Convert HEIC to JPG, free
HEIC to JPG: convert iPhone photos for free, four ways, and a whole folder at once
To convert HEIC to JPG for free, use what your computer already has. On a Mac, open the photo in Preview and choose File, Export, Format: JPEG. On Windows, install the HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store, open the photo in Paint and save it as JPEG. To get JPG from the iPhone from now on, set Camera, Formats to Most Compatible. For a whole folder on a Mac, Convert Images in AwaCut does every photo at once.
2 computers per licence. Full refund within 14 days, no reason needed.
- No upload
- Whole folders on a Mac
- 10 photos free
Listed onAlternativeToMicrosoft Store
Mac: Preview
Open the .heic file in Preview, choose File, Export, set Format to JPEG and save. To convert several, select them all in Preview's sidebar first, then Export Selected Images. In Terminal: sips -s format jpeg IMG_2041.HEIC --out IMG_2041.jpg.
Windows: Paint
Windows needs two Microsoft Store extensions to open HEIC: HEIF Image Extensions (free) and HEVC Video Extensions (paid). With both installed, open the photo in Paint and choose File, Save as, JPEG picture.
iPhone: JPG from the start
Settings, Camera, Formats, Most Compatible: new photos are saved as JPG. Settings, Apps, Photos, Transfer to Mac or PC, Automatic: photos copied to a computer by cable arrive as JPG.
A whole folder: AwaCut on a Mac
Drop the folder of .heic photos on Convert Images, pick JPG and export. Every photo is converted on your Mac, nothing is uploaded, and the originals stay as they were.
HEIC to JPG converters, tool by tool
Preview
- Runs on
- Mac, built in
- Good to know
- One photo or a selection. Free
sips
- Runs on
- Mac, built in
- Good to know
- One command per file, easy to loop over a folder
Paint
- Runs on
- Windows, built in
- Good to know
- Needs the HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store
heif-dec (libheif)
- Runs on
- Linux, Mac, Windows
- Good to know
- Free and open source, one command per file
AwaCut (Convert Images)
- Runs on
- Mac
- Good to know
- Whole folders to JPG, PNG, WebP or JXL. 10 photos free, then a licence
Online converters
- Runs on
- Browser
- Good to know
- Uploads your photos. Check where they go before sending client photos
| Tool | Runs on | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Preview | Mac, built in | One photo or a selection. Free |
| sips | Mac, built in | One command per file, easy to loop over a folder |
| Paint | Windows, built in | Needs the HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store |
| heif-dec (libheif) | Linux, Mac, Windows | Free and open source, one command per file |
| AwaCut (Convert Images) | Mac | Whole folders to JPG, PNG, WebP or JXL. 10 photos free, then a licence |
| Online converters | Browser | Uploads your photos. Check where they go before sending client photos |
HEIC needs an HEVC decoder. macOS has one built in, which is why AwaCut reads HEIC on a Mac only. Checked November 2026.
Mistakes when converting HEIC to JPG
Renaming .heic to .jpg
A new name does not change the file inside. Many apps then refuse it or show an error. Convert it instead.
Uploading private photos to a converter site
Family photos and client photos carry the date, the camera and often the location. Convert on your own computer and they never leave it.
Converting one by one
A phone backup can hold thousands of HEIC photos. On a Mac, a sips loop or AwaCut converts the whole folder in one run.
Why iPhone photos are HEIC
iPhones save photos as HEIC because the files are about half the size of a JPG at the same quality. Apple's apps read them, but many websites, shops and Windows programs still want JPG. Converting a copy to JPG is the simplest fix; keep the HEIC originals, which are smaller and better.
Try it on your own photos: the first 10 are free, no account.
2 computers per licence. Full refund within 14 days, no reason needed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac?
Open the photo in Preview, choose File, Export and set Format to JPEG. For many photos, select them in Preview's sidebar and use Export Selected Images, or drop the folder on Convert Images in AwaCut.
How do I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows?
Install HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then open the photo in Paint and choose File, Save as, JPEG picture. AwaCut's Convert Images reads HEIC on a Mac only, because Windows has no free HEVC decoder it can use.
Can I convert a whole folder of HEIC photos to JPG?
Yes. On a Mac, drop the folder on Convert Images in AwaCut, or run this in Terminal inside the folder: for f in *.HEIC; do sips -s format jpeg "$f" --out "${f%.*}.jpg"; done.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
A little, as every JPG does, and at a high quality setting you will not see it. The JPG is usually about twice the size of the HEIC.
How do I stop my iPhone from taking HEIC photos?
Go to Settings, Camera, Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos are then saved as JPG.
Convert a folder of HEIC photos on your Mac
Convert Images has 10 free photos on each computer, then one yearly licence for as many photos as you want, with Remove Background included.
macOS
macOS 13.4+ (Apple silicon)v1.0.7 · 186 MB
Windows
Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)v1.0.7 · 176 MB
Linux
AppImage (x86-64)v1.0.7 · 263 MB
Signed by AYA MIM S.R.L. If Windows still shows "Windows protected your PC", click More info, then Run anyway.
No AwaCut account. No credits. No uploads. 2 computers per licence, full refund within 14 days.