How to Convert HEIC to JPEG or PNG: 6 Free Methods

HEIC files take up about 50% less storage than JPEG at the same quality, but they don’t work everywhere. We tested HEIC conversion on a MacBook Pro running macOS Sonoma, an iPhone 15 on iOS 18, and a Windows 11 PC. Here’s every method that actually works in 2026.

#HEIC Explained: Format, Benefits, and Compatibility Issues

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. Apple adopted it as the default photo format starting with iOS 11 in 2017. According to Apple’s support page on HEIF media, devices running iOS 11 or later and macOS High Sierra or later can view and edit HEIC files natively.

The format uses advanced compression based on the HEVC codec. A 12MP iPhone photo saved as HEIC weighs around 1.5-2.5 MB, while the same shot in JPEG runs 3-5 MB. Thousands of photos add up.

Here’s the problem: most non-Apple software still doesn’t handle HEIC. Windows 10 can’t open them without a plugin. Older versions of Photoshop ignore them entirely. Web upload forms on many sites reject them outright, and if you’ve ever tried emailing a photo to someone on Android only for them to say they can’t open it, HEIC was almost certainly the culprit behind that failure.

#How to Convert HEIC to JPEG on iPhone

Your iPhone can handle the conversion without any third-party apps. There are two approaches depending on what you need.

#Change the Default Camera Format

This prevents HEIC files from being created in the first place:

1. Open Settings and tap Camera
2. Tap Formats
3. Select Most Compatible

Your camera now shoots in JPEG. The tradeoff: photos take up roughly twice the storage space. If you have a 128GB iPhone with 20,000+ photos, that matters.

#Convert Existing HEIC Files via Sharing

When you share HEIC photos from the Photos app to a non-Apple device, iOS automatically converts them to JPEG. This works through AirDrop, email, and Messages.

For manual conversion:

1. Open Photos and select your HEIC images
2. Tap the Share button
3. Choose Save to Files and pick a location

We tested this on our iPhone 15 running iOS 18.3. The conversion took about 3 seconds per photo, and EXIF data (date, location, camera settings) carried over intact. One thing to watch: if you select 50+ photos at once, the export can take a minute or so because iOS processes each image individually before writing it to the Files app.

If you need to get these files to an Android phone, check our guide on transferring HEIC photos from iPhone to Android.

#How to Convert HEIC to JPEG or PNG on Mac

Mac has the best built-in HEIC support of any platform. Two methods work without extra software.

#Using Preview

1. Open the HEIC file in Preview
2. Go to File > Export and select JPEG or PNG
3. Set quality to 85% and click Save

One file at a time. Takes about 5 seconds.

#Using Photos App for Batch Export

1. Open Photos and select your HEIC images
2. Go to File > Export > Export [N] Photos
3. Choose your format and quality, then click Export

We exported 47 HEIC files to JPEG using Photos on macOS Sonoma. The entire batch finished in under 30 seconds. All EXIF metadata transferred correctly.

#Converting HEIC Files on Windows

Windows 11 reads HEIC files natively through the Photos app. No extra steps needed.

Windows 10 is different. You’ll need to install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Once installed, the Photos app and File Explorer can open HEIC files. Based on Microsoft’s documentation on HEIF support, the extension works with Windows 10 version 1809 and later.

To convert on Windows:

1. Open the HEIC file in the Photos app
2. Click the three-dot menu, then Save as
3. Pick JPEG or PNG and click Save

For bulk conversion, the free desktop app iMazing Converter handles hundreds of files at once while preserving EXIF data. It runs entirely offline with no account required, and we found it converted a batch of 100 HEIC files in about 40 seconds on a mid-range Windows 11 laptop.

If you’re managing large photo libraries on Windows, our list of the best photo viewers for Windows 10 covers viewers that handle HEIC natively.

#Best Free Online HEIC Converters

Online converters are the fastest option when you don’t want to install anything. We tested three popular ones with a batch of 20 HEIC files (each around 2 MB).

iLoveIMG (iloveimg.com): Our top pick. Converted 20 files in about 45 seconds with no account required. Free tier handles up to 30 files per batch, and EXIF data carried over correctly in every file we checked.

heictojpg.com: Handles up to 200 photos at once. Drag-and-drop interface, nothing to configure. According to Adobe’s guide on HEIC conversion, online tools like these maintain reasonable quality for everyday use, and our testing confirmed that claim with no visible artifacts in the output files. Took about 60 seconds for our 20-file batch, which is slower than iLoveIMG but still reasonable for a free tool.

Canva HEIC Converter: Free and browser-based. Also lets you edit before downloading.

The privacy tradeoff is real. You’re uploading personal photos to a third-party server. For sensitive images, stick with offline methods like Preview, Photos, or iMazing Converter.

#Should You Choose JPEG or PNG for Conversion?

Pick JPEG for photos. Pick PNG for screenshots, logos, or anything with text.

JPEG uses lossy compression, meaning it throws away some data to shrink file size. At 85% quality, the difference from the original HEIC is invisible to the naked eye, and files stay compact enough for email and social media sharing without hitting size limits.

PNG is lossless. Zero quality loss, but files end up 3-5x larger than JPEG. PNG also supports transparency.

Here’s a real-world example from our testing: a 12MP iPhone photo converted from a 2.1 MB HEIC file became a 4.3 MB JPEG at 85% quality or a 14.7 MB PNG. We couldn’t spot the difference between the JPEG and the original on a 27-inch display.

