To convert HEIC to JPG, open the photo in an app that reads HEIC and export it as JPEG: Preview on a Mac (File > Export > JPEG), Paint on Windows once the HEIF extensions are installed, or a browser-based converter. To stop new iPhone photos saving as HEIC, choose Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible.
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is the file extension Apple uses for still images stored in HEIF, the High Efficiency Image File Format. Apple introduced support for HEIF photos and HEVC video in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra, and iPhones that can capture in these formats use them by default.
According to Apple, HEIF and HEVC compress better than JPEG and H.264, so they take up less storage on the device and in iCloud Photos while keeping the same visual quality.
Why won't HEIC files open everywhere?
JPEG has been readable by virtually every device, browser and app for decades. HEIC is newer, and the image data inside it is usually encoded with HEVC, a codec that not every platform decodes out of the box. The result is a familiar set of problems:
- A Windows PC shows a blank thumbnail or an error when opening the photo.
- An upload form on a website rejects the file or only accepts JPG and PNG.
- An older Android phone, printer kiosk or photo editor cannot read it.
Apple devices handle the format natively, so the trouble usually starts when a photo leaves the Apple ecosystem by email, USB cable, cloud drive or messaging app.
How do you convert HEIC to JPG on an iPhone?
There are two separate fixes: one for photos taken from now on, and one for photos already on the phone.
Shoot JPG from now on
Open Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. Apple's documentation states that new photos and videos are then saved as JPEG and H.264. The option only appears on iPhone models that can capture HEIF. The trade-off is larger files, since JPEG is less efficient.
Let the iPhone convert on transfer
When HEIF media is imported from an iPhone into Photos, Image Capture or a PC, it may be converted to JPEG automatically. This behavior is controlled under Settings > Apps > Photos, in the "Transfer to Mac or PC" section: Automatic allows the conversion, while Keep Originals copies the HEIC files unchanged. If HEIC files keep appearing on a computer, check that this setting is on Automatic.
How do you convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac?
Preview, the image viewer built into macOS, converts formats directly:
- Open the HEIC file in Preview.
- Choose File > Export.
- Set the Format pop-up menu to JPEG and adjust the Quality slider.
- Pick a name and location, then click Save.
To convert several photos at once, open them in one Preview window, select them all in the sidebar, then follow the same steps. The Photos app's File > Export command can also write JPEG copies of photos in the library.
How do you convert HEIC to JPG on Windows?
Windows 10 and 11 need two add-ons from the Microsoft Store before they can display HEIC photos:
| Add-on | Purpose |
|---|---|
| HEIF Image Extension | Lets Windows read and write the HEIF container |
| HEVC Video Extensions | Decodes the HEVC-compressed image data inside most HEIC files |
Microsoft's store listing for the HEIF Image Extension notes that the HEVC Video Extensions package must be installed to view images stored in HEIF files. With both installed, a HEIC photo opens in the Photos app like any other image. To make a JPG copy, open the photo in Paint and choose File > Save as > JPEG picture.
If installing extensions is not an option, for example on a managed work computer, a browser-based converter avoids the problem entirely.
How do you convert HEIC to JPG in a browser?
A web converter is the quickest route when only a few files are involved or when software cannot be installed. The main question is privacy: many online converters upload photos to a server, which means personal images, along with their location data, leave the device.
CalcWisp's HEIC to JPG converter works differently. A decoder runs inside the browser, converts each photo on the device and offers the JPGs as downloads, so nothing is uploaded. The steps:
- Drop one or more HEIC files on the converter.
- Choose a JPG quality (a high setting such as 90% or above keeps the loss invisible).
- Download the JPGs individually or all at once.
The converter applies the camera's orientation so portrait photos come out upright, and it writes a clean JPG without the original EXIF block, which removes GPS coordinates.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
Some, in principle. Both formats are lossy, so turning a HEIC into a JPG decodes the image and compresses it a second time with a less efficient method. In practice:
| Choice | Effect |
|---|---|
| JPG at high quality (90%+) | Differences are not visible at normal viewing sizes; file is usually larger than the HEIC |
| JPG at low quality (below about 70%) | Smaller file, but blocky artifacts can appear in skies and gradients |
| PNG | No further loss, but files are several times larger |
Keep the original HEIC files until the converted copies have been checked. If a photo will be edited repeatedly, convert to PNG for the working copy and export a JPG only at the end; re-saving a JPG again and again compounds the loss.
Which format should you choose?
| Need | Best format |
|---|---|
| Sharing by email, uploading to websites, printing | JPG |
| Editing, screenshots with text, transparency | PNG |
| Saving storage on Apple devices | Keep HEIC |
For most people the practical approach is to leave the iPhone on its default HEIC setting to save storage, keep transfers on Automatic, and convert individual photos to JPG only when a recipient or website cannot read HEIC.