How to Change HEIC Photos to JPG

The iPhone saves photos in the HEIC format. Many programs and websites cannot open HEIC files. This guide tells you what HEIC is and how to change a HEIC photo to a JPG file.

One method uses the LeanTul image converter. This method operates in your browser. The photo does not leave your device.

What HEIC is

HEIC is the High Efficiency Image Container format. It is the Apple name for the HEIF format (High Efficiency Image File Format). HEIC files use the HEVC codec. This is the codec that 4K video uses.

Apple made HEIC the default camera format in iOS 11 in 2017. All iPhones after 2017 save photos as HEIC files. Some Samsung and Google phones can also save HEIC files. Most Android phones save photos as JPG files.

A HEIC photo is approximately half the size of a JPG photo of the same quality. This saves storage space on the phone. HEIC also supports 16-bit color, transparency, Live Photos, and depth data for Portrait mode. JPG does not support these functions.

Why some programs cannot open HEIC

The HEVC codec has patents. A program that decodes HEVC must have a license. Because of this, not all programs support HEIC:

• Windows. The Photos app can open HEIC files only after you install the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. The HEVC Video Extensions cost approximately one dollar. Many users do not install them.
• Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. These browsers cannot show HEIC files. Only Safari can show them.
• Websites. Many upload forms accept only JPG and PNG files. Some forms reject HEIC files. Some forms accept the file but show a blank image.
• Old software. Old photo editors, slideshow programs, and print kiosks do not support HEIC.

All programs can open JPG files. This is why users change HEIC photos to JPG.

Method 1: Change the iPhone settings

If you change HEIC photos frequently, change the iPhone settings. There are three options.

Save new photos as JPG:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Camera.
3. Select Formats.
4. Select Most Compatible.

NOTE: JPG files are larger than HEIC files. Live Photos are not available in some new formats.

Change photos to JPG when you copy them to a computer:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Photos.
3. Go to Transfer to Mac or PC.
4. Select Automatic.

The photos stay HEIC on the phone. The phone changes them to JPG when you copy them with a USB cable.

Send photos with Mail or Messages. When you send a photo with the Apple Mail app, iOS usually changes it to JPG. When you send a photo with Messages to a phone that is not an iPhone, iOS usually changes it to JPG. AirDrop does not change the format.

NOTE: These settings do not change the HEIC photos that are already on the phone. Use Method 2, 3, or 4 for those photos.

Method 2: Use a Mac

macOS High Sierra and later versions can open HEIC files.

Finder (macOS Monterey and later):

1. Select one or more HEIC files.
2. Right-click the files.
3. Select Quick Actions.
4. Select Convert Image.
5. Select JPEG.
6. Select an image size.

Preview:

1. Open the HEIC file.
2. Select File.
3. Select Export.
4. Set the format to JPEG.
5. Select a quality.

Photos app:

1. Select the photos.
2. Select File, then Export, then Export Photos.
3. Set the kind to JPEG.

Method 3: Use Windows

1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Install the HEIF Image Extensions. They are free.
3. Open the HEIC file in the Photos app.
4. Select Save as.
5. Select JPG.

NOTE: If the Photos app still cannot open the file, install the HEVC Video Extensions. They are not free.

If you do not want to install codecs, use Method 4. It operates in Chrome and Edge on Windows.

Method 4: Use your browser

Most online HEIC converters send your photo to a server. The server changes the photo. Then you download the result. Your photo is on a computer that you do not control. A phone photo usually contains the GPS location of the place where you took the photo.

The LeanTul image converter changes the photo in your browser. The HEIC decoder loads when you open a HEIC file. The decoder operates on your device. The photo does not leave your device. You do not install a program. You do not make an account.

Procedure:

1. Open the image converter in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
2. Click the open-file button.
3. Select the .heic or .heif photo.
4. Select JPG as the output format.
5. Set the quality to 85 or 90 percent.
6. Click the download button.

NOTE: The decoder takes a short time to load when you open the first HEIC file.

NOTE: The output file has the name of the original file with -converted added. For example, IMG_0421.heic becomes IMG_0421-converted.jpg.

You can also select PNG, WebP, or AVIF as the output format. PNG does not decrease the quality. WebP and AVIF make smaller files than JPG.

Metadata

The browser method draws the image again pixel by pixel. The JPG output does not contain EXIF metadata. The output does not contain the GPS location, the camera model, or the capture time.

This is good when you send the photo to other persons. This is not good when you want to keep the capture date and location. If you want to keep the metadata, keep the HEIC file or use Method 2 or 3. Use the EXIF viewer to see the metadata in a photo.

Keep the HEIC file

Keep the original HEIC file. It has the best quality and the smallest size. The JPG file is a copy with lower quality. Make a JPG file when a program or website needs a JPG file.

For many photos, use Method 2 or 3. These methods change many files in one operation. For one photo, use Method 4. It is the fastest method.

Quick answers

Does the JPG file have lower quality than the HEIC file? Yes, but the difference is small. JPG is a lossy format. At 85 to 90 percent quality you cannot see the difference. If you need the same quality, select PNG.

Why is the JPG file larger than the HEIC file? HEIC compresses the image more than JPG. A JPG file of the same photo is frequently two times the size of the HEIC file.

Can I change HEIC photos on an Android phone? Yes. Recent Android versions open HEIC files in Google Photos. Method 4 operates in Chrome on Android.

Is a .heif file the same as a .heic file? Almost. HEIF is the container format. HEIC is the Apple name for a HEIF file that uses the HEVC codec. A program that opens one format opens the other format.

Can I change many HEIC photos in one operation? Yes, with Method 2. The Finder Quick Action changes many files. The LeanTul converter changes one photo at a time.