HEIC to JPG: How to Convert iPhone Photos on Any Device
Took a photo on your iPhone and can’t open it on your PC? That’s HEIC — Apple’s efficient but incompatible photo format. Here are 5 easy ways to convert HEIC to JPG on any device.
What is HEIC, and why does the iPhone use it?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11. Apple switched because HEIC files are roughly half the size of JPGs at the same quality — your phone stores twice as many photos.
The tradeoff is compatibility. While Apple devices handle HEIC natively, Windows PCs, older Android phones, many websites and most email systems don’t. That “can’t open this file” moment is why you’re here.
Method 1: Make your iPhone shoot JPG instead (easiest long-term fix)
If you’d rather never deal with HEIC again, tell your iPhone to capture JPGs:
- Open Settings → Camera → Formats
- Switch from High Efficiency to Most Compatible
New photos will save as JPG. (Existing HEIC photos stay HEIC — use a method below for those.) The downside: JPGs take about twice the storage, so this suits people with room to spare.
Method 2: Auto-convert when transferring to a computer
Keep shooting HEIC but have the iPhone convert automatically during transfer:
- Open Settings → Photos
- Scroll to Transfer to Mac or PC
- Select Automatic instead of “Keep Originals”
Now photos arrive on your computer as JPGs without you lifting a finger. This is the best set-and-forget option if you regularly move photos to a PC.
Method 3: Convert on Mac with Preview (no downloads)
Macs read HEIC natively, and Preview converts in seconds:
- Double-click the HEIC file to open it in Preview
- Go to File → Export
- Choose JPEG from the Format dropdown, pick a quality, and save
For batches, select multiple files in Preview’s sidebar thumbnails and export them together.
Method 4: Convert on Windows
Windows 10/11 can open HEIC files if you install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (plus the HEVC Video Extensions on some systems). Once installed:
- Open the photo in the Photos app
- Click ··· → Save as and choose JPG
If you’d rather skip Microsoft’s extensions maze, the online method below needs no installs at all.
Method 5: Use an online HEIC to JPG converter
No settings to change, nothing to install: upload the HEIC file, download a JPG. It’s the fastest option for a handful of photos, and it works identically on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and Chromebook.
We’re currently building a dedicated HEIC to JPG converter here at instantwebp — it’ll be free, need no signup, and delete your files within an hour like all our tools. Until then, our general image converter handles JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF and BMP conversions in bulk.
HEIC vs JPG: quick comparison
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | ~50% smaller | Larger |
| Quality | Excellent (also supports 16-bit) | Very good (8-bit) |
| iPhone / Mac | Native support | Native support |
| Windows / web | Patchy — often needs extensions | Universal |
| Best for | Storing photos on Apple devices | Sharing and compatibility everywhere |
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
Minimally. HEIC is the higher-quality source, so converting down to JPG at high quality settings preserves virtually everything your eye can see. Convert once at quality 90+ and you won’t notice a difference.
Why are my iPhone photos HEIC instead of JPG?
Since iOS 11, iPhones default to HEIC (“High Efficiency” in Settings → Camera → Formats) because it halves storage use. Switch to “Most Compatible” to shoot JPG instead.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG on the iPhone itself?
Yes — the simplest way is Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic, which converts during transfer. For on-device conversion, the Files app can do it: copy the photo into Files, and iOS converts it to JPG in the process.
Is HEIC better than JPG?
Technically yes — smaller files, better quality ceiling, 16-bit color. Practically, JPG still wins on compatibility: it opens everywhere with no fuss. Use HEIC for storage, JPG for sharing.
