How do I convert an HEIC photo to a JPEG?

Converting an HEIC photo to JPEG format allows the image to be more widely compatible with different devices and software. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Format) is a newer type of compressed image that is space efficient but not yet universally supported. JPEG is an older, lossy format that has broader compatibility. The process of converting from HEIC to JPEG only takes a few simple steps.

Why Convert HEIC to JPEG?

There are a few key reasons you may want to convert your HEIC photos to JPEG format:

• Compatibility – Many apps, websites, and older devices don’t support HEIC format yet. Converting to JPEG makes the photos more widely viewable.
• Sharing – Services like email, social media, and cloud storage may not accept the HEIC format. JPEG is more universally accepted.
• Editing – Photo editing apps may not be able to open and edit HEIC files. Converting to JPEG allows easier editing.
• Storage – HEIC takes up less space, but if storage space is not an issue, JPEG may be preferred for compatibility.

The JPEG format has been around since the 1990s and is supported across all operating systems and devices. However, JPEG is less efficient than HEIC, resulting in larger file sizes. The trade-off for wider compatibility is lower image quality or larger file sizes.

HEIC and JPEG File Formats Compared

To understand why you may want to convert between HEIC and JPEG, here is an overview comparing the two image file formats:

As you can see, HEIC has some advantages like smaller file size, better color depth, and support for transparency and animation. However, JPEG remains more widely compatible across devices and applications.

Convert HEIC to JPEG on iPhone

Here are the steps to convert HEIC photos to JPEG using your iPhone:

1. Open the Photos app and select the HEIC photo you want to convert.
2. Tap the Share button in the bottom left corner.
3. Scroll down and tap ‘Save to Files’.
4. Rename the photo if desired. Tap ‘Format’ and select ‘High Efficiency JPEG’ from the menu.
5. Tap ‘Save’ to convert and export the JPEG copy of the photo.

This will save a new JPEG version to your Files app while keeping the original HEIC photo intact in your Photos library. The Photos app strips out metadata like location and creation date during conversion.

Adjusting JPEG Quality

To adjust the JPEG quality when converting HEIC to JPEG on iPhone:

1. Follow the same steps above to export the HEIC photo.
2. Before tapping ‘Save’, tap the ‘Options’ button next to the Format menu.
3. Drag the slider to adjust the JPEG compression quality. Lower quality = smaller file size.
4. Tap ‘X’ to close the options and tap ‘Save’ to convert and export.

Higher JPEG quality retains more detail from the original but comes at the cost of larger file size. Find a balance that works for your needs.

Convert HEIC Using Preview on Mac

On a Mac computer, you can use the Preview app to convert HEIC images to JPEG:

1. Open the HEIC photo in Preview.
2. Go to File > Export…
3. Choose JPEG as the Format.
4. Adjust the image Quality if desired.
5. Select a destination to export and click Save.

Preview will create a high quality JPEG image while retaining metadata like EXIF data. The original HEIC image remains untouched.

Batch Convert HEIC using Preview

To convert a folder of HEIC images to JPEG on Mac:

1. Open Preview and go to File > Export.
2. Select your folder of HEIC images.
3. Check ‘Open first image for each document’.
4. Set Format to JPEG and adjust quality as desired.
5. Choose an export destination folder.
6. Click ‘Export’ to convert the batch of photos.

This efficient method converts all HEIC images in the folder while retaining metadata in the exported JPEGs.

Convert HEIC Using Paint on Windows

On Windows 10 and 11, the built-in Paint app can convert HEIC to JPEG:

1. Open Paint and go to File > Open.
2. Browse and select your HEIC image.
3. Go to File > Save As.
4. Change Save as type to JPEG Picture.
5. Select a folder to save to and enter a File name.
6. Click Save to convert and export the JPEG copy.

Paint will strip out metadata like geotags during conversion. But it provides a quick method using native Windows tools.

Batch Convert in Paint

While Paint only converts one photo at a time, you can streamline HEIC to JPEG conversion for multiple images by:

1. Right click your folder of HEIC images and ‘Open with Paint’.
2. Use File > Save As JPEG for each open image.
3. Click the ‘X’ icon to close an image and open the next one.
4. Repeat until all images are converted and saved as JPEG.

Online HEIC to JPEG Converters

There are also many free online tools and web apps that can convert HEIC to JPEG:

• Online-Convert
• Convertio
• CloudConvert
• Aconvert
• Zamzar

These tools work right in the browser so you don’t need to install any software. Just upload your HEIC image, choose JPG as the output format, wait for the conversion, and download the JPEG file.

Online converters make it easy to quickly change HEIC images to JPEG on any device. However, you will lose metadata like geolocation data.

Third Party Apps for Bulk Conversion

For bulk converting lots of HEIC images to JPEG, using third party desktop software can automate the process:

• XnConvert – Free photo converter for Windows, Mac and Linux. Batch convert HEIC to JPEG while retaining metadata.
• IrfanView – Freeware for Windows. Batch HEIC to JPEG conversion with optional lossless mode.
• Adobe Photoshop – Using the Image Processor can convert HEIC folders into JPEG while keeping metadata intact.
• GraphicConverter – Can batch process HEIC to JPEG on Mac, adjust quality and downsample resolution.

These dedicated conversion tools help automate HEIC to JPEG conversion for entire folders of images efficiently. Being able to tweak output settings also provides more control over image quality and file size.

Command Line Conversion

On Mac or Linux, HEIC images can also be converted to JPEG using command line tools like convert from the ImageMagick library:

convert image.heic image.jpg

You can point this at a folder to recursively convert HEIC files into JPEG. There are also options available to adjust quality, downsample, and strip metadata if needed.

Other Ways to Share HEIC Photos

Instead of converting to JPEG, there are alternatives if you want to share HEIC images:

• Airdrop – Wirelessly share HEIC between Apple devices that have Airdrop.
• iCloud Photo Sharing – Share a gallery that preserves HEIC format when accessed on Apple devices.
• Dropbox/Google Drive – Cloud storage services maintain HEIC support for uploading and syncing.
• USB Flash Drive – Copy HEIC files directly for storage and transfer between devices.

When sharing only between your own modern Apple devices, there may be no need to convert away from HEIC. The benefits like smaller size and image quality can be maintained.

Should I Convert Photos to HEIC or JPEG?

Now that you know how to convert in both directions between HEIC and JPEG, when should you use each format? Here are some guidelines:

• Use HEIC for: Storing on Apple devices, Airdrop transfers, iCloud syncing, and archives.
• Use JPEG for: Sharing via email, social media, chat apps, older devices, online printing services.
• Keep HEIC originals for quality and convert JPEGs as needed for sharing.
• Use HEIC for storage to save space and JPEG for sharing for compatibility.

Finding a balance between HEIC and JPEG usage can allow you to take advantage of the benefits of each format. Remember you can always convert back and forth as needed for any use case.

Conclusion

Converting HEIC photos to the more compatible JPEG format can be done easily using built-in tools on Apple iOS, MacOS, and Windows platforms. Dedicated photo processing utilities provide batch conversion capabilities to convert large HEIC collections into JPEG efficiently. There are also handy online converters available in any browser for quick on-demand HEIC to JPEG conversion. With these simple options, you can convert your HEIC images to share online and retain broad compatibility.