How to Convert HEIC Images to JPG
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones since 2017, and it saves real storage space over JPG, but it causes a specific, common problem: many Windows programs, older software, and some websites simply won't open it. Here's how to convert HEIC files to the far more universally compatible JPG format, for free, whether you have one photo or thousands.
How Do You Convert HEIC to JPG?
On Windows, install Microsoft's free HEIF Image Extensions, then open the photo in Photos or Paint and save it as a JPG, or use a free batch converter for many files at once. On Mac, HEIC opens natively, and Preview can export it as JPG directly with no extra install.
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) became Apple's default photo format starting with iOS 11 in 2017, according to Apple's own documentation, because it stores photos at roughly half the file size of an equivalent-quality JPG. The trade-off is compatibility: many Windows programs, older software and some web forms still don't accept it directly.
Using Built-In Tools
- Install Microsoft's HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store if you haven't already; this is free and lets Windows recognize HEIC files at all.
- Open the HEIC photo in the Windows Photos app.
- Click the three-dot menu and choose "Save As" (or use the Edit & Create menu, depending on your Windows version).
- Choose JPG as the file type in the save dialog.
- Save the file, and you now have a JPG copy alongside the original HEIC.
This works well for a single photo or a handful, but becomes tedious quickly if you have dozens or hundreds to convert.
Batch Conversion
For a large photo library, converting one at a time isn't practical. A few free options handle batch conversion.
- Windows Photos app can select multiple files and, in some versions, batch-export, though its bulk conversion support has varied across Windows updates, check your current version's export options.
- A dedicated free converter like Titan Converter or IrfanView supports selecting an entire folder and converting every HEIC file to JPG in one pass, which is the most reliable method for large libraries.
- PowerToys' Image Resizer, part of Microsoft's free PowerToys utility suite, can also batch-convert formats in some configurations, worth checking if you already have it installed.
Whichever tool you use, the core batch workflow is the same: point it at a source folder, choose JPG as the output format, and let it process every file at once rather than opening and saving each individually.
HEIC Opens Natively
Macs have supported HEIC natively since macOS High Sierra, so there's no extra install needed.
- Open the HEIC photo in Preview (the default app for most image files on Mac).
- Go to File > Export.
- Choose JPEG from the format dropdown.
- Adjust the quality slider if you want to control file size versus quality.
- Save, and you have a JPG version.
For batch conversion on Mac, Preview supports selecting multiple files in Finder, opening them together, and using File > Export Selected Images to convert them all to JPG in one step.
For a Quick, Occasional Need
Free online HEIC-to-JPG converters work fine for a handful of files, upload, convert, download, with no install required. For anything beyond a few photos, or anything containing sensitive or private images, a desktop tool is generally the better choice, since it avoids uploading your photos to a third-party server at all.
Changing Your iPhone's Camera Format
If HEIC keeps causing friction, the cleanest fix is changing what format your iPhone saves new photos in going forward.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to Camera > Formats.
- Select "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency."
According to Apple's own support documentation, this setting makes your iPhone save new photos and videos in JPG and H.264 instead of HEIC and HEVC, trading some storage efficiency for universal compatibility going forward. This doesn't convert your existing HEIC photos, it only affects new ones, so you'll still need one of the methods above for photos already on your device.
Understanding the Trade-Off You're Making
It's worth understanding why Apple switched to HEIC in the first place, since it explains the trade-off you're accepting every time you convert back to JPG. HEIC uses a more modern compression method than JPG's decades-old standard, letting it store the same visual quality in roughly half the file size, which matters a lot when you're taking thousands of photos on a phone with limited storage. That's a genuine, meaningful benefit, not just a format Apple picked arbitrarily.
Converting to JPG for compatibility means giving up some of that storage efficiency, your converted photos will generally take up more space than the HEIC originals did. For most people, that's a fine trade, storage is cheap and getting cheaper, and compatibility problems are an immediate, practical annoyance. But it's worth keeping your original HEIC files (rather than deleting them after conversion) if storage space isn't a pressing concern, since they represent a more efficient master copy you can always convert from again later if you need a different format for some other reason.
What Trips People Up
- Assuming Windows opens HEIC by default. It doesn't; the free HEIF Image Extensions install is a required first step before Windows recognizes the format at all.
- Uploading private photos to an unfamiliar online converter. For sensitive images, prefer a desktop tool that doesn't require uploading files to a third-party server.
- Converting one file at a time when you have hundreds. Use a batch conversion tool from the start if you're dealing with a large photo library; it saves significant time.
- Not checking quality settings on export. Most JPG export tools let you adjust quality; a very low setting can introduce visible compression artifacts, so check the result before deleting the original HEIC files.
- Deleting the original HEIC files before confirming the JPG copies worked. Keep the originals until you've verified the converted files open correctly and look right.
Rounding Out an Image Workflow
Once your photos are in JPG format, you may want to edit them, covered in our comparison of free photo editors, or store them somewhere with more free space, covered in free cloud storage services. If you're also dealing with WebP images from the web rather than HEIC from an iPhone, converting WebP to JPG covers that separate but related problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my HEIC photos open on my Windows PC?
Windows doesn't include native HEIC support by default; you need to install Microsoft's free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, after which File Explorer and Photos can open HEIC files directly, though many older or third-party programs still won't support the format.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG without installing any software?
Yes, several free online converters accept HEIC uploads and return JPG files, useful for a handful of photos. For large photo libraries, a desktop tool is faster since you avoid uploading everything to a website.
How do I stop my iPhone from taking HEIC photos in the first place?
In iPhone Settings, go to Camera > Formats and select "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency," which makes your iPhone save new photos as JPG directly, avoiding the conversion problem for future photos.
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce photo quality?
There is a small quality change since JPG uses different compression, but at standard quality settings the difference is generally not visible to the eye. The more significant change is that JPG files are typically larger than the equivalent HEIC file for similar visual quality.
Can I convert a whole folder of HEIC photos to JPG at once?
Yes, tools like Windows' Photos app, dedicated converters, and Titan Converter all support batch conversion, letting you select an entire folder and convert every HEIC file to JPG in one operation rather than one at a time.
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