How to convert HEIC to JPG (iPhone photos that open everywhere)
Updated · PDF Converter
Since iOS 11, iPhones and iPads save photos as HEIC by default. The format keeps good quality in smaller files, but Windows often cannot open it without an extra codec, and many websites, upload forms and older apps reject it. The fix is to convert the photos to JPG, the format every device and app understands. This guide shows how, plus how to stop the problem at the source.
The quick way: convert HEIC to JPG
- Open HEIC to JPG and add your .heic or .heif photos.
- Set the JPG quality slider. The default of 90 looks the same as the original for normal viewing; choose 100 for the highest quality.
- Press HEIC to JPG and download the JPGs.
The JPGs open in Windows Photos, Office, email clients and any upload form that accepts images.
Where does the conversion happen?
This is one of the few tools where the answer depends on your browser:
- Browsers that can read HEIC, such as Safari, convert the photos directly on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
- Browsers that cannot read HEIC send each photo over HTTPS to the conversion server, which converts it and deletes it immediately afterwards.
If the server is not available and your browser cannot decode HEIC either, you will see a message saying so rather than a broken file.
Need a PDF instead of JPGs?
If you photographed documents, receipts or a whiteboard and need to send them as one file, skip the JPG step. HEIC to PDF turns HEIC photos straight into a PDF:
- Add the photos and drag them into page order.
- Choose Page size (Same as image, A4 or US Letter), Orientation and Margin.
- Convert and download. Each photo becomes one page. Tick One PDF per image instead of a single PDF if you need separate files.
Phone photos are high resolution, so the PDF can be large. Run it through Compress PDF before emailing or uploading it. To make the text in photographed documents searchable, run the PDF through OCR PDF.
Make your iPhone save JPG in the first place
If you regularly need JPGs, change the camera setting so new photos are saved as JPG from the start:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to Camera → Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible.
This only affects new photos – existing HEIC photos stay as they are, so you still need to convert those. The trade-off is that JPG files take more storage space than HEIC at similar quality.
Tip: when you copy photos from an iPhone to a computer with a cable, Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic lets the iPhone convert them to a compatible format during the transfer.
HEIC or JPG – which should I keep?
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller at similar quality | Larger |
| Compatibility | Apple devices, some newer apps | Every device, browser and app |
| Best for | Storing photos on your iPhone | Sharing, uploading, printing, Windows |
A practical approach: keep the originals as they are on your phone, and convert copies to JPG whenever you need to share them outside the Apple world.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not open HEIC files on Windows?
Windows needs an additional codec to display HEIC. Converting the photos to JPG makes them open everywhere without installing anything.
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
At a JPG quality of 90 or higher, the difference is not visible in normal use. Choose 100 if you plan to edit or print the photos.
What happens to Live Photos?
The still image of a Live Photo is converted to JPG. The short video part is not included.