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How to convert HEIC to JPG.
Learn how to easily convert HEIC files to JPG on any device.
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Do you need to share an HEIC file? See why converting HEIC files to accessible formats like JPG is important. Learn how to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac, Windows, and beyond — plus get tips for streamlining image sharing with Adobe Acrobat. Converting your files not only improves compatibility but also ensures you can open images across a wide range of devices and apps. With the right tools, it only takes seconds to make your photos easier to view and share.
Have you ever opened your photo folder only to find a file ending in a .heic extension and wondered what to do with it? You’re not alone. The HEIC (High Efficiency Image Coding) is excellent for iPhones and Macs, but it’s not always compatible with other devices or programs.
That’s why many users find themselves searching for how to convert HEIC to JPG — a more widely supported format. Whether you want to upload your images to a website, share them with a friend on a different platform, or edit them in software that doesn’t recognize HEIC files, converting them to JPG is often the easiest solution.
Fortunately, you don’t need complicated software to make the switch. In this article, we’ll break down what HEIC files are and show you simple ways to manage them on both Mac and Windows.
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is the default format for storing images on iPhones and Macs. This image file format offers high compression and quality images with little storage space. HEIC files are compact, high-quality, and efficient, saving storage space without compromising image quality. That’s great if you’re working within the Apple ecosystem.
While HEIC files can store your images in small files that maintain the quality, they aren’t natively supported by any products that aren’t Apple. Non-Apple PCs, phones, and older software can’t support this file extension. You need special software to view HEIC files on a PC without converting them, which can get expensive and complicated. Whether you want to view a file sent to you from a Mac user or want to allow anyone to view and share an image, converting HEIC files is the easiest way forward.
That’s where the JPG file format comes in. JPGs are universally supported; you can open them on virtually any phone, computer, or web browser without special software. JPGs might lose some image quality when they’re compressed or heavily edited, but they’re still a great alternative to Apple-exclusive HEIC files. If you’re working with other image formats, like PNG, you can also convert PNG to PDF for easier sharing or archiving.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac.
The fastest way to convert a HEIC file to a JPG file on a Mac is with the built-in Preview app. If you always want your photos to be in JPG format, you can change the image default from HEIC to JPG. JPGs require more storage space than HEICs, but their shareability makes up for it.
Here’s how to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac:
- In the Preview app, open the HEIC image.
- Select File > Export.
- In the Format drop-down menu, select JPG.
- Give your new JPG photo a name and choose where to save it.
- Click Save, and you’re done.
If you need to batch convert images, that’s also a simple process. A free PDF editor is great for organizing and annotating photos after converting them into a shareable PDF file. If you’re converting files on your phone, learn where to find PDFs on iPhone to speed up the sharing process while on the go.
How to save HEIC to JPG on your Mac.
If you’re saving or downloading a new image onto your Mac, consider saving it as a JPG so you don’t have to convert it later for sharing.
Here’s how you can save an online image as a JPG on your Mac:
- Control-click the image.
- Select Save Image As.
- From the drop-down menu, select JPG.
In case you want to take the default for screenshots on your Mac from HEIC to JPG, use this command in Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type JPG
When you want to turn a PDF into a picture, you can also convert it to JPG. Using a PDF to JPG tool, it’s as easy as drag and drop.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows.
If you’re a Windows user, you might be surprised that your computer doesn’t recognize HEIC files by default. That’s because HEIC is a format native to Apple, so you won’t be able to open or view these files right away unless you’ve installed a special extension.
The easiest way to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows is with the Photos app:
- In the Photos app, open the HEIC file.
- Click the ellipsis or Open.
- Select Save As > JPG, then save the image.
You can also use the native Microsoft converter app. It’s free and works on both PCs and tablets. With this app, all you need to do is drag and drop your HEIC file into the tool and click Convert. Best of all, the app works locally, so you don’t even need internet access.
Converting images to JPG makes them more shareable, but so does converting almost anything to PDF. PDF is one of the most shareable file formats and maintains its integrity across all devices. Use a JPG to PDF converter to reformat JPGs into universal PDFs.
Whether you’re using a Mac or PC, or you just want a quick solution from your browser, knowing how to convert HEIC to JPG ensures your images are accessible, shareable, and easy to work with.
Frequently asked questions.
Yes. JPG is a lossy format, so there may be a slight reduction in image quality during conversion, especially if you’re compressing the file. However, for general viewing and sharing, the difference is often unnoticeable.
It depends on your device. On Mac, use the Preview app to easily save the file as a JPG from the drop-down menu. On a Windows PC, open the Photos app to open and save the HEIC as a JPG.
You can change your camera settings so that new photos save as JPG instead of HEIC:
- Go to Settings > Camera > Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible.
This setting ensures your iPhone saves future photos as JPGs automatically. For existing photos, you can use Acrobat online tools or send them to yourself via email or AirDrop and choose JPG during the export.
Most of the time, JPG files are larger than HEIC files because of less efficient compression, but file size depends on your image’s content and resolution.
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How to convert HEIC to JPG.
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An HEIC image file is exported to a JPG format on a desktop computer.
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