How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac (5 Easy Methods) 2026

HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11. It saves space but doesn't work everywhere.

Ever tried uploading an iPhone photo and got rejected? That's HEIC. Here are five ways to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac.

TL;DR: Right-click your HEIC file in Finder → Quick Actions → Convert Image → JPEG. Done. Works on macOS Monterey and later. For older Macs, open in Preview → File → Export → choose JPEG.

Why your Mac uses HEIC (and why you might need JPG)

Apple chose HEIC to cut photo file size in half. Same quality, half the storage.

The catch? Compatibility is spotty:

• Web uploads — Many forms and CMS platforms reject HEIC files
• Email attachments — Some recipients can't open them on Windows or Android
• Older apps — Photo editors released before 2018 often can't read HEIC
• Print services — Most online print shops require JPG or PNG

Good news: macOS has built-in tools for this. No installs needed.

What is HEIC format?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It uses the HEVC (H.265) codec that Apple adopted with iOS 11.

A typical 12MP iPhone photo takes 2-3 MB as HEIC. The same shot as JPG? 5-7 MB. Big difference across thousands of photos.

HEIC also supports features JPG can't:

• 16-bit color depth for richer tones
• Transparency (alpha channel) support
• Multiple images in one file (like Live Photos)

None of that helps if your app can't read HEIC. That's where conversion comes in.

Method 1: Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac with Preview

Preview is the fastest way to convert one or two HEIC files. It's already on your Mac.

1. Double-click the HEIC file to open it in Preview
2. Click File → Export in the menu bar
3. Click the Format dropdown and select JPEG
4. Adjust the Quality slider (80-85% balances size and clarity)
5. Choose your save location and click Save

Pro tip: Hold Option while clicking the Format dropdown to see additional formats like TIFF and PNG. You can also convert screenshots to PDF using this same Export workflow.

Preview keeps EXIF metadata (camera info, GPS, date) intact. Need to strip it for privacy? Uncheck More Options before saving.

Method 2: Finder Quick Actions (fastest)

If you're on macOS Monterey or later, this is the quickest method — no app needed.

1. Right-click the HEIC file (or files) in Finder
2. Select Quick Actions → Convert Image
3. Choose JPEG from the format dropdown
4. Pick your preferred image size (Small, Medium, Large, or Actual Size)
5. Click Convert to JPEG

This works with multiple files. Select a batch, right-click, and convert them all at once. JPGs appear next to the originals.

Don't see Convert Image? Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Extensions → Finder and make sure it's enabled.

Method 3: Terminal with sips (power users)

The sips (Scriptable Image Processing System) command is built into macOS and handles HEIC to JPG conversion in one line.

Convert a single file:

sips -s format jpeg photo.HEIC --out photo.jpg

Convert and set quality (0-100):

sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 85 photo.HEIC --out photo.jpg

Convert all HEIC files in a folder:

for file in *.HEIC; do
  sips -s format jpeg "$file" --out "${file%.HEIC}.jpg"
done

This converts every .HEIC file in the folder to .jpg. Fastest method for large batches.

The sips command also handles conversion to PNG if you need lossless output:

sips -s format png photo.HEIC --out photo.png

For more Terminal-based image workflows, check out our free HEIC to JPG converter that handles everything in your browser.

Method 4: Batch convert multiple HEIC files

Got dozens or hundreds of photos to convert? These approaches handle volume without slowing down.

Using Preview (batch)

1. Select all HEIC files in Finder (⌘ + A or click-drag)
2. Right-click → Open With → Preview
3. In Preview's sidebar, press ⌘ + A to select all thumbnails
4. Click File → Export Selected Images
5. Click Options, set Format to JPEG, adjust quality
6. Choose the output folder and click Choose

Preview converts all selected images at once. Works well for up to ~200 files. Beyond that, use Terminal instead.

Using Automator (reusable workflow)

Want a permanent one-click solution? Create an Automator Quick Action:

1. Open Automator from Spotlight or Applications
2. Choose Quick Action as the document type
3. Set "Workflow receives current" to image files in Finder
4. Search for Change Type of Images in the action library
5. Drag it into the workflow area and set format to JPEG
6. Optionally add Scale Images after it to resize during conversion
7. Save the workflow with a clear name (e.g., "Convert to JPG")

Now right-click any HEIC file(s) in Finder → Quick Actions → Convert to JPG. Unlike Method 2, you can chain steps — convert, resize, and copy in one click.

Tip: Automator workflows live in ~/Library/Services/. Edit or delete them anytime.

