Skip to main content

How to convert HEIC files to JPEG on a Mac

HEIC file to JPG conversion illustration.
Taylor Frint/Digital Trends Graphic

When you take a photo with an iPhone or iPad, the default format that the images saves in is Apple’s HEIC. This has been the norm for several years now, and even though more and more devices are beginning to support this file type, you may need to convert some of your images into a more compatible extension, like a JPEG.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Mac computer, HEIC image, Preview app, Photos app

Fortunately, there’s a couple of simple ways for you to convert image formats on MacOS, and we’re going to teach you each and every method.

What is HEIC?

HEIC stands for High-Efficiency Image Codec, and as mentioned, it's used by Apple for storing photos and accompanying data on your device. It became the “new” file type introduced with iOS 11 because of its smaller file size in comparison to JPEG.

You may also hear about HEIF, which is High-Efficiency Image Format and also used by Apple. In a nutshell, HEIC is what’s used to store HEIF photos and data. So, you may hear the terms used interchangeably.

How to convert HEIC to JPEG on Mac using Preview

Preview is the default app on MacOS for viewing images, unless you change it of course. The app gives you a simple way to open an HEIC photo and convert it to JPEG.

Step 1: If Preview is still your default image app, simply double-click the HEIC image and it will open in Preview. If you’ve changed your default app, you can open the image in Preview by right-clicking, moving to Open With, and selecting Preview.

Right-click the HEIC image and pick Open With, Preview.
Digital Trends

Step 2: Select File > Export from the menu bar in Preview.

The Export option for the Preview app.
Digital Trends

Step 3: In the pop-up window, rename your file and add a tag if you wish. Then, choose a location to save the converted image.

Step 4: Next to Format, select JPEG.

Step 5: Optionally, you can use the Quality slider to adjust the quality from Least to Best. As you move the slider, you’ll see the File Size Adjust as well.

Step 6: Click Save.

That’s all there is to it! You’ve just converted the HEIC photo to a JPEG.

The Export screen in the Preview app.
Digital Trends

How to convert HEIC to JPEG on Mac using Photos

If you use iCloud and sync photos on your Mac with your iPhone or iPad, then using the Photos app is a convenient way to convert an HEIC image.

Step 1: Open Photos on your Mac and select the image.

Step 2: Select File > Export from the menu bar in Photos. Pick Export 1 Photo from the pop-out menu.

File, Export, Export 1 Photo in the Photos app.
Digital Trends

Step 3: In the window, next to Photo Kind, select JPEG.

Step 4: You can adjust the remaining settings before converting the file if you like. These include JPEG Quality, Size, Info, and File Naming options.

Step 5: Click Export.

Export settings for JPEG in the Photos app.
Digital Trends

Step 6: Choose a location to save the converted image in the subsequent window and click Export.

Just like that, you’ve converted your HEIC to JPEG. This is just one of several image editing tasks you can do using Photos on Mac.

Export window for the Photos app on Mac.
Digital Trends

What other image formats can you choose for export in Preview and Photos?

The Preview and Photos apps can do more than just convert an HEIC image to JPEG. In Preview, you can export an image in several different formats, including JPEG, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PDF, PNG, and TIFF.

Using the Photos app, you’ll be able to export an HEIC as a JPEG, PNG, or TIFF file.

What other methods can you use to convert HEIC to JPEG?

If you need to convert several HEIC images to JPEG at the same time, you can easily do so in MacOS. First, select all the images that need converting and right-click. Then, hover over Quick Actions in the dropdown, and click Convert Image. Select JPEG as your format, and that’s all there is to it.

You can also export multiple HEIC images to JPEG in both the Previews and Photos apps. Alternatively, you can convert HEIC to JPEG in Windows 11.

If you want to use one of your HEIC photos in an application or on a device that doesn’t support that file type, it’s easy to convert HEIC to JPEG right on your Mac. With this file format in mind, check out how to share photos directly from iPhone to Android as well.

Sandy Writtenhouse
Sandy has been writing about technology since 2012. Her work has appeared on How-To Geek, Lifewire, MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog…
Get a $200 discount on the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air M3
The M3 MacBook Air in front of a window.

There's always a lot of interest in MacBook deals because of the expensive prices attached to Apple's laptops. Here's an offer from B&H Photo Video that you wouldn't want to miss -- the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air M3 with a 256GB SSD at $200 off, which brings its price down to $899 from $1,099. This bargain is only available for a limited time, ending on November 30, but we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible because there's a possibility that the stocks up for sale won't last that long.

Why you should buy the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air M3
The 13-inch model of the Apple MacBook Air M3 is our top choice among the best MacBooks, with a rating of four out of five stars in our review. The first thing that you'd notice about the laptop is its "compact and beautiful design." It's extremely thin, at just 0.44 inches, and wonderfully light, which is why its name works so well. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2560 x 1664 and pixel density of 224 pixels per inch is bright and colorful, so you'll enjoy working on your projects, browsing the internet, and watching streaming shows on this screen.

Read more
The M4 Mac launch is incoming, but not how you might expect
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip seen from behind.

The past few months have been full of speculation, anticipation, and pretty wild rumors concerning the upcoming M4 Macs -- and now the predicted release date of November 1 is just a week or so away. Despite the lack of an event announcement, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman still believes the launch is "imminent," with an announcement reportedly coming on October 30.

According to him, Apple Stores are running very low on iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad units -- and this usually happens when updates are about to be released.

Read more
How to use iPhone Mirroring on your Mac
Apple's Craig Federighi demonstrates the iPhone Mirroring feature in macOS Sequoia at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024.

In 2024, Apple introduced iPhne Mirroring. This macOS Sequoia feature puts a mirrored version of your iPhone right on your Mac’s desktop, enabling you to interact with your iPhone without ever needing to have it in your hands. You can open iOS apps, send emails, change settings, and much more, all from the comfort of your Mac.

Read more