HEIC is the default photo format on iPhone and iPad (iOS 11+). Most Windows apps, websites, and Android devices don't support it yet. Converting HEIC to JPG gives you a universally compatible file you can share, upload, and edit anywhere.
What is HEIC?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) uses the HEIF standard to store photos at roughly half the file size of JPG — without visible quality loss. Apple switched to HEIC as the default camera format in 2017 to save storage on iPhones.
The problem: while HEIC looks great on Apple devices, most of the world still expects JPG.
When should you convert HEIC to JPG?
- Uploading to websites or forms — most platforms reject HEIC or show a broken image.
- Sending to Windows or Android users — Windows Photo Viewer and most Android gallery apps don't open HEIC.
- Email attachments — many email clients can't display HEIC inline.
- Social media uploads — Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn work best with JPG or PNG.
- Editing in older software — Photoshop CS6, GIMP, and many other apps don't support HEIC without plugins.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone
The easiest option: change your camera settings so iPhone saves photos as JPG instead of HEIC from the start.
- Open Settings → Camera → Formats.
- Select Most Compatible instead of High Efficiency.
- New photos will now be saved as JPG automatically.
For existing HEIC photos, use this tool to convert them online — no app installation needed.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows
Windows 10 and 11 can open HEIC files only if you install the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store (sometimes requires a paid codec). The simplest alternative is to convert HEIC to JPG online using this tool and skip the codec entirely.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
There is a small quality reduction because JPG uses lossy compression. However, at standard quality settings (85–95%) the difference is invisible to the naked eye. The converted JPG will be slightly larger than the original HEIC, but fully compatible everywhere.
HEIC vs JPG — quick comparison
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | ~50% smaller | Larger |
| Compatibility | Apple only | Universal |
| Browser support | Safari only | All browsers |
| Upload to web | Often rejected | Works everywhere |
| Editing software | Limited support | Universal |