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How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac — Preview, Finder, and Free Browser Tool

By Picovert Team2026-02-205 min read

Mac users have an advantage over Windows users when it comes to HEIC files — macOS can natively read and display HEIC images. But natively viewing HEIC doesn't help when you need to share photos with someone on Windows, Android, or any platform that can't open HEIC. Here are three ways to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac, from built-in tools to a free browser converter for bulk conversions.

Method 1: Using Preview (Built-In Mac App)

Preview is macOS's built-in image viewer and it can export HEIC as JPG directly:

  1. Open your HEIC file in Preview (double-click it).
  2. Go to File → Export.
  3. In the Format dropdown, select JPEG.
  4. Adjust the Quality slider if needed (75–85% is a good balance).
  5. Click Save.

This works well for one or a few photos. The limitation: you have to do each file individually — no batch export from the Preview UI.

Method 2: Batch Convert HEIC to JPG in Finder

For multiple files, macOS Monterey and later added a Finder Quick Action:

  1. Select multiple HEIC files in Finder.
  2. Right-click → Quick Actions → Convert Image.
  3. Choose JPEG as the format. Set image size if needed.
  4. Click Convert to JPEG.

The converted JPGs appear in the same folder as the originals. This is the fastest native option for batches up to ~20–30 files.

Note: If you don't see "Convert Image" in Quick Actions, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Extensions → Finder Extensions, and enable "Markup."

Method 3: Free Browser Converter (No File Limit, Best for Large Batches)

For larger batches, or when you need to convert HEIC from any device without installing anything, a browser-based converter is the most flexible option:

  1. Open Picovert's HEIC to JPG converter — free, no account required.
  2. Drop all your HEIC files at once. The converter handles batch conversion natively.
  3. Download each converted JPG.

All conversion happens in your browser — no files are uploaded to any server. Works on any Mac browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox).

Which Method Should You Use?

  • 1–3 files: Preview export is fastest (already built in, two clicks).
  • 4–30 files: Finder Quick Action is most convenient.
  • 30+ files, or on any device: Browser converter — drop everything at once, no file count limit.

Why Mac Can Read HEIC but Others Can't

Apple introduced HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) in iOS 11 (2017) and macOS High Sierra. Apple licensed the HEVC/H.265 codec used in HEIC, which is why macOS includes native HEIC support. Windows only added basic HEIC support in Windows 10 (version 1809) through a paid codec extension, and even then many apps on Windows don't fully support it. Android added HEIC decode support in Android 13 (2022).

Converting HEIC to PNG Instead of JPG

If your HEIC photo has a transparent background (less common, but possible in some screenshot workflows), or if you need lossless quality, convert to PNG instead of JPG. Use Picovert's HEIC to PNG converter. PNG preserves full image quality without JPEG compression artifacts, at the cost of larger file sizes.

iPhone Setting: Stop Taking HEIC Photos

If you want to avoid conversion entirely, you can change your iPhone to shoot in JPEG by default:

  1. Open Settings → Camera → Formats.
  2. Select Most Compatible instead of "High Efficiency."

This makes the iPhone camera save in JPEG by default, which works on all devices without conversion. The trade-off: JPEG files are 2× larger than HEIC for the same visual quality, so you'll fill storage faster.

AirDrop Automatically Converts HEIC to JPG

A useful iOS/macOS fact: when you AirDrop photos from an iPhone to a non-Apple device (or if you've enabled automatic conversion), iOS automatically converts HEIC to JPEG. Similarly, iCloud Photo Sharing converts photos when sharing with non-Apple users. If you're AirDropping to another Mac, the file stays in HEIC format.