The fastest way: use the Photos app to export as JPG

Open the Photos app on your Mac and find the HEIC image you want to convert. Right-click the photo and select Export. A dialog box opens. In the dropdown menu labeled "Format," choose JPEG. Pick a location to save the file, then click Export. The file saves as a JPG in the folder you selected.

This method works for single photos or batches. To export multiple photos at once, select them all in Photos (click the first one, then hold Shift and click the last one), right-click, and choose Export. Set the format to JPEG and export them together.

The Photos app is already on your Mac, so you do not need to download anything. The conversion takes a few seconds per image.

Key Takeaways

  • The Photos app built into macOS can convert HEIC to JPG in one right-click: select the photo, choose Export, change the format to JPEG, and save.
  • Preview, the default image viewer on Mac, also converts HEIC files—open the image, go to File > Export, and select JPEG as the format.
  • The command line tool ImageMagick converts HEIC to JPG in bulk if you have many files, but requires installation and typing commands.
  • JPG files are smaller than HEIC and work on any device or website, but lose some image quality in the conversion.

Using Preview to convert one photo at a time

Open the HEIC file in Preview (the default image viewer on Mac). Double-click the file in Finder, or right-click it and select Open With > Preview. Once the image opens, click File in the menu bar at the top, then select Export.

A save dialog appears. At the bottom, you will see a dropdown menu labeled "Format." Click it and select JPEG. Choose where to save the file and click Save. The JPG version is now saved in that location.

Preview also lets you adjust the image before saving. You can crop, rotate, or adjust colors using the Tools menu. Make your changes, then export as JPEG. This is useful if you want to edit the photo slightly during conversion.

Converting many HEIC files at once with a script

If you have dozens of HEIC photos, converting them one at a time is slow. You can use a free tool called ImageMagick to convert all of them in one command. This requires opening Terminal (the command-line program on Mac) and typing a few lines of text.

First, install ImageMagick using Homebrew, a package manager for Mac. Open Terminal (find it in Applications > Utilities > Terminal). Paste this line and press Enter: brew install imagemagick. Wait for it to finish. Then navigate to the folder where your HEIC files are stored by typing cd /path/to/your/folder (replace the path with your actual folder location).

Once you are in the folder, type this command and press Enter: mogrify -format jpg *.heic. ImageMagick converts every HEIC file in that folder to JPG. The original HEIC files stay in place; the new JPG files appear alongside them. This method is fastest for large batches but requires comfort with Terminal.

Why your Mac stores photos as HEIC instead of JPG

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's newer format. It makes files smaller than JPG while keeping similar image quality, which saves storage space on your device. iPhones and newer Macs create photos in HEIC by default.

The problem is that older devices, Windows computers, and many websites do not recognize HEIC files. If you need to share a photo with someone using an older phone or computer, or upload it to a website that does not accept HEIC, you need to convert to JPG first. JPG is the older, universal format that works everywhere.

You can change your iPhone or Mac camera settings to shoot in JPG instead of HEIC, but conversion is usually simpler if you already have HEIC photos you want to share.

What happens to image quality when you convert

JPG uses lossy compression, which means it throws away some image data to make the file smaller. HEIC also uses compression, but it is more efficient. When you convert from HEIC to JPG, you lose a small amount of detail, especially in areas with fine texture or gradients.

For most photos—especially ones taken with a phone camera—the difference is invisible to the human eye. Prints, social media posts, and email attachments look nearly identical. If you are working with professional photography or images that need maximum quality, the loss matters more.

The file size shrinks during conversion. A HEIC photo might be 2 MB; the JPG version might be 3 to 4 MB because JPG is less efficient. This is the opposite of what you might expect, but it is normal. If file size is your concern, HEIC is actually better.

Changing your camera settings to shoot JPG instead

If you want new photos to save as JPG automatically, you can change your camera settings on iPhone or Mac. On iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and toggle Most Compatible on. This makes your iPhone shoot in JPG instead of HEIC.

On Mac, open the Camera app (or FaceTime if you are using the built-in camera). Go to Camera > Preferences (or FaceTime > Preferences on older versions). Look for an option to change the photo format and select JPG or JPEG.

This setting only affects new photos going forward. It does not change photos you already took in HEIC. If you have old HEIC files, you still need to convert them using one of the methods above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows?

Yes. Windows 11 can open HEIC files natively. Right-click the file, select Open With, and choose Photos or Paint. In Paint, go to File > Save As and select JPEG format. On older Windows versions, download a free converter like XnConvert or CloudConvert online.

Will the JPG file look worse than the HEIC original?

Most people will not notice a difference. JPG compression is visible only in extreme close-ups or professional work. For everyday photos, social media, and printing, JPG and HEIC look the same to the eye.

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

No. Once you have the JPG version, you can delete the HEIC file if you want to save space. Keep the HEIC if you might need to edit the photo later, since HEIC preserves slightly more detail. Most people delete the HEIC after converting.

Can I convert HEIC to JPG on my iPhone directly?

Not without a third-party app. iPhone does not have a built-in converter. Use the Photos app on your Mac to convert, or download a free app like Image Converter or HEIC to JPG from the App Store.

What if the Photos app will not open my HEIC file?

Update your Mac to the latest version of macOS. Older versions of macOS do not support HEIC. Go to System Preferences > Software Update and install any available updates. If your Mac is very old, use Preview or a third-party converter instead.