How to Convert JPG to PNG (Free, No Software)
JPG and PNG aren't interchangeable - here's when and how to convert one into the other.
JPG and PNG solve different problems: JPG compresses photos down to a small file by discarding some detail, while PNG keeps every pixel exactly as-is and supports transparency. Converting a JPG to PNG doesn't add anything back that the JPG already lost - it just switches you onto the lossless format going forward.
How to convert a JPG to PNG
- Upload your JPG to a JPG to PNG converter.
- The tool re-encodes the image as PNG - no quality settings to choose, since PNG is always lossless.
- Download the PNG file.
When PNG is actually the better choice
- You're going to re-save the file multiple times while editing it - PNG won't degrade with each save the way repeatedly re-saving a JPG can
- You need a format a design tool or CMS specifically expects, like uploading a logo
- You're about to add a transparent background using a separate background-removal step
One thing to expect: a bigger file
PNG files are almost always larger than an equivalent JPG, especially for photos - that's the tradeoff for being lossless. If file size matters more than editability, JPG or WebP is usually the better fit; if you specifically need PNG's lossless quality or transparency support, the larger size is just part of the deal.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting JPG to PNG improve quality?
No - it preserves whatever quality the JPG already had. Converting can't recover detail a JPG already lost to compression; it just stops any further lossy compression from happening.
Will converting to PNG add a transparent background?
No. A JPG has no transparency information to begin with, so the PNG will have the same solid background as the original - converting formats doesn't remove a background. Use a background remover tool for that.
Why would I convert a JPG to PNG at all?
Mainly for downstream editing - PNG is lossless, so if you're going to open the image in a design tool and re-save it multiple times, starting from PNG avoids generation loss. It's also the format most design tools expect for logos, icons, and screenshots.