HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11 — smaller files, but Windows PCs and many websites still can’t open it without help. Converting to JPG fixes that instantly. Here’s every free method, from a one-tap iPhone setting to command-line batch conversion.
Why This Happens (and the Fastest Fix)
iPhones default to HEIC because it’s roughly half the file size of an equivalent JPG. JPG has been the universal standard since the 1990s, so a lot of older software never added HEIC support. Taking more photos soon? Change your camera format so new photos save as JPG automatically (Method 1). Already have HEIC files to convert? Skip to Methods 2–6.
Method 1: Stop the Problem at the Source (iPhone Settings)
Open Settings → Camera → Formats → select Most Compatible instead of High Efficiency. New photos save directly as JPG. This doesn’t convert existing photos — use the methods below for those.
Method 2: Convert Directly on iPhone
Open Photos, select the photo(s), tap Share, choose Mail or send as Actual Size — iOS converts HEIC to JPEG automatically for the recipient.
Method 3: Free Online Converters
AllMediaTools’ image converter doesn’t accept HEIC input directly — for the HEIC step, use a dedicated free converter. Once you have a JPG, bring it to AllMediaTools Image Converter or AllMediaTools Image Compressor to resize, convert to WebP, or shrink it further.
- iLoveIMG HEIC to JPG — browser-based, batch upload, no account
- CloudConvert — HEIC to JPG plus dozens of other formats
- Apowersoft HEIC Converter — free online, no watermark
Method 4: Windows 10/11 (One Free Add-On)
Install HEIF Image Extensions free from the Microsoft Store. Then right-click any .heic file → Open with → Photos → ⋯ menu → Save as → choose JPEG → Save.
Method 5: Mac (Built-In)
Open in Preview → File → Export → Format: JPEG → adjust quality slider (80–85) → Save. For a whole folder: select the HEIC files in Finder → right-click → Quick Actions → Convert to JPEG.
Method 6: Batch Conversion (Command Line)
# ImageMagick (requires libheif delegate)
mogrify -format jpg *.heic
# Python (pillow-heif + Pillow)
from PIL import Image
import pillow_heif, os
pillow_heif.register_heif_opener()
for f in os.listdir('.'):
if f.lower().endswith('.heic'):
Image.open(f).convert('RGB').save(f.rsplit('.',1)[0] + '.jpg', quality=90)Does Converting Lose Quality?
Some, but rarely visible. HEIC compresses more efficiently than JPG, so expect the converted JPG to be roughly 1.5–2× larger than the original HEIC for comparable quality. Need it smaller again? Run it through AllMediaTools Image Compressor — see our PNG to JPG guide for quality-setting recommendations that apply here too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won’t my HEIC photo open on Windows?
Windows doesn’t include native HEIC support by default. Install the free HEIF Image Extensions (Method 4), or convert to JPG using an online converter — no install needed.
Will converting to JPG delete my original HEIC file?
No — every method creates a new JPG and leaves the original HEIC untouched unless you explicitly delete it.
Can I convert hundreds of photos at once?
Yes — CloudConvert and iLoveIMG support batch/ZIP uploads. For libraries of 1,000+ photos, the command-line Python method is faster and avoids upload size limits.
Is HEIC better than JPG?
Technically yes — same visual quality at roughly half the file size, plus support for transparency and live photos. The tradeoff is compatibility, which is why converting for sharing is still often necessary.