How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone, Windows and Mac
By the Toolbenchly team ·
You took photos on an iPhone, copied them to a computer or tried to upload them to a website, and found files ending in .heic that won't open or aren't accepted. This guide explains what HEIC is and the quickest ways to get JPGs instead, on every device.
What is HEIC?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container, Apple's name for the HEIF image format. iPhones and iPads have used it by default since iOS 11 (2017). It keeps the same visual quality as JPG in roughly half the space, and supports features like Live Photos and depth data.
The downside is compatibility. Windows needs an extra extension to open HEIC, many websites and upload forms only accept JPG or PNG, and older software can't read it at all.
The fastest way: convert in your browser
Open HEIC to JPG, drop your files and click Convert. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook and phones, needs no installation, and converts many photos at once into a ZIP. The conversion runs on your device, so private photos are never uploaded. Use HEIC to PNG if you need lossless files for editing.
Stop your iPhone from saving HEIC
- Open Settings.
- Tap Camera → Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible.
New photos are saved as JPG from then on. They take about twice as much storage. Existing photos stay HEIC.
Another option keeps HEIC on the phone but sends JPG to computers: Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic. With a cable, Windows then receives JPGs.
On an iPhone, without any app
Open the photo, tap Share and choose Save to Files or Copy; many apps receive a JPG automatically. Email and most messaging apps also convert on the way out. For a reliable result with several photos, use the browser converter above in Safari.
On Windows
Windows 10 and 11 can open HEIC after installing the HEIF Image Extensions (and for some files HEVC Video Extensions) from the Microsoft Store. Then open the photo in Photos and use Save as to choose JPG, one photo at a time. For many photos, the browser converter is much faster.
On a Mac
Open the photo in Preview, choose File → Export and pick JPEG. For several photos, select them all in Preview's sidebar first and export them together. In the Photos app, File → Export → Export Photos with JPEG selected also works.
Does converting lose quality?
A small amount, but at JPG quality 90% or above the difference isn't visible. The JPG file will be larger than the HEIC, often 1.5–2×, because JPG is the less efficient format. If the result is too big for an upload form, compress it afterwards with the Image Compressor.
What about location data?
HEIC photos usually contain GPS coordinates and camera details. The browser converter on this site draws only the picture into the new JPG, so location data is not carried over, which is a good thing when you share photos publicly.