resizing and rotating are under More options if you need them.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .jp2 files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for heic to jp2
Where the JP2 goes next
JP2 opens in macOS Preview, GIMP, IrfanView, XnView, ImageMagick and the OpenJPEG tools.
JP2 next to HEIC
The JP2 keeps the decoded pixels without lossy compression, so expect it to be larger than the HEIC.
No new artefacts
HEIC is already lossy, since it stores lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles; the JP2 keeps the decoded pixels losslessly, so this step adds no compression damage of its own.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
HEIC vs JP2
What changes from HEIC to JP2
Encoding: the HEIC uses lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles; JP2 uses wavelet coding: reversible 5/3 for lossless files, irreversible 9/7 for lossy ones, and the download is a lossless JPEG 2000 (.jp2) using the reversible 5/3 wavelet.
Bit depth: 8 or 10 bits per channel in the HEIC; JP2 allows up to 16 bits per channel is common, more is possible, and the JP2 written here has 8 bits per channel. 10-bit HEIC photos are reduced to 8 bits per channel.
Colour: YCbCr, usually tagged Display P3 on iPhones in the HEIC; JP2 supports sRGB, greyscale, YCC or a space described by an ICC profile, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the HEIC stores it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras; the JP2 keeps it as an extra component flagged as opacity.
Other images: the HEIC can hold a thumbnail, depth map, HDR gain map and burst shots as extra items; only the main image is converted.
Metadata: the HEIC can carry EXIF, XMP and an ICC profile, stored as items; JP2 can carry XML, ICC and resolution boxes, but nothing is copied across.
About HEIC
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones and many Android phones. It is about half the size of JPEG, but Windows, many websites and older software cannot open it without converting.
A HEIC is a HEIF file (ISO base media boxes with the brand 'heic'). iPhone photos store the picture as a grid of 512×512 HEVC tiles that the decoder stitches together, with the thumbnail, depth map and HDR gain map as further items.
HEIC files usually come from iPhones and iPads since iOS 11, and many recent Android phones.
About JP2
JPEG 2000 is a wavelet-based format that can be truly lossless or lossy, handles very high bit depths and huge images, and is used where long-term fidelity matters: archives, medicine, satellites and digital cinema.
A .jp2 file is a box structure: a 12-byte signature box, an 'ftyp' box, a 'jp2h' header box with the size and colour specification, then the 'jp2c' box holding the codestream, which begins with FF 4F FF 51.
When converting HEIC to JP2 makes sense
JP2 is the better choice for archival masters and specialist imaging, while HEIC suits storing photos on Apple devices.
JP2 strengths: True lossless mode; High bit depths and very large images; Standardised for archives and digital cinema. Drawbacks to weigh: Browsers do not display it; Slow to encode and decode; Patchy support in everyday apps.
Limitations
- iPhone photos are usually Display P3; colours are mapped to sRGB, so very saturated reds and greens can look slightly less vivid.
- Lossless JPEG 2000 is larger than a lossy one, but usually smaller than an uncompressed TIFF of the same pixels.
- No current browser displays JP2 by default; archive and imaging software opens it.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to JP2 lose quality?
JP2 is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded. Artefacts already in the HEIC stay, but nothing new is lost. 10-bit HEIC photos are reduced to 8 bits per channel. Not carried over: any a thumbnail.
Is transparency kept in the JP2?
Yes. HEIC stores it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras, and the JP2 is written with an alpha channel, so transparent areas stay transparent.
Why can't I open HEIC photos on Windows or websites?
HEIC uses the HEVC codec, which is patent-encumbered and not built into most browsers, Windows apps and upload forms. Converting makes the photo open where HEIC does not, and the HEIC is decoded inside your browser to do it.
Is the JPEG 2000 file lossless?
Yes. It is written with JPEG 2000's reversible 5/3 wavelet, so decoding it gives back exactly the pixels that went in. The trade-off is size: a lossless JP2 is larger than a lossy one, though usually smaller than an uncompressed TIFF.
Which apps open JP2 files?
MacOS Preview, GIMP, IrfanView, XnView, ImageMagick and the OpenJPEG tools. It does not open in web browsers by default.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.