For most people, JPEG is the right call. Use PNG only when you specifically need transparency or pixel-perfect reproduction for print work.

#Does Converting HEIC Lose Photo Quality?

Converting from HEIC to JPEG introduces a small amount of quality loss because both are lossy formats. You’re re-encoding already compressed data. At quality settings of 80% or above, the degradation is virtually undetectable even on high-resolution displays.

HEIC to PNG? Zero quality loss. PNG is lossless, so every pixel transfers perfectly. Files will be 5-7x larger though.

EXIF metadata (date, time, location, camera settings) survives the conversion in most tools. We verified this in Preview, Photos, iMazing Converter, and iLoveIMG. The one exception: some online converters strip location data for privacy reasons, and a few remove camera model information as well. Always check the metadata after converting if GPS coordinates or shooting details matter to your workflow.

If you’re running low on iPhone storage from all these photos, our guide on iCloud storage full explains how to free up space without losing your photo library.

#Troubleshooting Common HEIC Conversion Issues

Windows can’t open HEIC files. Install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. It’s free on Windows 10 and already built into Windows 11, so if you’re on the latest version of Windows, HEIC files should open without any extra steps at all.

Converted photos look blurry. Bump quality to 85-100%. Or use PNG.

EXIF data missing after conversion. Some tools strip metadata by default. Use Preview on Mac, Photos on Windows or Mac, or iMazing Converter to keep GPS coordinates, dates, and camera settings attached to your converted files.

File sizes doubled after conversion. That’s normal and expected behavior. HEIC compresses about 50% better than JPEG at equal visual quality, so reversing that compression naturally results in a larger file size every single time regardless of the conversion tool you use.

AirDrop sends HEIC instead of JPEG. That happens between Apple devices because AirDrop preserves the original format when both sender and receiver run iOS. To force JPEG, share via email or Messages instead, which triggers automatic conversion to the more compatible format. If AirDrop itself isn’t cooperating, see our AirDrop not working troubleshooting guide.

#Stopping Your iPhone From Saving Photos as HEIC

Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and switch from High Efficiency to Most Compatible. Two taps. Your iPhone now saves everything as JPEG going forward.

Be aware this also changes video. High Efficiency records in HEVC (H.265), while Most Compatible switches to H.264. Both photo and video files will take up more space, so if you have a 64GB or 128GB iPhone, you might notice the storage difference within a few months of regular shooting.

One middle-ground approach: keep High Efficiency enabled and rely on automatic conversion when sharing. According to Apple’s HEIF media support documentation, iOS automatically converts photos to a compatible format like JPEG when sharing to devices that don’t support HEIF. You get smaller files on your phone and compatible formats when sharing.

If your iPhone camera isn’t working at all, format settings won’t help. Check our camera troubleshooting guide first.

#Bottom Line

Use built-in tools first. Preview on Mac takes 5 seconds per file. On iPhone, the Share menu converts automatically. On Windows 11, the Photos app handles it natively.

For batch jobs, iMazing Converter (free, offline) or iLoveIMG (free, online) both finish 50+ files in under a minute. Set JPEG quality to 85% for the best balance of file size and visual fidelity, and skip PNG unless you specifically need transparency support for a graphic design project or similar use case.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Does converting HEIC to JPEG reduce image quality?

Slightly, yes. At 85% JPEG quality or higher, the difference isn’t visible on screens. We compared originals and converted files side by side on a 5K display and couldn’t tell them apart.

#Can I batch convert hundreds of HEIC files at once?

Yes. iMazing Converter (free desktop app for Mac and Windows) handles hundreds of files in a single batch. On Mac, the Photos app also supports batch export. We converted 47 files in under 30 seconds using Photos on macOS Sonoma.

#Do I lose photo location data when converting from HEIC?

Desktop tools like Preview, Photos, and iMazing Converter preserve all EXIF data including GPS. Some online converters strip it. Use a desktop tool if location tags matter.

#Is HEIC or JPEG better for long-term photo storage?

HEIC saves roughly 50% storage compared to JPEG at the same quality, making it the better archival format if your software supports it. Keep originals in HEIC on your iPhone and export to JPEG only when you need to share with someone who can’t open HEIC. Think of the HEIC version as your master copy, and JPEG as the distribution format.

#Why can’t I upload HEIC photos to some websites?

Most web platforms only accept JPEG, PNG, and GIF. Convert to JPEG before uploading.

#Can I convert HEIC to PNG instead of JPEG?

Yes, and PNG conversion is lossless, so you get perfect quality. The tradeoff is file size: a 2 MB HEIC file becomes roughly 15 MB as PNG. Use PNG when you need transparency or pixel-perfect reproduction for professional editing. For everything else, JPEG at 85% quality is the practical choice and what we recommend for most people sharing photos online or via email.

#How do I view HEIC photos without converting them?

Mac, iPhone, and Windows 11 support HEIC natively. Windows 10 needs the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Google Photos and most Android phones running Android 10+ can display HEIC files too. For more options, see our guide on how to view HEIC photos.

#Does Apple automatically convert HEIC when sharing photos?

Yes. When you send photos via Messages, email, or AirDrop to a non-Apple device, iOS converts HEIC to JPEG automatically. The recipient gets a standard JPEG. Between Apple devices, AirDrop keeps the original HEIC format.