Why your photos look washed out
Since 2023-2024, flagship phones save photos as Ultra HDR (Android) or HDR HEIC (iPhone). These files contain your normal photo plus a hidden second image called a gain map — instructions that tell an HDR screen how bright each area should glow. On an HDR display, it looks stunning.
Everywhere else, it breaks. Apps, sites and printers that don't understand the gain map either ignore it (flat, gray, washed-out) or half-apply it (dim shadows, blown highlights). That's why the photo looks great in your camera roll and terrible the second you share it.
What this tool actually does
For JPGs, it performs surgery, not conversion: the gain map is a separate chunk appended inside the file, so we remove that chunk and its metadata pointers and keep your original image bytes untouched. Zero re-compression, zero quality loss, finished in milliseconds. For HEIC photos, we decode the standard (SDR) base image — the one every device understands — and hand it back as a plain JPG.
| Input | What happens | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra HDR JPG (Pixel, Galaxy, Instagram export) | Gain map stripped, pixels untouched | Lossless |
| HDR HEIC (iPhone) | SDR base image → standard JPG | Visually identical |
| Already-normal photo | We tell you it's fine and change nothing | — |
FAQ
Will this make my photo lower quality?
No. For JPGs the image data is byte-identical — we only remove the HDR layer riding along inside the file. Your photo will also get smaller, because gain maps typically add 1-3 MB.
Why do my iPhone screenshots look washed out too?
iOS 26 made screenshots and screen recordings HDR by default. Same problem, same fix — drop them here.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
Never. The fix runs in your browser's memory. Open DevTools → Network while converting: you'll see zero upload requests. It even works in airplane mode.
How do I stop my phone doing this in the first place?
Android: Camera → settings → turn off Ultra HDR (name varies by brand). iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible helps for photos. But most people keep HDR on — it does look better on your own phone — and just fix the copies they share. That's what this page is for.
Can I fix many photos at once?
Yes — drop a whole selection. Turn on Auto-download in the header and the finished batch zips and saves itself.