How to convert HEIC to JPG on any device
You copy your iPhone photos to your computer, try to open them or upload them somewhere, and hit the usual wall: they are .HEIC files and nothing accepts them. The fix is converting them to JPG, and the best way depends on where your photos are. Here is every option, from fastest to most manual, and at the end how to stop your iPhone giving you HEIC in the first place.
Quick summary: which method to use
| Where your photos are | Fastest method |
|---|---|
| On your computer (Windows or Mac) | Online converter, drag and download |
| On your iPhone, going to a PC | Transfer in Automatic format |
| On your iPhone, one or a few photos | “Convert Image” quick action in Files |
| On a Mac | Finder quick action or Preview |
| On Windows, regularly | HEIF extension + Photos app (needs install) |
1. Online, in your browser (Windows, Mac, Linux or phone)
This works on any system with nothing to install. Most online converters upload your photos to their server to convert them, which is worth avoiding with personal pictures. ConversorHEIC converts inside your own browser: your photos never leave your device.
- Open the HEIC to JPG converter.
- Drag your HEIC files in. There is no file limit and no watermark.
- Keep the format on JPG and the default 92% quality. If you plan to edit later, raise it to 100%.
- Download the photos one by one or all together as a ZIP.
As a bonus, converting strips the GPS location your iPhone stores in every photo, which is handy if you are going to share them.
Convert them to JPG in seconds, free, with no limits and without uploading them anywhere.
Convert HEIC to JPG now
2. On iPhone
Let the iPhone transfer them as JPG
If the problem shows up when you transfer photos from iPhone to PC over a cable, you do not need to convert anything afterwards. Go to Settings > Photos and, at the bottom, under Transfer to Mac or PC, choose Automatic. With that option the iPhone converts photos to JPG as they are copied. With “Keep Originals” they arrive as HEIC.
Convert a single photo with the Files app
Since iOS 16, the Files app can convert images without any third-party app:
- In Photos, select the photo, tap Share and choose Save to Files.
- In the Files app, long-press the photo and go to Quick Actions > Convert Image.
- Pick JPEG and the size. A JPG copy is created next to the original.
3. On Mac
macOS opens HEIC natively, so converting is instant:
- Finder: select one or more photos, right-click > Quick Actions > Convert Image and choose JPEG. The fastest way for many at once.
- Preview: open the photo, go to File > Export, choose JPEG and set the quality with the slider.
4. On Windows 10 and 11
Windows does not open HEIC out of the box. You have two options:
- Without installing anything: use the in-browser converter. The quickest route if you only convert now and then.
- Installing codecs: add HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Then open the photo in the Photos app, click the three dots and choose Save as to export it as JPG. Step by step in how to open HEIC files on Windows 11.
Converting without losing quality: which setting to pick
JPG is lossy, so converting always means a second compression pass. What matters is that you cannot see it:
| Recommended setting | What the photo is for |
|---|---|
| JPG at 85–92% | Sharing, WhatsApp, social media, websites |
| JPG at 95–100% | Printing or archiving |
| JPG at 100% or PNG | Editing later (Photoshop, Lightroom) |
| WebP | Uploading to your own website (smaller than JPG) |
Do not worry if the JPG is bigger than the original HEIC: that is normal. HEIC takes roughly half the space of a JPG at the same quality, so the file grows when converted. If you need it smaller, run it through the image compressor afterwards.
How to stop your iPhone taking photos in HEIC
If you would rather never convert again, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. From then on new photos are saved as JPG. The trade-off is storage: each photo will take roughly twice the space. The photos you already have stay in HEIC, so those still need converting.
My advice: keep the iPhone on “High Efficiency” to save space, set Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic, and convert by hand only the photos you need to send or upload somewhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to convert HEIC to JPG?
If the photos are already on your computer, a browser-based converter: drag the photos in and download the JPGs in seconds, with nothing to install. If they are still on your iPhone, the fastest option is letting the iPhone transfer them as JPG by setting Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic.
Do you lose quality converting HEIC to JPG?
JPG uses lossy compression, so technically there is a second compression pass. At 90 to 95% quality the difference is not visible to the naked eye. If you plan to edit the photo later, use 100% quality or convert to PNG, which is lossless.
How do I make my iPhone take photos in JPG?
Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. From then on new photos are saved as JPG instead of HEIC, at roughly twice the file size. Photos you already have stay in HEIC.
Is there a free HEIC to JPG converter with no limits?
Yes. ConversorHEIC is free, has no file limit or watermarks, and converts inside your own browser, so your photos are never uploaded to a server.
Why is the converted JPG larger than the original HEIC?
That is expected. HEIC uses a newer codec that takes roughly half the space of JPG at the same quality, so the file grows when converted to JPG. It does not mean anything went wrong.