How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows, iPhone & Online

What is a HEIC file, and why won't anything open it?

HEIC is the still-photo container Apple has used by default on every iPhone since iOS 11 (2017). It stores a HEVC-compressed photograph inside a High Efficiency Image Container, which is why it looks like roughly half the file size of a JPEG at the same quality. That is great for your phone's storage — and terrible the moment you AirDrop or USB that photo to a Windows laptop, attach it to a visa form, or email it to someone on an Android.

Windows does not decode HEIC out of the box. Many websites, exam portals, photo kiosks and government forms reject the .heic extension outright. The fix is the same regardless: convert the photo to JPG, the universal format. If your problem is that Windows refuses to open HEIC at all and you need a decoder installed, our troubleshooting guide on why HEIC won't open and how to install the codecs covers that side. This page covers the actual conversion, on whichever device you are holding.

Method 1 — online in your browser (fastest, most private)

This is the method we recommend first, because it works on every device — a locked-down office PC you cannot install software on, a Chromebook, a Mac, an old Windows machine — and because the decoding happens on your own hardware.

1. Open the HEIC to JPG converter in any modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari).
2. Drag one .heic file — or a whole folder of them — onto the drop zone. The decoder runs locally in the tab.
3. Each photo is re-encoded to a high-quality JPEG. Download them individually, or grab the batch as a single ZIP.
4. If you need a transparent version instead, use HEIC to PNG; if you are optimizing a web page, the master converter can also export straight to WebP.

Method 2 — on Windows 11 / 10

If you would rather keep the conversion on your own machine without a browser, Windows can do it once the right extension is installed.

Option A — install the codec once, then save from Photos

1. Open the Microsoft Store and install HEIF Image Extensions (this one is free).
2. Windows may also ask for the HEVC Video Extensions. That listing is paid (historically around $0.99) on many machines, although a free "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" package is preinstalled on many OEM PCs. If you cannot or will not pay, use the browser method above — it needs no codec at all.
3. Double-click a .heic photo to open it in the Photos app.
4. Click the three-dot menu (…) in the top bar → Save as (or "Save a copy") → choose JPEG as the format → save.

Option B — batch for many files

Doing Save-as fifty times is tedious. For a whole folder, either drop the folder into the browser converter (it batches and zips), or use IrfanView with the HEIF plugin to convert a directory in one pass. The browser route needs no install and no codec.

Method 3 — on iPhone, no app install

You do not need to buy a converter app. iOS itself can write JPEG copies three ways.

Option A — Share to Files (simplest)

1. Open the photo in Photos.
2. Tap the Share button → Save to Files.
3. Pick any folder in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone. iOS writes the copy as a JPEG.

Option B — Files Quick Actions (modern iOS)

1. Open the Files app and find the .heic photo (it may already be in your iCloud Drive).
2. Long-press the file → Quick Actions → Convert Image.
3. Choose format JPEG, quality High, size Actual Size. A converted copy lands next to the original.

Quick Actions on long-press arrived with iOS 16. If you do not see it, either update iOS or use Option A.

Option C — stop the problem for good

Open Settings → Camera → Formats and switch from High Efficiency to Most Compatible. Future photos are saved as JPEG. Two caveats: this does not convert the photos already on your phone, and Most Compatible photos take roughly twice the storage.

Method 4 — on Mac with Preview

Macs read HEIC natively, so conversion is a one-line export:

1. Double-click the .heic photo to open it in Preview.
2. File → Export…
3. Set Format to JPEG, drag Quality to around 70–90%, and Save.

For a folder of photos, select them all in the Finder, right-click, and use Export Selected Images — it batches the same export.

Which method should you use?

Unsure which output format you actually need after conversion? Our WebP vs JPG vs PNG decision guide spells out when a JPEG is the right end point versus a smaller WebP for the web.

Common mistakes

• Converting the same photo over and over. Every JPEG re-save compounds artifacts. Convert once, at high quality, and keep the original HEIC as your master.
• Thinking "Most Compatible" converts old photos. It only changes future captures. Everything already on the phone stays HEIC.
• Uploading a private ID scan to a cloud converter. Some online tools openly store uploads for "records." For sensitive photos, use an in-browser decoder where the file never leaves the device.
• Paying for the HEVC codec when a browser would do. If the Microsoft Store wants money and you are on a locked-down PC, the browser method needs no codec at all.
• Forgetting the converted file is still large. A JPEG export from a 48-megapixel phone can be 4–6 MB — too big for many portals. Trim it afterward with a browser compressor targeting the exact KB the form asks for.

Common questions