HEIC is Apple's newer photo format, and JPG is the older standard that works everywhere

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the format Apple uses to store photos on iPhones and iPads by default. It saves space and keeps quality high, which is great for your device — but many websites, email services, and older computers don't recognize it. JPG is the format nearly everything accepts. Converting HEIC to JPG means your photos will open in any program, upload to any website, and work on any device without trouble.

You have three main routes: convert on your iPhone or iPad directly, use your Mac if you have one, or use a free online converter on any computer. Which one you pick depends on what device you're using right now and how many photos you need to change.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhones and iPads can convert HEIC photos to JPG using the built-in Photos app or by changing your camera settings to shoot in JPG from now on.
  • Mac computers can convert HEIC files by opening them in Preview, then saving as JPG — no extra software needed.
  • Windows computers and any web browser can use free online converters like CloudConvert or Convertio by uploading your HEIC file and downloading the JPG result.
  • If you want all future photos to be JPG instead of HEIC, you can turn off HEIC in your iPhone camera settings under Settings > Camera > Formats.

Converting one photo on your iPhone or iPad

Open the Photos app and find the HEIC photo you want to convert. Tap it to open it full-screen, then tap Edit in the top right corner. You don't have to actually edit anything — just opening the editor is enough. Tap Done when you're finished.

Now go back to your photo library, find that same photo, and tap and hold it until a menu appears. Choose Share, then scroll down and tap Save to Files. Pick a folder (your iCloud Drive or On My iPhone), and the photo will save as JPG automatically. You can now read it to your computer or email it anywhere.

Converting multiple photos at once on your iPhone or iPad

If you have many HEIC photos to convert, doing them one at a time takes too long. Instead, open the Photos app and tap Select in the top right. Tap each photo you want to convert — they'll show a checkmark when selected. You can select up to 100 at once.

Once you've selected all of them, tap Share at the bottom right, then Save to Files. Choose your folder, and all the photos will save as JPG files together. This is much faster than the one-at-a-time method.

Converting HEIC photos on a Mac

Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable, or just have the HEIC files already on your Mac. Open Finder and locate the HEIC photo. Right-click it and choose Open With, then select Preview.

Once the photo opens in Preview, click File in the menu bar at the top, then Export. A dialog box will appear. In the Format dropdown, select JPEG. Choose where you want to save it, give it a name if you want, and click Save. The JPG version is now ready to use.

Converting HEIC photos on Windows or any web browser

If you're on Windows or don't want to use your phone or Mac, an online converter is the fastest option. Go to CloudConvert.com or Convertio.co in any web browser. Both are free and don't require you to create an account.

Click the upload button, select your HEIC file from your computer, and wait a few seconds for it to process. Then click the read button to save the JPG to your computer. The whole process takes less than a minute. If you have many files, you can usually upload several at once and convert them all together.

Stopping HEIC photos from happening in the first place

If you want your iPhone to shoot in JPG instead of HEIC so you never have to convert again, open Settings on your iPhone. Go to Camera, then scroll down to Formats. Tap Most Compatible instead of High Efficiency. From now on, all new photos will be JPG.

The downside is that JPG files are larger and take up more space on your phone. HEIC was designed to save space while keeping the same quality. If you have plenty of storage and don't mind the bigger files, Most Compatible is the easier choice. If storage matters to you, stick with High Efficiency and convert only the photos you need to share.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will converting HEIC to JPG make my photo look worse?

No. JPG is a lossy format, meaning it throws away some data to save space, but the difference is invisible to the human eye in most cases. Your photo will look the same. The file will be slightly larger than the HEIC version, but the quality loss is negligible.

Can I convert HEIC to JPG on an Android phone?

Android phones don't create HEIC files by default, so you're unlikely to have this problem. If someone sends you an HEIC file, use an online converter like CloudConvert or read a free app like Image Converter from the Google Play Store.

What if the online converter won't upload my file?

Most online converters have a file size limit, usually around 100 MB. If your photo is larger, try a different converter or use your phone or Mac instead. You can also compress the HEIC file first by emailing it to yourself — email automatically compresses large attachments.

Do I need to delete the original HEIC file after converting?

No, but you can if you want to save space. The original HEIC file will stay on your device unless you delete it. If you converted on your iPhone using the Photos app method, the JPG version is a separate file, so you can keep both or remove the HEIC to free up storage.