PCX dates back to MS-DOS paint programs in the early 1980s, decades before HEIC or even JPG existed, and it stores image data with simple RLE (run-length encoding) compression that works best on images with large areas of solid color rather than detailed photography. Converting an iPhone photo from HEIC to PCX is mainly about compatibility with legacy software, older printing systems, or specific industrial and scientific imaging tools that were built around PCX support long before modern photo formats were standardized.
Since PCX's compression isn't particularly efficient on photographic content, expect the converted file to be considerably larger than the original HEIC, which benefits from far more modern compression technology.
- Install Turbo Batch Image Converter Pro on your Windows PC.
- Open the app and select Batch Mode for multiple files, or Individual Mode for a single HEIC file.
- Drag your HEIC file or folder into the app window, enabling recursive folder scanning if needed.
- Set the "From" format to HEIC and the "To" format to PCX.
- Click Convert. PCX files are written to the output folder, fully offline.
- 100% offline — your photos are never sent to any server
- Bulk conversion of entire iPhone photo libraries in one pass
- Produces standard PCX files for legacy and specialized software compatibility
- Multi-core processing for fast handling of large batches
- Option to delete original HEIC files automatically once converted
- No recurring subscription or hidden upload limits
Is PCX still used today?
It's largely been replaced by more modern formats for everyday use, but some legacy software, older printing systems, and specialized industrial or scientific imaging tools still rely on PCX support.
Will my PCX file be much larger than the original HEIC?
Likely yes, since HEIC's HEVC-based compression is far more efficient on photographic content than PCX's simple RLE compression, which works better on images with large flat color areas.
Can I batch-convert a whole folder of HEIC photos to PCX?
Yes, Batch Mode handles entire folders, including nested sub-folders, in a single conversion run.
Ready to convert your images offline, in bulk, with full privacy?