Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac
Three free ways to turn iPhone photos into JPG on your Mac, with or without installing anything.
Your Mac opens HEIC photos without any problem, but the person you send them to, the website you upload them to or the program you edit them with might not. You can convert them to JPG right here in Safari, Chrome or Firefox, or with the tools that already come with macOS. Here are all three ways, and when each one is the best choice.
How to convert HEIC to JPG
- Open this page in Safari, Chrome or Firefox on your Mac.
- Drag the HEIC photos from a Finder window onto the box above (up to 20 at once).
- Click “Convert to JPG”.
- The JPG, or a ZIP if you converted several photos, is saved to your Downloads folder. Double-click the ZIP to unzip it.
Which method to choose
| Method | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Online, on this page | Converting a batch quickly and removing the location | Up to 20 photos at a time |
| Finder Quick Action | A few photos already in a Finder folder | Requires macOS Monterey (12) or later; untick “Preserve Metadata” to drop the location |
| Preview | Choosing the exact quality of each JPG | Keeps the location unless you remove it |
Method 1: convert online without installing anything
Drag the photos onto the box at the top of this page. It works the same way on an Intel Mac or one with Apple silicon, and on a work computer where you can’t install apps. We keep the orientation and colours of each photo and remove the GPS location the iPhone stores in it, which is handy if you are going to post the photos or send them to someone you don’t know.
If your photos are in the Photos app, drag them from the library onto a Finder window or the desktop first: they are saved as HEIC files that you can then drag here.
Method 2: Quick Action in Finder
Since macOS Monterey, Finder can convert images without opening any app:
- Select one or more HEIC photos in Finder.
- Right-click and choose Quick Actions › Convert Image.
- Choose JPEG as the format and the image size (Actual Size keeps every pixel). Untick Preserve Metadata if you don’t want the JPG to keep the location.
- Click Convert to JPEG. The JPGs appear next to the originals.
Method 3: export from Preview
- Open the HEIC photo in Preview.
- Go to File › Export.
- Choose JPEG in the Format menu and adjust the quality with the slider.
- Click Save.
To convert several at once, open them all in Preview, select them in the sidebar (Command-A) and use File › Export Selected Images; in the options, choose JPEG.
What about the Photos app?
In Photos, File › Export › Export Photos lets you choose JPEG as the photo kind. Make sure you don’t choose “Export Unmodified Original”, which saves the HEIC file as it is. In the same window you can untick the location information if you don’t want to share it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac?
Yes, several. macOS already includes Preview and, since Monterey, the Convert Image Quick Action in Finder. You can also convert them free online on this page, without installing anything.
How do I convert many HEIC photos to JPG at once on a Mac?
Select them all in Finder and use Quick Actions › Convert Image, or drag them onto this page (up to 20 at a time). In Preview, open them together and use File › Export Selected Images.
Why can’t I find Convert Image in the Quick Actions menu?
It is only available from macOS Monterey (12) onwards. On older versions, use Preview or convert the photos online on this page.
Does converting HEIC to JPG on a Mac remove the location?
Preview keeps the photo’s GPS data in the JPG. The Finder Quick Action removes it only if you untick “Preserve Metadata”. When you convert on this page, we always remove it along with the rest of the metadata.
Why do photos from AirDrop or iCloud arrive as HEIC on my Mac?
Because the Mac reads HEIC perfectly well, so the iPhone sends the original file without converting it. The conversion only becomes necessary when the photo has to leave the Apple ecosystem.