ARW · Sony RAW
Convert ARW to HEIC
ARW is the RAW format Sony Alpha cameras write, and on a high-resolution body the files are big — a full-frame Alpha can produce 40 to 60 MB per shot. A few months of shooting fills a lot of storage. RawToHEIC converts your ARW files to HEIC inside Apple Photos, up to 10× smaller, keeping every edit, album, favorite, and location.
What is an ARW file?
An ARW file is a Sony RAW photo — the sensor’s unprocessed data, saved by Sony Alpha mirrorless and DSLR cameras for the most editing latitude. On modern high-megapixel bodies it is large, commonly 24 to 60 MB depending on resolution and compression setting. RAW is invaluable while you are grading a photo, but once a shot is finished you no longer need that headroom, and converting it to HEIC frees most of the space while keeping the picture visually identical.
Convert ARW right inside Photos
No exporting to Files, no importing back, nothing uploaded. Select your ARW photos in Apple Photos, tap Share, and let RawToHEIC convert them on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Everything about the photo is kept
- Edits, crops, and adjustments carry over exactly as they look in Photos.
- Album membership, favorites, captions, and keywords stay put.
- Location and full camera metadata (EXIF) travel with the HEIC.
- HDR is preserved with an ISO 21496-1 gain map.
- Your originals are never deleted until the HEIC is saved and verified.
Cameras that shoot ARW
ARW is written by Sony Alpha and RX cameras, often 24–60 MB per photo. If you shoot any of these, RawToHEIC converts their files:
ARW questions, answered
What is an ARW file?
An ARW is a Sony RAW photo — unprocessed sensor data from a Sony Alpha or RX camera, kept large to preserve full editing latitude.
How do I open an ARW file?
Apple Photos and Preview open ARW natively on a recent iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and RawToHEIC reads them straight from Photos.
Can I shrink my ARW files without losing edits?
Yes. RawToHEIC converts ARW to HEIC, about 10× smaller and visually identical, keeping your edits, album, favorite, location, and camera metadata.
Does converting an ARW reduce quality?
HEIC is lossy, so it trades a difference most people cannot see for a large drop in size. Keep originals for irreplaceable shots; convert the rest.
Will it delete my original ARW files?
Only if you choose to, per batch, and never until the HEIC is saved and verified. Deleted originals stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days.
Get your storage back.
Convert your ARW files to HEIC on-device, keep every edit and album, and reclaim the space — one purchase for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Not sure yet? Convert a few sample photos free — no install, nothing uploaded.
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