Solved: How do I convert a HEIC to JPG?

In this guide, we will show you how to convert HEIC to JPG using various methods. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, we’ve got you covered!

Introduction

Since the release of macOS High Sierra, Apple has made the HEIC image format the default for capturing photos on its devices. While the format has its advantages, including smaller file sizes and better image quality, it may not be compatible with all devices and software. Therefore, it’s essential to know how to convert HEIC images to JPG format, which is widely compatible across all devices and software.

With the introduction of iOS 11, Apple replaced the JPEG format with the new High-Efficiency Image Format (HEIC) on their devices. Although HEIC images offer better quality and smaller file size, it’s not a universal format, and not all devices and platforms support it. Therefore, converting HEIC to JPG is necessary for users who want to share their photos with others or use them on non-Apple devices.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac using various methods. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to convert HEIC images to JPG format effortlessly.

What is HEIC file?

HEIC files are based on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) standard, which was developed by the MPEG group. HEIF is a container format that can store multiple images, such as bursts, live photos, or HDR photos, as well as metadata, such as location, orientation, or depth information. HEIF also supports transparency and animation, making it a versatile and flexible format for different types of images.

HEIC files use a compression algorithm called HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), which is also known as H.265. HEVC is a successor of H.264, which is widely used for video compression. HEVC can achieve up to 50% better compression than H.264 while maintaining the same or better quality. This means that HEIC files can have smaller file sizes than JPEG files while preserving more details and colors.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of HEIC files?

The main advantage of HEIC files is that they can save storage space on your device without compromising image quality. According to Adobe, HEIC files can use as little as half the space that a JPEG file would for the same image. This can ease the strain on your hard drive while allowing you to store a much larger number of files.

Another advantage of HEIC files is that they can store more information than JPEG files. For example, HEIC files can store multiple images in one file, such as live photos or HDR photos, which can enhance the viewing experience and offer more editing options. HEIC files can also store metadata, such as location, orientation, or depth information, which can be useful for organizing, sorting, or editing your images.

However, HEIC files also have some disadvantages that may limit their compatibility and usability. One of the main disadvantages of HEIC files is that they are not widely supported by devices and applications outside of Apple’s ecosystem. For example, Windows 10 only added native support for HEIC files in 2018, and you may need to install an extension from the Microsoft Store to view them in the Photos app. Similarly, many online platforms and social media sites do not accept HEIC files for uploading or sharing.

Another disadvantage of HEIC files is that they may require more processing power and battery life to encode and decode than JPEG files. This is because HEVC is a more complex and advanced compression algorithm than JPEG’s compression method. Therefore, some older or lower-end devices may struggle to handle HEIC files smoothly or efficiently.

Why Convert HEIC to JPG?

As mentioned earlier, not all platforms support HEIC yet. If you want to share or transfer photos to a device that does not support HEIC, you need to convert the images to a format that is widely supported, such as JPG. Moreover, some photo editing software may not support HEIC yet, so you may need to convert the images to JPG to edit them.

Benefits of Using Quick Actions to Convert HEIC to JPG

Using Quick Actions to convert HEIC images to JPG format offers several benefits:

• Saves time: Quick Actions allows you to convert multiple images to JPG format with just a few clicks, saving you time.
• Easy to use: The process of converting HEIC images to JPG format using Quick Actions is straightforward and does not require any technical expertise.
• Built-in feature: Quick Actions is a built-in feature on Mac, so there is no need to download or install any additional software.
• Consistency: Quick Actions ensures that all converted images have the same file format, size, and quality, maintaining consistency across all images.

Method 1: How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac with Quick Actions

In this section, we will guide you on how to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac with Quick Actions. HEIC is a new image format that is gaining popularity but not yet supported by all platforms. So, if you want to convert HEIC images to JPG on your Mac, read on.

HEIC is a relatively new image format that Apple introduced with iOS 11. It is a more advanced image format that offers better image quality while taking up less space on your device. However, not all platforms support HEIC yet, so you may encounter issues when sharing HEIC images. In this section, we will guide you on how to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac with Quick Actions.

Setting Up Quick Actions

Quick Actions is a built-in feature on Mac that allows you to perform actions on files and folders quickly. Automator is another built-in application on macOS that allows you to create workflows for various tasks, including image conversion. To set up Quick Actions for converting HEIC to JPG using Automator, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Automator app on your Mac.

Step 2: Click on “File” in the menu bar and select “New“.

Step 3: Select “Quick Action” and click “Choose“.

Step 4: In the “Workflow receives current” dropdown menu, select “image files“.

Step 5: In the search bar, type “Change Type of Images“.

Step 6: Drag and drop the “Change Type of Images” action to the workflow area.

Step 7: In the “To Type” dropdown, select “JPEG“.

Step 8: Save the workflow and give it a name, such as “Convert HEIC to JPG“.

Using Quick Actions to Convert HEIC to JPG:

Once you have set up Quick Actions, converting HEIC to JPG is easy. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the HEIC image you want to convert and select it.

Step 2: Right-click on the image and select “Quick Actions“.

Step 3: Select “Convert HEIC to JPG” (or whatever name you gave the workflow).

Step 4: The HEIC image will be converted to JPG and saved in the same location as the original HEIC image.

Provided your macOS is operating on macOS 12 Monterey, you have the option to utilize the built-in Quick Actions feature for converting a group of photos from HEIC to JPG format.

Step 1: Open the folder containing the HEIC images you wish to convert.

