Skip to main content

How to convert HEIC files to JPEG on a Mac

The HEIC file type for photos is slowly becoming adopted by developers as it is Apple’s standard for pictures on iPhone and iPad. But until the format is more widely accepted in third-party applications and services, you may need to convert those HEIC files to the common JPEG format. Luckily for Mac users, it’s easy to do.

Without the need for a third-party app or online file converter, you have a couple of tools built right into MacOS that you can use. Here’s how to convert HEIC to JPEG using Preview and Photos.

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

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

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.

how to convert heic jpg on mac open image with preview
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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

how to convert heic jpg on mac preview file export
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.

how to convert heic jpg on mac preview export save
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.

how to convert heic jpg on mac photos export 1 photo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.

how to convert heic jpg on mac photos export settings
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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 using Photos on Mac.

how to convert heic jpg on mac photos export photo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Sandy Writtenhouse
Sandy has been writing about technology since 2012. Her work has appeared on How-To Geek, Lifewire, MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog…
How to take a screenshot on your Mac: the best methods in 2023
The keyboard and trackpad of the MacBook Pro 14-inch.

If you're new to the Mac, the first question people have is how to take a screenshot. There's no Print Screen key, so you'll be forgiven if it's not immediately obvious. Or hey, maybe you just forgot the keyboard shortcut or want to go deep into the very best screenshot apps available. We got ya.

There are plenty of options and customizations, so there's plenty to dig into. Here’s everything you could ever want to know about taking a screenshot on your Mac.
How to take a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts
MacOS keyboard shortcuts are the quickest ways to take screenshots, whether you're capturing the entire screen or just a portion. By default, Apple's methods save your screenshot to the desktop, but if you want to copy the screenshot to the clipboard, there's a keyboard shortcut you can use instead.
How to capture a selected area

Read more
How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11
Person using Windows 11 laptop on their lap by the window.

A High Efficiency Image Container or HEIC file is an image format that's usually used by Apple devices. It's a useful image format because it's considered to be both more compact in size and better quality than JPG files. But though it's useful, it might not be supported on other – particularly non-Apple – devices and its use is not as common as other image formats like JPG.

If you have a Windows 11 PC and you need to use it to convert your HEIC files to JPG, we can show you how to do that. You can convert HEIC to JPG using either native Windows 11 apps or via a third-party conversion web app. Here's how to do both.

Read more
This hidden menu has forever changed how I use my Mac
A comparison of two images in macOS Ventura. The image on the left is the original, while the image on the right has had its background removed using a Quick Action.

The more you use Apple’s macOS operating system, the more you come across amazing little tools and features that you’ve somehow never heard of, yet which can totally blow your mind. I’ve been using Macs for over a decade, yet I just stumbled upon a killer feature I never knew existed -- and I absolutely love it.

That feature is called Quick Actions, and you’ll need macOS Mojave or later to give it a try. The name is pretty self-explanatory -- they’re a collection of lightweight tools and tweaks that can save you oodles of time. The reason I never knew about them, though, is they’re hidden away in the right-click menu. I use keyboard shortcuts all the time, so rarely open this menu. But Quick Actions are worth breaking your habits for.

Read more