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How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows, Mac and iPhone

8 min read · Updated 23 October 2026

How do I convert HEIC to JPG? Open the photos in a converter, choose JPG as the output and save the new files. On a Mac you can do it in Preview with File > Export. On Windows you can add Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions or use a converter. You can also change the iPhone camera to Most Compatible so new photos are saved as JPG from the start. To convert a whole batch at once, use the HEIC to JPG converter, which runs in your browser.

HEIC is the photo format that iPhones use by default. It is a good format, but plenty of websites, older apps and Windows PCs still cannot open it. This guide explains what HEIC is, how to convert it on each kind of device, and how to stop getting HEIC files in the first place.

What HEIC is and why it exists

HEIC is Apple's name for HEIF files that use HEVC compression. HEIF is a modern image container, and HEVC is a video codec that is also good at compressing still pictures. Apple's support documentation says these formats offer better compression than JPEG and H.264. In plain terms, a HEIC photo takes less storage than a JPG of similar quality. That saves space on the phone and in iCloud.

Apple began using HEIF on iPhones with iOS 11. The option to change it still lives in the Camera settings, so you can pick which format your phone saves.

HEIC also has a feature that JPG lacks: the HEIF container can hold more than one image in a single file.

The trade-off is compatibility. JPG is more than three decades old and almost everything can open it. HEIC support depends on the operating system, the app and the browser. That is why a photo that looks fine on your phone can fail to upload to a job portal, a school site or an old photo printer.

HEIC and JPG at a glance

HEIC JPG
File size at similar quality Smaller Larger
Opens everywhere No Yes
Can hold several images in one file Yes No
Default on iPhone Yes Only if you change the setting
Good for uploads and sharing Sometimes Almost always

Option 1: Stop the iPhone from saving HEIC

If you convert HEIC photos often, the easiest fix is at the source.

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Camera.
  3. Tap Formats.
  4. Choose Most Compatible.

Apple says that with Most Compatible, new photos and videos use JPEG and H.264. To go back, choose High Efficiency. The option shows up only on iPhone and iPad models that can capture HEIF or HEVC.

Two things to know. This changes only new photos. Photos you already took stay as HEIC. And your files will be larger, so you will use more storage. For most people, a few extra gigabytes is a fair price for fewer headaches.

Option 2: Let the iPhone convert when you transfer

When you plug an iPhone into a computer by USB and import photos, the phone can convert HEIC photos to JPEG on the way. Apple's support page explains that HEIF and HEVC media imported over USB into Photos, Image Capture or a PC may be converted to JPEG or H.264. It also says you can keep the originals instead. On current versions of iOS, that setting is under Settings > Apps > Photos, near the bottom, where you can choose Keep Originals.

If you want JPG files when you import, leave that on the automatic choice. If you want the originals, choose Keep Originals and convert later. The menu names change a little between iOS versions, so scroll the Photos settings page if you do not see the option right away.

Option 3: Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser

This works on any computer, phone or tablet with a modern browser. It is also the quickest way to convert many files at once.

  1. Open the HEIC to JPG converter.
  2. Choose your HEIC photos, or drop a whole selection onto the page. You can add up to 200 images in one batch.
  3. Keep the format on JPEG. The default quality is 82. You can move it anywhere from 1 to 100.
  4. Select Convert to JPEG.
  5. Download each JPG, or download all of them as one ZIP file.

The conversion runs on your device. The HEIC photos are decoded in your browser and the JPEG files are built there too, so nothing is uploaded to a server. Each result line shows the pixel size, the quality and the file size before and after.

Some details that matter:

  • Rotation is applied. The camera stores the direction the phone was held. The converter turns the pixels so the photo stays upright everywhere.
  • Metadata is not copied. The date taken, camera details and GPS location are left out of the JPG. That is handy when you share a photo online. It is a drawback if you wanted to keep the location.
  • Only the main image is converted. If a HEIC file holds extra images, only the primary image becomes a JPG.

