What Is HEIC?

HEIC is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11. It produces smaller files than JPEG at equal quality — great for storage but inconvenient when sharing with non-Apple devices. Converting to JPG makes photos universally compatible.

Method 1: Mac — Preview (Free, Built-In)

  1. 1

    Open the HEIC file in Preview

    Double-click the HEIC file — it opens in Preview automatically.

  2. 2

    File → Export → choose JPEG

    Click File → Export. Change the Format dropdown to JPEG. Set quality to 85% or above. Choose a save location. Click Save.

  3. 3

    Batch convert multiple files

    Select multiple HEIC files in Finder → right-click → Open With → Preview. In Preview: Edit → Select All → File → Export Selected Images → choose JPEG.

Method 2: Windows — Photos App

Install the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (free). Open the HEIC file in Photos → three dots menu → Save as → JPEG.

Method 3: Online Converter

Go to heictojpg.com or cloudconvert.com. Upload the file, download the converted JPG. Free, no account required. For private photos, use a local method rather than uploading to a third-party site.

Prevent the Problem: Change iPhone to Save as JPG

Settings → Camera → Formats → select Most Compatible. All future photos save as JPEG. Trade-off: slightly larger file sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

A small amount — JPEG is a lossy format. At 85% quality or above the difference is not visible to the naked eye. Keep original HEIC files if you need maximum quality and only convert when sharing.
HEIC files are roughly half the size of equivalent-quality JPEGs. On a 128GB iPhone this means significantly more photos fit in storage. Within the Apple ecosystem (AirDrop to Mac, iMessage to iPhone) HEIC works seamlessly — the incompatibility mainly arises when sharing with Windows or Android users.