Free JXL to JPEG converters
JXL to JPG: three free ways, and how to get the original JPG back
To convert JXL to JPG for free, use a tool on your own computer. On a Mac, open the .jxl in Preview and choose File, Export, Format: JPEG. On Windows or Linux, open it in GIMP 3 and use File, Export As. The free djxl tool does it in one command: djxl photo.jxl photo.jpg. If the JXL was made from a JPG, you get the exact original file back. Otherwise you get a new JPG at quality 95. For a whole folder, Convert Images in AwaCut does every file at once.
2 computers per licence. Full refund within 14 days, no reason needed.
25 MP cutouts saved without loss: average file size
- PNG35 MB · 100%
- WebP lossless23 MB · 65%
- JPEG XL lossless, AwaCut18 MB · 53%
- JPEG XL lossless, cjxl14 MB · 41%
- Free, on your computer
- Original JPG back, if the JXL came from one
- Mac, Windows and Linux
Listed onAlternativeToMicrosoft Store
Mac: Preview
Open the .jxl in Preview, then File, Export, Format JPEG, and pick the quality. In Terminal, the built-in sips command does the same: sips -s format jpeg photo.jxl --out photo.jpg.
Command line: djxl
Install libjxl with Homebrew, your Linux package manager or from its GitHub page, then run djxl photo.jxl photo.jpg. Add -q 90 only when the JXL did not start as a JPG: -q always makes a new JPG.
A whole folder: AwaCut or XnConvert
Convert Images in AwaCut turns a whole folder of JXL files into JPG in one run and puts transparent areas on white, or a colour you pick. XnConvert converts folders too. For a single file, GIMP 3 opens .jxl: File, Export As, photo.jpg.
JXL to JPG converters, tool by tool
Preview
- Runs on
- Mac, built in
- Good to know
- Opens JXL and exports JPG or PNG
sips
- Runs on
- Mac, built in
- Good to know
- One command per file, easy to loop over a folder
djxl (libjxl)
- Runs on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Good to know
- Rebuilds the original JPG when the JXL came from one. Free and open source
GIMP 3
- Runs on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Good to know
- Free, one file at a time
XnConvert
- Runs on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Good to know
- Whole folders. Free for private use, a licence for business
AwaCut (Convert Images)
- Runs on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Good to know
- Whole folders. Transparent areas become white or a colour you pick. 10 photos free, then the yearly licence
Online converters
- Runs on
- Browser
- Good to know
- Check whether the site uploads your file before you send client photos
| Tool | Runs on | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Preview | Mac, built in | Opens JXL and exports JPG or PNG |
| sips | Mac, built in | One command per file, easy to loop over a folder |
| djxl (libjxl) | Mac, Windows, Linux | Rebuilds the original JPG when the JXL came from one. Free and open source |
| GIMP 3 | Mac, Windows, Linux | Free, one file at a time |
| XnConvert | Mac, Windows, Linux | Whole folders. Free for private use, a licence for business |
| AwaCut (Convert Images) | Mac, Windows, Linux | Whole folders. Transparent areas become white or a colour you pick. 10 photos free, then the yearly licence |
| Online converters | Browser | Check whether the site uploads your file before you send client photos |
Tested on macOS 27 with libjxl 0.12 and GIMP 3.2, 16 October 2026.
Three mistakes when you convert JXL to JPG
Making a new JPG when the original is inside
If the JXL came from a JPG, djxl photo.jxl photo.jpg returns the original with no loss. Adding -q or -j makes a new JPG and loses detail.
Converting a cutout to JPG
JPG has no transparency. In our test the transparent area came out black with sips and near-black with djxl. Convert cutouts to PNG, or choose what colour the transparent areas become, as Convert Images in AwaCut lets you.
Sending client photos to a web converter
An online converter may upload your file to its server. Preview, sips, djxl, GIMP, XnConvert and AwaCut all convert on your own computer.
Why convert JXL to JPG at all
Chrome 155, Firefox 158 and Safari 17 display JXL. Shopify, Amazon and eBay do not list it among their accepted formats, and neither do the nine background removers we checked. So the file you upload is a JPG, or a PNG when the photo needs transparency. Selling these photos? AwaCut opens the .jxl files as they are and removes the background from the whole folder at once, on your own computer.
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 JXL to JPG on a Mac?
Open the file in Preview and choose File, Export, JPEG. For many files, use the built-in sips command in Terminal: sips -s format jpeg photo.jxl --out photo.jpg.
How do I convert JXL to JPEG on Windows?
Download libjxl for Windows from its GitHub releases page and run djxl photo.jxl photo.jpg. Or open the file in GIMP 3 and use File, Export As, photo.jpg. For a whole folder, Convert Images in AwaCut or XnConvert converts every JXL to JPG in one run; XnConvert needs a licence for business use.
Can I convert a whole folder of JXL files at once?
Yes. Convert Images in AwaCut and XnConvert each convert a folder in one run. On a Mac, run this in Terminal inside the folder: for f in *.jxl; do sips -s format jpeg "$f" --out "${f%.jxl}.jpg"; done. With djxl on Mac or Linux: for f in *.jxl; do djxl "$f" "${f%.jxl}.jpg"; done.
Does JXL to JPG lose quality?
A new JPG is lossy, so some detail goes. The exception: a JXL made from a JPG turns back into the exact original with djxl, with no loss at all.
Can I get my original JPG back from a JXL?
Yes, when the JXL was made with lossless JPEG recompression, which cjxl uses for JPG files by default. djxl rebuilds the original byte for byte; we checked it with a file compare.
Is there a free JXL converter that does not upload my photos?
Yes. djxl, GIMP 3 and XnConvert run on Mac, Windows and Linux and convert on your own computer. On a Mac, Preview and the built-in sips command do it with nothing to install. XnConvert is free for private use; a business needs a licence.
Selling these photos? Remove the background in one go
Drop the folder of .jxl photos on AwaCut. Remove Background puts every photo on white or transparent; Convert Images only changes the format. PNG, WebP, JPG or JXL, on your own computer. 10 photos free in each.
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.