The same job is also available in the general image converter, which handles JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP, TIFF and ICO as well as HEIC input.

Option 4: Convert on a Mac

Your Mac can do this without extra software. Apple documents the steps in Preview.

  1. Open the HEIC photo in Preview.
  2. Choose File > Export.
  3. Open the Format pop-up menu and pick JPEG.
  4. Move the quality slider if you want a smaller file, then enter a name and click Save.

To do many at once, open all the photos in a single Preview window, select them in the sidebar and then choose File > Export. Apple says you can convert more than one image file at a time this way.

Option 5: Open or convert on Windows

Windows PCs do not always open HEIC. Microsoft sells two add-ons for this in the Microsoft Store: HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. Guides from several IT help desks say that you usually need both, that the HEIF one is free, and that the HEVC one may cost a small fee on some PCs (often listed at 99 cents). Because those prices and rules change, check the Store listing yourself before you buy.

If you would rather not install anything, use the browser converter above. It decodes HEIC with its own decoder, so it does not depend on what is installed in Windows.

A worked example

Say you took 40 photos on a trip, and you need to upload 12 of them to a rental application that accepts only JPG.

  1. Select the 12 photos on your phone and use Share > Save to Files, or copy them to a computer.
  2. Open the HEIC to JPG converter and add the 12 files.
  3. Leave the quality at 82.
  4. Convert. The page lists each file with its before and after size. Expect the JPG files to be larger than the HEIC originals, since JPG is the less efficient format. How much larger depends on the scene and the quality setting.
  5. Download the ZIP and upload the JPGs.

If the portal also has a file size limit, run the JPGs through the image compressor or read how to compress an image to a specific size.

Common mistakes

  • Renaming .heic to .jpg. Changing the file extension does not change the data. Many programs will refuse the file or show it incorrectly. Always convert.
  • Expecting a smaller file. JPG at the same visual quality is usually larger than HEIC. If size is the problem, lower the quality or reduce the dimensions.
  • Converting to JPG again and again. JPG is lossy. Each time you re-save a JPG, you lose a little detail. Convert once from the HEIC original and keep that original safe.
  • Deleting the originals too soon. The HEIC file can hold more data than the JPG. Keep the originals until you are sure you do not need them.
  • Forgetting about location data. Converting with this tool removes GPS, which helps privacy. If you need the location, keep the original too.
  • Changing the setting and expecting old photos to change. Most Compatible affects new photos only.

Which option should I pick?

  • You send photos to others a lot: switch the camera to Most Compatible.
  • You have a pile of old photos to convert: use the browser converter and download a ZIP.
  • You are on a Mac and have a few photos: use Preview.
  • You are on a work or school PC where you cannot install anything: use the browser converter.

FAQ

Is HEIC better than JPG? For storage, yes. HEIC gives similar quality at a smaller file size, and it can hold extras such as depth data. For compatibility, JPG wins. If you only ever view photos on Apple devices, HEIC is fine. If you share often, JPG avoids problems.

Will I lose quality when I convert HEIC to JPG? A little, because both formats are lossy and you are encoding the picture again. The converter's page suggests 75 to 90 for most photos, and the default is 82. Pick a higher quality number if you plan to edit the file further.

Why does my HEIC photo not open on Windows? Windows needs codec support for HEIC. Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions add it, but not every PC has them installed. Converting to JPG sidesteps the issue.

Is it safe to convert HEIC photos online? It depends on the service. Many sites upload your photos to their servers. The toolsdocks converter decodes and converts the photos in your browser, and nothing is uploaded, which is the safer design for personal pictures.

Does converting remove the location from my photos? With the HEIC to JPG converter, yes. Metadata such as the camera model, the date taken and the GPS location is not copied into the new files.

Can I convert HEIC videos too? No. HEIC is a still-image format. Videos on the iPhone are usually HEVC in an MOV file, and they need a video converter instead.

For more on picking the right format for each job, read choosing an image format.