HEICPix / HEIC for WordPress
Upload iPhone HEIC to WordPress
WordPress's media library shows "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" when you drop a .heic. Convert to JPG (or WebP) in your browser first, then upload normally.
The fix
Drop your HEIC into HEICPix, pick JPG (or WebP for smaller files), then upload the converted file to WordPress. No plugin install, no wp-config edits, no security risk.
Convert HEIC for WordPress →Why does WordPress block HEIC?
WordPress's wp_check_filetype_and_ext()
function maintains an allowlist of upload MIME types. HEIC isn't on it
— because PHP's GD library (the default image processor in WordPress
installs) can't read HEIC, so even if you let it upload, the
thumbnails would fail to generate.
Some plugins claim to add HEIC support — they typically call ImageMagick or an external API. Both add server load, plugin maintenance, and potential security holes for what's essentially a one-time conversion.
Converting locally first is faster, safer, and works on every WordPress install (including managed hosts that lock down plugins).
Pro tip: pick WebP for blog posts
WordPress 5.8+ accepts WebP uploads natively and serves them faster than JPG. WebP files are 25-50% smaller, which improves Core Web Vitals (LCP score) and your SEO rankings.
Pick "WebP" in HEICPix before downloading. Same visual quality, smaller upload, faster page load.
Bonus: AVIF for cutting-edge sites
WordPress 6.5+ supports AVIF uploads. AVIF is ~50% smaller than JPG at equivalent quality. If your readers run modern browsers (Chrome 124+, Edge 124+, Firefox 113+), AVIF is the lightest option.
Convert HEIC to AVIF →