How to Convert HEIC to JPG
iPhone photos saved in HEIC format can't open on Windows PCs, Android devices, or most online platforms. HEIC is Apple's proprietary high-efficiency format — great for storage, terrible for compatibility. This guide covers three ways to convert HEIC to JPG: directly on your iPhone (zero effort), on a Mac using Preview, and on Windows using free browser tools.
Quick Answer
iPhone photos saved in HEIC format can't open on Windows PCs, Android devices, or most online platforms. HEIC is Apple's proprietary high-efficiency format — great for storage, terrible for compatibility.
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Step-by-Step Guide
5 steps · takes under 1 minute
Method 1 — Change iPhone camera settings (easiest)
On your iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. This makes your iPhone shoot JPG instead of HEIC going forward. All future photos are already JPG — no conversion needed. Your existing HEIC photos remain HEIC.
Method 2 — AirDrop to Mac (automatic conversion)
On iPhone, share the HEIC photo via AirDrop to a Mac. macOS automatically converts HEIC to JPG during the AirDrop transfer. The Mac receives a .jpg file regardless of the source format.
Method 3 — Mac Preview (any existing HEIC)
Open the HEIC file in Preview on Mac. Go to File → Export. Select JPEG from the format dropdown. Choose quality and click Save. Preview converts the file immediately with no third-party software.
Method 4 — Email or Messages (sends as JPG)
On iPhone, open the HEIC photo and share it via Mail or Messages. iOS automatically converts HEIC to JPG when sending via these apps. The recipient gets a JPG even though the original is HEIC.
Method 5 — Browser-based converter
On Windows or any device: upload the HEIC file to a browser-based HEIC converter (iLoveIMG, HEICtoJPG.com, or Convertio). These services convert server-side. For privacy-sensitive photos, use Method 1–4 instead.
100% Private — Zero Uploads
ImgToolkit runs entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. Your images are never sent to a server, never stored in the cloud, and never seen by anyone else. This makes it safe for sensitive documents, client work, medical imagery, and confidential screenshots.
Pro tip
Use 75–85% quality for web images — you get 60–80% smaller files with no visible difference at normal screen sizes.
Format & File Size Comparison
Same 1080×1080px photo processed four ways
| Format | Quality | File Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG (original) | Perfect | 4.2 MB | No compression — too large for web |
| Compressed PNG | Visually identical | 1.1 MB | −74% — transparency preserved |
| JPG (85% quality) | Excellent | 310 KB | −93% · Best for photos |
| WebP (85%)BEST | Excellent | 205 KB | −95% · Recommended for web |
Based on a 1080×1080px photo. Results vary by image content and complexity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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