How to Convert HEIC Photos to JPG
Your iPhone saves photos as HEIC, and half the internet doesn't know what that is. Here's how to convert them to JPG.
HEIC is a perfectly good format - it compresses photos efficiently and looks great - but it's still not universally supported. Plenty of websites, older software, and non-Apple devices either can't open it or handle it awkwardly, which is usually the moment someone needs to convert it to JPG.
Converting HEIC to JPG
- Upload your HEIC photo (or several at once) to a HEIC to JPG converter.
- Wait for the conversion - this is typically quick even for multiple photos.
- Download the converted JPG files.
- Check that the photo looks correct - orientation and color should carry over accurately from the original HEIC file.
Why this comes up so often
Since iPhones default to saving photos in HEIC format to save storage space, anyone who's taken a photo on an iPhone and then tried to upload it to a website, form, or piece of software that doesn't recognize the format runs into this. It's one of the most common "why won't this upload" moments for iPhone users interacting with non-Apple systems.
A permanent fix vs. a one-time conversion
If this keeps happening, it's worth changing your iPhone's camera format setting under Settings → Camera → Formats, switching to "Most Compatible" so new photos save directly as JPG. That doesn't help with photos you've already taken, though - those still need a one-time conversion like the steps above.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my iPhone save photos as HEIC in the first place?
HEIC compresses photos more efficiently than JPG at similar quality, meaning photos take up less storage space on the phone - Apple made it the default for that reason.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
There's a small amount of quality loss inherent to converting between two compressed formats, but at a reasonable JPG quality setting it's generally not noticeable for everyday viewing, sharing, or printing.
Can I make my iPhone save photos as JPG instead of HEIC automatically?
Yes - in the iPhone's Camera settings, under Formats, switching to "Most Compatible" saves new photos as JPG going forward, though it won't convert photos already taken.