Using Shortcuts (macOS Ventura and later)

Apple's Shortcuts app replaced Automator for new workflows on macOS Ventura 13 and later. Here's how to build a HEIC-to-JPG shortcut:

1. Open Shortcuts from Spotlight
2. Click the + button to create a new shortcut
3. Add the Convert Image action and set it to JPEG
4. Add Save File and pick your output folder
5. Name it "HEIC to JPG" and save

Run it from Finder's Quick Actions, the menu bar, or a keyboard shortcut. It syncs across Apple devices too.

Why Shortcuts over Automator? Shortcuts is faster and actively developed. Automator still works but hasn't been updated in years. On Ventura or later, go with Shortcuts.

Method 5: Online converters (when offline isn't an option)

On a managed Mac without Terminal access? Browser tools work great:

• ScreenSnap Pro HEIC to JPG — Free, runs entirely in your browser (no upload to servers)
• heictojpg.com — Simple drag-and-drop, converts up to 50 files at once
• iLoveIMG — Batch conversion with additional editing options

Client-side tools like ScreenSnap Pro's converter keep your photos on your computer. Server-based converters upload your files — a privacy concern for personal photos.

Video walkthrough

Watch a quick demo of the conversion methods covered above:

HEIC vs JPG: which format to use when?

Keep HEIC when: Storing photos on your iPhone or Mac. Apple handles it natively, so no reason to convert local files.

Convert to JPG when: Sharing via email, uploading to websites, printing, or sending to Windows/Android users.

If you work with multiple image formats regularly, our image format converter handles HEIC, PNG, WebP, AVIF, and more — all in your browser.

Prevent HEIC on iPhone (change camera settings)

If you'd rather not deal with conversion at all, you can set your iPhone to shoot JPG natively:

1. Open Settings → Camera → Formats
2. Select Most Compatible (instead of High Efficiency)

This switches your camera to JPG/H.264. The tradeoff: photos take roughly twice the storage.

Note: Third-party camera apps (Halide, ProCamera) have their own format settings. Check each app if you're still getting HEIC files.

A middle ground: keep High Efficiency but turn on Automatic transfer in Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC. iOS will convert HEIC to JPG automatically when transferring to non-Apple devices.

Troubleshooting common HEIC conversion issues

"The file couldn't be exported" in Preview: Usually a corrupted HEIC file. Open it in Photos app first, then export from there. Photos handles damaged files better.

Converted JPGs look washed out: Newer iPhones use Display P3 color. JPG uses sRGB. Colors sometimes shift during conversion. Fix: convert to PNG first (lossless), then PNG to JPG for more control over color profiles.

"Convert Image" missing from Quick Actions: Requires macOS Monterey 12.0+. On older versions, use Preview or Terminal. Check System Settings → Extensions → Finder too.

"Command not found" for sips: Try the full path: /usr/bin/sips. Still nothing? Run xcode-select --install to restore command-line tools.

Batch conversion freezes midway: Preview runs out of memory with large batches. For 500+ photos, use the Terminal loop from Method 3. It processes one file at a time.

Tips for managing HEIC photos on Mac

• Spotlight search works with HEIC files — type the filename or use kind:image to find them
• Photos app handles HEIC natively and exports as JPG when you drag images to Finder
• Quick Look (press Space in Finder) previews HEIC files instantly
• Preview's Export workflow works the same for any format — HEIC, PNG, TIFF, or WebP
• ScreenSnap Pro handles HEIC natively — capture, annotate, and export as JPG in one workflow
• Keep originals after converting. Storage is cheap; re-converting from JPG back to HEIC isn't possible

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert HEIC to JPG without losing quality?

JPEG is lossy, so there's always some quality loss. At 85-95% quality, the difference is invisible to the eye. For archival use, convert to PNG instead — it's lossless.

Why can't I open HEIC files on my Mac?

Macs on macOS High Sierra (10.13) or later open HEIC natively. On older versions, update your system or use an online converter. Both .HEIC and .heic extensions work.

Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce file size?

It depends on quality. At 90-100%, JPGs are often larger than HEIC originals. At 70-85%, they're similar in size. Use our image compressor to shrink JPGs further after conversion.

How do I batch convert hundreds of HEIC files on Mac?

Terminal (Method 3) is fastest. Navigate to the folder and run the for loop. On M1 Macs, sips converts 10-15 images per second. For a GUI option, use Preview's Export Selected Images.

Will converting HEIC to JPG remove photo metadata?

No. Both Preview and sips preserve EXIF metadata (date, camera settings, GPS). To remove metadata for privacy, use Preview's Tools → Show Inspector → GPS tab.