How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
Quick answer: open a free HEIC to JPG converter, choose your HEIC photos (you can select hundreds at once), pick JPG, and download them. To stop new iPhone photos being saved as HEIC, go to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible.
Since iOS 11, iPhones and iPads save photos in HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) format by default. HEIC files are about half the size of JPGs, which saves a lot of storage — but many Windows PCs, older Android phones, websites and apps can't open them. Converting to JPG fixes that, because JPG works everywhere.
The quickest way: convert HEIC to JPG online (any device)
- Open the HEIC to JPG converter.
- Choose your HEIC or HEIF photos — select many at once to batch convert them.
- Choose JPG (or PNG if you need lossless images) and set the quality. The default of 92% keeps photos looking the same.
- Click Convert HEIC and download your photos individually or all together as a ZIP file.
Convert iPhone HEIC and HEIF photos to JPG or PNG so you can open and share them on any device.
This works the same on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android and iPhone. The photos are converted inside your browser, so they're never uploaded — useful for personal or family pictures. As a bonus for privacy, the converted JPGs don't carry over the original photo's hidden details such as GPS location.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 10 and 11
Windows can only open HEIC photos after you install two add-ons from the Microsoft Store: HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions (the HEVC one usually costs a small fee). With both installed, open the photo in the Photos app and use Save as to save a JPG copy.
For more than a handful of photos, the online converter above is quicker: select the whole folder of HEIC files at once and download them as JPGs in a ZIP.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac
- One photo: open it in Preview, choose File → Export, set Format to JPEG and save.
- Many photos (macOS Monterey and later): select them in Finder, right-click, choose Quick Actions → Convert Image, pick JPEG and click Convert.
- From the Photos app: select the photos, then File → Export → Export Photos and choose JPEG as the photo kind.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone
There are two easy options:
- Save future photos as JPG: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. Your iPhone now takes JPG photos. (You lose the space saving, and some features like 4K at 60 fps video need High Efficiency.)
- Convert photos you already have: open the converter in Safari, tap to choose photos from your library, and save the JPGs to Files or Photos.
When you copy photos to a computer with a cable, iPhone can convert them automatically: Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on Android
Many newer Android phones can view HEIC photos, but apps and websites may still reject them. Open the converter in Chrome on your phone, choose the HEIC files (from your Downloads or a messaging app), convert and save the JPGs.
HEIC vs JPG: which should you use?
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | About half of a JPG at similar quality | Larger |
| Compatibility | Apple devices; limited elsewhere | Works on every device, app and website |
| Colour depth | Up to 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Best for | Storing photos on iPhone and iCloud | Sharing, uploading, printing |
A good approach: keep shooting in HEIC to save space, and convert to JPG only when you need to share or upload.
After converting
- Too big to email or upload? Shrink them with Compress Image.
- Need to submit photos as one document? Combine them with JPG to PDF.
- Live Photos: a HEIC Live Photo converts to a normal still JPG; the short video part is a separate file.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
Very little if you use a high quality setting (around 90%). JPG files are larger than HEIC for the same quality, so expect the converted photos to take up more space.
How do I stop my iPhone taking HEIC photos?
Open Settings → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos are saved as JPG. Photos you already took stay in HEIC.
Why can't Windows open HEIC files?
HEIC uses the HEVC compression format, which Windows doesn't include by default. You need Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store — or you can convert the photos to JPG instead.
Can I convert many HEIC photos at once?
Yes. Choose all your HEIC files at once in the converter and download them together as a ZIP file.
Is HEIC better than JPG?
HEIC stores photos at roughly half the file size of JPG with similar quality and supports features like 16-bit colour. JPG's advantage is that every device, app and website can open it.
ERP developer and AI & automation engineer who builds and maintains every tool on WebToolNest. More about me.