Convert iPhone Photos to JPEG in Three Steps

iPhone saves photos in HEIC format by default, but you can convert them to JPEG on your phone or computer

Your iPhone stores photos in a format called HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container), which takes up less storage space than older formats. Many websites, email services, and older devices do not accept HEIC files. Converting to JPEG makes your photos work almost everywhere — it is the most widely supported photo format in the world.

You have three main routes: change your iPhone's camera settings to shoot JPEG directly, convert existing photos using your phone's built-in tools, or convert them on a Mac or Windows computer. The fastest method depends on whether you want to convert photos you already have or prevent the problem going forward.

Key Takeaways

Your iPhone can shoot in JPEG instead of HEIC by opening Settings, tapping Camera, then Format, and choosing Most Compatible (JPEG).
To convert photos already on your phone, use the Files app to select HEIC images, then use the Share menu to convert them to JPEG.
On a Mac, drag HEIC photos into Preview, go to File > Export, and choose JPEG from the Format dropdown.
On Windows, use the built-in Photos app or free tools like XnConvert to batch-convert multiple HEIC files at once.
Converting to JPEG slightly reduces image quality and file size, but the difference is invisible to most people.

Change your iPhone camera to shoot JPEG from now on

The simplest long-term solution is to stop shooting in HEIC altogether. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Camera. Scroll down and tap Formats. You will see two options: High Efficiency and Most Compatible. Tap Most Compatible — this tells your iPhone to shoot in JPEG instead of HEIC.

From that moment forward, every new photo you take will be JPEG. This does not affect photos you already have — those stay in HEIC unless you convert them separately. The trade-off is that JPEG files take up slightly more storage space than HEIC, but most people do not notice the difference unless they take hundreds of photos every day.

If you shoot video as well, note that this setting only affects photos. Your iPhone will continue recording video in HEVC (the video equivalent of HEIC) because video files are much larger and the space savings matter more.

Convert existing photos using the Files app

To convert HEIC photos you already have, open the Files app on your iPhone. Navigate to the folder where your photos are stored — usually this is in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone. Find the HEIC photo you want to convert and press and hold it until a menu appears.

Tap Share (the box with an arrow pointing up). Scroll through the options until you find Save as PDF or, on newer iPhones, Look Up. If neither appears, tap More and look for an option to convert or export. On some iPhone models, you may need to use a third-party app instead — search the App Store for "HEIC to JPEG converter" and choose one with good reviews.

This method works one photo at a time, so it is practical if you have only a few to convert. If you have dozens or hundreds, converting on a computer is much faster.

Convert photos on a Mac using Preview

If you have a Mac, this is the fastest way to convert multiple photos at once. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable, or airdrop the photos to your Mac. Open Finder and locate the HEIC photo. Right-click it and select Open With, then Preview.

Once the photo opens in Preview, click File in the menu bar at the top. Select Export. A dialog box will appear. Near the bottom, you will see a dropdown that says Format — click it and select JPEG. You can adjust the quality slider if you want (higher numbers mean better quality but larger files). Click Save, choose where you want the file to go, and you are done.

To convert multiple photos at once, select all of them in Finder (click the first one, then hold Shift and click the last one to select a range, or hold Command and click individual photos). Right-click and open them all in Preview. Go to File > Export, choose JPEG, and Preview will convert and save all of them in one step.

Convert photos on Windows using the Photos app

Windows 10 and 11 come with a built-in Photos app that can open and convert HEIC files. Connect your iPhone to your Windows computer using a USB cable, or copy the HEIC photos to your computer first. Open the Photos app (search for "Photos" in the Windows search bar).

Find the HEIC photo in the Photos app and click it to open it. Click the three dots menu (usually in the top right) and look for an option called Save As or Export. If you do not see it, try right-clicking the photo and selecting Save Picture As. Choose JPEG from the format dropdown and click Save.

If the Photos app does not open your HEIC files, download a free tool like XnConvert or IrfanView. Both let you select multiple HEIC files at once and convert them all to JPEG in a single batch operation, which is much faster than converting one at a time.

Understand what happens when you convert to JPEG

JPEG is a lossy format, which means it throws away some image data to make the file smaller. HEIC is also lossy, but it keeps more detail in the same file size. When you convert from HEIC to JPEG, you lose a tiny bit of quality — but for most photos, the difference is too small to see, especially on a phone screen.

The file size shrinks noticeably. A typical HEIC photo might be 2 to 3 megabytes, while the same photo as JPEG could be 4 to 5 megabytes. If you are converting hundreds of photos, the total storage difference adds up. However, JPEG is so widely supported that the trade-off is usually worth it.

One thing to know: once you convert a photo to JPEG, you cannot convert it back to HEIC without losing quality. Keep your original HEIC files if you think you might want them later, or just accept that JPEG is your final version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will converting to JPEG make my photos look worse?

The quality loss is minimal for most photos. You might notice a slight difference if you zoom in very close on detailed areas like tree leaves or fabric texture, but on a phone screen or printed at normal size, JPEG and HEIC look identical to most people. If image quality is critical, keep your original HEIC files.

Can I convert HEIC to JPEG on my iPhone without a computer?

Yes, but it requires a third-party app. Search the App Store for "HEIC to JPEG converter" and read the reviews before downloading. Some apps are free, others cost a few dollars. The Files app method described above works on newer iPhones, though it is slower than using a computer.

What if a website says it does not accept JPEG?

This is rare. JPEG is the most widely supported photo format. If a website rejects your JPEG, the problem is usually file size, not format — try compressing the photo using a tool like TinyPNG or Compressor.io, or ask the website what format it actually needs.

Do I have to convert all my old photos, or can I just shoot JPEG going forward?

You can do either. If you change your camera settings to Most Compatible (JPEG), all new photos will be JPEG and you will never have this problem again. Your old HEIC photos will stay HEIC unless you convert them, which is fine if you never need to share them.

Is there a way to convert HEIC to JPEG automatically?

Not on iPhone itself. On a Mac, you can use Automator to create a workflow that converts all HEIC files in a folder to JPEG automatically. On Windows, batch conversion tools like XnConvert can process entire folders at once, which is close to automatic.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.