Convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac.

A woman checks her phone while using a Mac to convert HEIC files to JPG.

Make life easier when sharing photos by learning how to convert HEIC photos to JPG images on your Mac.

Noticed an HEIC file on your computer? Macs, iPhones and other Apple devices often save your image files in the HEIC format. However, this format is not always compatible with certain programmes or devices.

The good news is you can easily convert HEIC photos to JPG – a more universal image file format, which is compatible with most browsers and smartphones. This means you can seamlessly share your photos with anyone, no matter what device they have.

Read on to discover how to covert HEIC to JPG on a Mac in a few simple steps with Adobe Acrobat.

What is a HEIC file?

High-efficiency image container (HEIC) is the default format for storing images on iPhones and Macs. It offers high compression using very little storage space and quality images.

Convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac

In this guide:

What is a HEIC file?
How to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac with Preview.
How to save a new image as a JPG on a Mac.
Why convert a HEIC file to JPG?
Converting images to PDFs.

What is a HEIC file?

An HEIC file is a high-efficiency image container file format. This is the default format for saving images on iPhones and Macs, so you’ll find that most of the photos taken on these devices are HEIC files.

The high compression, space-saving format takes up very little storage, while maintaining the quality of your images. This makes it ideal for storing photos on your digital devices.

Learn more about HEIC files.

How to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac with Preview.

Converting a HEIC file to a JPG file on a Mac is easy. You’ll just need to open the built-in Preview app and follow these steps:

Go to the Preview app on your Mac.
Open the HEIC image in the Preview app.
Select ‘File’ then ‘Export’.
On the Format pop-up menu, select ‘JPG’ as your chosen format.
Name your JPG photo and save it in your desired location.
Hit save, and you’re finished. It’s that easy!

Want all your photos saved as JPGs on your Mac? You can also change the default format setting from HEIC to JPG. That way, you don’t have to repeat this process each time and any new photos you take will automatically save as a JPG.

How to save a new image as a JPG on a Mac.

Saving or downloading a new image onto your Mac? Save it as a JPG straight away to avoid having to convert it later.

Here’s how:

Right-click the image you want to save.
Hit ‘Save Image As’.
Choose the JPG format from the drop-down menu.

You can also change the default for screenshots on your Mac from HEIC to JPG. Just enter the following command in Mac Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type JPG

Need to convert a PDF to a picture? Easily convert PDF to JPG with Adobe Acrobat.

Why convert a HEIC file to JPG?

HEIC files can store your images in small files that don’t compromise on quality. But HEIC files aren’t natively supported by any non-Apple products. So, if you’re looking for more flexibility with viewing and sharing your images, you may want to consider converting HEIC to JPG instead.

JPG may lose a little image quality during compression, but they can be a user-friendly alternative to HEIC. For example:

They’re universally supported, meaning they can be viewed across any device or web browser.
They can easily be shared and viewed by others.

Can’t decide between HEIC and JPG? Learn more about the differences and key features between HEIC vs JPG. in this handy comparison guide.

Converting images to PDFs.

Converting HEIC photos to JPG is one way to make your images more sharable. Another option is to convert your HEIC or other image files to PDF.

PDF is a versatile file format that is compatible across almost all devices So, why not try converting your files to PDF with the help of Adobe Acrobat?

You can convert:

Using another device? Learn how to convert a photo to PDF on iPhone.

Explore the full range of Adobe Acrobat features to see what else you can do today.