HEIC to JPG: How to Convert iPhone Photos for Any Device

# HEIC to JPG: How to Convert iPhone Photos for Any Device Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos in HEIC format instead of JPG. While HEIC offers better compression, it's not universally compatible. ## What is HEIC? HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) uses HEVC compression: - **50% smaller** than JPG at same quality - **Better quality** than JPG at same size - **Supports transparency** like PNG - **Stores multiple images** (Live Photos) ## The Compatibility Problem HEIC doesn't work on: - Windows (without codec) - Older Android phones - Most websites - Many photo editors - Email attachments ## 5 Ways to Convert HEIC to JPG ### 1. iPhone Settings (Prevention) Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible This saves future photos as JPG, but doesn't convert existing ones. ### 2. Photos App (Mac) - Open HEIC in Photos - File → Export → Export [N] Photos - Choose JPG format ### 3. Windows Photos App - Open HEIC (requires HEIF Image Extensions from Microsoft Store) - Click "..." → Save as → JPG ### 4. Command Line ```bash # Using ImageMagick convert photo.heic photo.jpg # Using sips (Mac) sips -s format jpeg photo.heic --out photo.jpg ``` ### 5. Browser-Based Converter (Recommended) [AmberPic's HEIC to JPG converter](/tools/convert/heic-to-jpg) runs entirely in your browser: - No software installation - No file upload to servers - Batch convert up to 100 files - Preserves original quality - Works on any device ## Quality Comparison | Format | Size | Quality | |--------|------|---------| | HEIC original | 2.1 MB | Excellent | | JPG (95%) | 2.8 MB | Excellent | | JPG (90%) | 1.9 MB | Excellent | | JPG (85%) | 1.4 MB | Very Good | For web use, 85-90% quality JPG is indistinguishable from HEIC. ## Batch Convert Your Library Have hundreds of HEIC files? Use our batch converter to process them all at once. Download as individual files or a single ZIP. ## Bottom Line HEIC is great for storage, but JPG remains the universal standard for sharing. Convert when you need compatibility, keep HEIC for archiving.