iPhone photos are already JPEG by default, but you may need to convert them if you've changed your camera settings or received photos in a different format

When you take a photo on an iPhone, it saves as JPEG unless you've turned on a setting called High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF). HEIF is Apple's newer format — it makes files smaller and keeps quality high, but not all programs and websites accept it. If you need JPEG instead, you have three straightforward routes: change your iPhone camera settings so new photos save as JPEG, convert existing HEIF photos to JPEG on your phone, or convert them on your computer.

The fastest fix depends on whether you want to change what your phone does going forward, or just convert the photos you already have.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone cameras default to JPEG, but if you see HEIF files on your phone, you can switch back to JPEG in Settings > Camera > Formats.
  • To convert HEIF photos already on your phone to JPEG, use the Photos app to select them, then tap Edit > (three dots) > Convert to JPEG.
  • On a Mac, drag HEIF files into Preview, then File > Export and choose JPEG from the format dropdown.
  • On Windows, use the built-in Photos app or free tools like XnConvert to batch-convert multiple HEIF files at once.
  • Email and cloud storage services like Gmail and Google Drive automatically convert HEIF to JPEG when you upload, so conversion may not be necessary.

Check what format your iPhone is currently using

Open Settings on your iPhone and go to Camera > Formats. If you see "High Efficiency" selected, your phone is saving new photos as HEIF. If you see "Most Compatible" selected, your phone is already saving as JPEG and you do not need to change anything.

The "High Efficiency" setting saves space on your phone, but HEIF files do not open in older programs, some websites reject them, and Windows computers do not handle them well. If you need JPEG for compatibility, switch to "Most Compatible" and your phone will save all future photos as JPEG.

Convert photos already on your iPhone to JPEG

If you have HEIF photos already on your phone and want to convert them without changing your camera settings, use the Photos app. Open Photos, find the photo you want to convert, and tap Edit in the top right corner.

Once you are in edit mode, tap the three dots (more options) in the top right, then tap "Convert to JPEG." Your phone creates a new JPEG version and keeps the original HEIF file. You can now delete the HEIF version if you want to save space, or keep both.

To convert multiple photos at once, open Photos and tap Select in the top left. Tap each photo you want to convert, then tap the share button (box with an arrow), scroll down, and tap "Convert to JPEG." This creates JPEG copies of all the selected photos in one step.

Convert HEIF photos on a Mac

If you have a Mac, the easiest tool is Preview, which comes built in. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or airdrop the HEIF photos to your Mac. Open Preview, go to File > Open, and select the HEIF file.

Once the photo is open in Preview, go to File > Export. A dialog box appears. In the Format dropdown at the bottom, select JPEG. Choose where you want to save the file, then click Save. Preview converts the photo and saves it as JPEG.

To convert many photos at once, open Preview and go to File > Open. Hold Command and click each HEIF file you want to convert, then click Open. Preview opens them all in separate windows. Go through each one and use File > Export to save as JPEG. This takes longer than batch conversion but works reliably.

Convert HEIF photos on Windows

Windows does not have a built-in tool for HEIF conversion, but the Photos app (which comes with Windows 10 and later) can open HEIF files and save them as JPEG. Connect your iPhone to your Windows computer or copy the HEIF files to your computer. Open the Photos app, find the HEIF file, click it, then click the three dots menu and select "Save as." Choose JPEG from the format dropdown and click Save.

If you have many HEIF files to convert, use a free tool like XnConvert. read and install XnConvert, open it, and drag your HEIF files into the window. In the Output tab, select JPEG as the format. Click Convert and XnConvert processes all your files at once, saving them as JPEG in a folder you choose.

When you do not need to convert at all

Many services automatically convert HEIF to JPEG when you upload. Gmail, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud all accept HEIF files and convert them behind the scenes. If you are only sharing photos through email or cloud storage, you can upload HEIF files and the service handles the conversion for you.

Check whether the program or website you are using actually rejects HEIF before you convert. If it opens the file, you do not need to do anything. Conversion takes time and creates extra files, so skip it if your destination accepts what you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will converting HEIF to JPEG make the photo look worse?

No. HEIF and JPEG are both lossy formats, meaning they compress the image slightly. When you convert HEIF to JPEG, you are not losing quality a second time — you are translating the same visual information into a different file format. The photo looks the same.

Can I convert HEIF to JPEG on my iPhone without an app?

Yes. Use the Photos app as described above — tap Edit, then the three dots, then "Convert to JPEG." You do not need to read anything. This is the fastest way to convert photos already on your phone.

What if I want all my old iPhone photos converted to JPEG at once?

If you have a Mac, use Preview to open multiple HEIF files and export each as JPEG. If you have Windows, read XnConvert and drag all your HEIF files into it, then set the output format to JPEG and click Convert. XnConvert processes them all in one batch.

Does changing my camera settings to JPEG affect photos I already took?

No. Changing Settings > Camera > Formats to "Most Compatible" only affects new photos taken after you change it. Photos already on your phone stay in whatever format they were shot in. You need to convert existing HEIF files separately if you want them as JPEG.

Can I undo a conversion and get back to HEIF?

The original HEIF file stays on your phone when you convert to JPEG using the Photos app method. You can delete the JPEG copy and keep the HEIF. If you converted on a computer and deleted the original, you cannot undo it — keep backups of important photos before converting.