Step 2: Select the HEIC images that you want to convert to JPG format.

Step 3: Right-click on the selected images and choose “Quick Actions” from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Select the “Convert to JPEG” option from the available Quick Actions.

Step 5: Wait for the conversion process to complete.

Step 6: Once the conversion is complete, you will find the newly created JPG images in the same folder as the original HEIC images.

Method 2: How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac with Preview App

If you have a Mac computer running macOS High Sierra or later, you can use the built-in Preview app to convert your HEIC files to JPG files. Preview is a built-in application on macOS that can be used for various tasks, including image editing and conversion. The advantage of this method is that you don’t need any additional software or internet connection, but the downside is that you can only convert one file at a time. Here’s how to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac using Preview:

Step 1: Open the HEIC image you want to convert in Preview.

Step 2: Click on “File” in the menu bar and select “Export.”

Step 3: In the “Export” dialog box, select “JPEG” from the “Format” dropdown menu.

Step 4: Adjust the image quality as required and select a destination folder.

Step 5: Click on “Save” to convert the HEIC image to JPG format.

Method 3: How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone or iPad with Files App

You can convert HEIC photos to JPG using Files app on your iPhone or iPad by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad, choose either the “On My iPhone/iPad” location, or a cloud storage option.

Step 2: Tap and hold in the empty area, choose the “New Folder” option from the popup.

Step 3: Give the folder a name, and tap on the “Done” button.

Step 4: Open the Photos app and navigate to the album that contains the HEIC photos.

Step 5: Tap on the “Select” button from the top toolbar.

Step 6: Select all the photos that you want to convert.

Step 7: Tap on the “Share” button from the bottom toolbar.

Step 8: Choose the “Copy Photos” option from the Share menu.

Step 9: Open the Files app and navigate to the folder you created in the above steps.

Step 10: Tap and hold in the empty area and choose the “Paste” option from the popup menu.

Step 11: The HEIC photos will paste as JPG format.

Method 4: Change the camera settings on iPhone or iPad

If you want to avoid converting your HEIC files altogether, you can change the camera settings on your iPhone or iPad to save your photos in JPG format by default.

Step 1: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2:  Tap Camera > Formats > Most Compatible.

Step 3: Choose Most Compatible instead of High Efficiency.

The advantage of this method is that you don’t need to worry about compatibility issues with your photos, but the downside is that you will use more storage space on your device and lose some quality benefits of HEIC format.

Above steps will apply to all new photos you take with your device’s camera. However, this will not affect any existing photos you have already taken in HEIC format. To convert those photos to JPG, you can convert images to JPG automatically when you transfer them to your computer.

Step 1: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap Photos.

Step 3: In the Transfer to Mac Or PC section, tap Automatic.

Method 5: How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows

You can convert HEIC files to JPEG on Windows PC by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the Photos app on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Click the See more option (three horizontal dots) in the top menu.

Step 3: Select Save as from the menu.

Step 4: In the Save as type dropdown menu, select .jpg (*.jpg).

Step 5: Click Save.

Method 6: Use an online converter

There are many websites that offer free online conversion of HEIC files to JPG files. You just need to upload your HEIC file, choose the output format and quality, and download the converted JPG file. Some of the popular online converters are heictojpg.com, cloudconvert.com, and freeconvert.com. The advantage of this method is that you don’t need to install any software on your device, but the downside is that you need an internet connection and you may compromise your privacy by uploading your files to a third-party server.

Method 7: Use a desktop converter

If you prefer to convert your HEIC files offline or in bulk, you can use a desktop converter software that you can install on your computer. There are many options available for both Windows and Mac users, such as iMazing HEIC Converter, CopyTrans HEIC for Windows, and iMazing HEIC Converter for Mac. The advantage of this method is that you have more control over the conversion settings and quality, but the downside is that you need to download and install the software on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Why do I need to convert HEIC to JPG?
Answer: HEIC is not a universal format, and not all devices and platforms support it. Converting HEIC to JPG allows you to share your photos with others or use them on non-Apple devices.

Question: Are there any downsides to converting HEIC to JPG?
Answer: Converting HEIC to JPG may result in a slight loss of quality due to compression. However, the difference is usually negligible and not noticeable to the human eye.

Question: Can I convert HEIC to other formats besides JPG?
Answer: Yes, you can convert HEIC to other formats such as PNG, TIFF, and GIF using the same methods discussed in this article.

Question: Can I convert HEIC images to other formats using Quick Actions?
Answer: Yes, Quick Actions allows you to convert HEIC images to other formats such as PNG, TIFF, and GIF.

Question: Do I need to convert all HEIC images to JPG format?
Answer: No, you only need to convert HEIC images to JPG format if you plan to share them with non-Apple devices or upload them to certain platforms that do not support the HEIC format.

Question: Can I convert HEIC images to JPG format using other software?
Answer: Yes, there are several third-party software options available for converting HEIC images to JPG format.

Conclusion

In conclusion, converting HEIC images to JPG format is a simple process that can be done using various methods on your macOS, Windows, or iPhone. Whether you prefer to use the built-in applications or a third-party app, you can easily convert your HEIC images to JPG format and ensure compatibility across all devices and software.

By following the step-by-step instructions provided in this guide, you’ll be able to convert HEIC images to JPG format effortlessly. We hope that this comprehensive guide has helped you in converting HEIC to JPG on macOS, Windows, or iPhone.