How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone

Your iPhone shoots photos in HEIC format by default, which is great for saving storage space but can cause problems when you try to share photos with non-Apple users, upload them to websites, or use them with apps that don't support HEIC.

Here are four ways to get JPG photos from your iPhone, ranging from converting existing photos to preventing HEIC files in the first place.

Method 1: Use HEICtoJPG Converter in Safari

The easiest way to convert existing HEIC photos to JPG right on your iPhone is to use our free online converter in Safari. No app installation needed — it works entirely in your browser.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Safari on your iPhone.
2. Go to heictojpgconverter.com
3. Tap the upload area — This opens the photo picker.
4. Select your photos — Tap one or more photos from your camera roll, then tap Add (or Done).
5. Wait for conversion — Your photos will be converted in seconds.
6. Tap Download — For each converted photo, tap the download button. The JPG file will be saved to your Files app or Downloads folder.

Tips

• You can select multiple photos at once for batch conversion.
• Adjust the quality slider before converting if you want smaller files (for example, to send via email).
• Everything happens on your iPhone — no photos are uploaded to any server.
• Also works in Chrome and other iOS browsers.

Method 2: Change iPhone Camera Settings to "Most Compatible"

If you want to prevent HEIC files entirely, you can change your iPhone's camera settings to shoot in JPG from the start. This is the best option if you always want JPG photos.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Camera.
3. Tap Formats.
4. Select Most Compatible.

That's it. Your iPhone will now save all new photos as JPG and videos as H.264/MOV instead of HEVC.

Important Trade-offs

• Larger file sizes — JPG photos are roughly twice the size of HEIC. You'll use more storage space and iCloud storage.
• No 10-bit HDR photos — HEIC supports 10-bit color for HDR; JPG is limited to 8-bit.
• ProRAW still available — If you use ProRAW on iPhone Pro models, that setting is separate and unaffected.
• Existing photos unchanged — This only affects new photos. Your existing HEIC photos remain in HEIC format.

Method 3: Share or Export as JPG

iOS automatically converts HEIC to JPG in many sharing scenarios. You can take advantage of this behavior to get JPG versions of your photos without changing any settings.

Automatic Conversion via Sharing

When you share a HEIC photo using these methods, iOS often converts it to JPG automatically:

• Email — Attaching photos via Mail or most email apps converts them to JPG.
• Messages (to non-iMessage) — Sending to Android users via SMS/MMS converts to JPG.
• Third-party apps — Many apps receive photos as JPG when you share via the share sheet.

Transfer Settings (USB/AirDrop)

You can also control the format when transferring photos to a computer:

1. Go to Settings > Photos.
2. Scroll to the bottom and find Transfer to Mac or PC.
3. Select Automatic — This sends JPG to devices that don't support HEIC.

The "Automatic" setting is the default and ensures that when you transfer photos to a Windows PC via USB, they arrive as JPG files. If you selected "Keep Originals," they transfer as HEIC.

Save to Files as JPG

1. Open a photo in the Photos app.
2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow).
3. Scroll down and tap Save to Files.
4. In many cases, iOS saves a JPG-compatible version. However, this behavior can vary by iOS version.

Method 4: Shortcuts App

The Shortcuts app (built into iOS) lets you create a custom automation that converts HEIC photos to JPG with a single tap. Once set up, you can run it from your home screen, share sheet, or even Siri.

Creating the Shortcut

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Tap the + button to create a new shortcut.
3. Tap Add Action and search for "Select Photos". Add it, and enable Select Multiple.
4. Add another action: search for "Convert Image". Set the format to JPEG and adjust the quality if desired.
5. Add another action: search for "Save to Photo Album". Choose your destination album (e.g., Recents).
6. Tap the shortcut name at the top and rename it to something like "Convert to JPG".
7. Tap Done.

Using the Shortcut

1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap "Convert to JPG".
2. Select the photos you want to convert.
3. The converted JPG photos will be saved to your camera roll.

Pro Tips

• Add the shortcut to your home screen for one-tap access: tap the three-dot menu on the shortcut > Add to Home Screen.
• You can also add it to the share sheet: in the shortcut settings, enable Show in Share Sheet. Then you can convert photos directly from the Photos app via the share button.
• Consider adding a "Show Result" or "Quick Look" action at the end to preview the converted photos.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing to "Most Compatible" affect my existing photos?

No. Changing the camera format setting only affects new photos taken after the change. All your existing HEIC photos remain in HEIC format. To convert existing photos, use one of the other methods above.

Does sharing via iMessage keep photos as HEIC?

When sending to another iPhone or iPad via iMessage, photos are typically sent in their original HEIC format (since Apple devices support it). When sending to non-Apple devices via SMS/MMS, iOS converts to JPG.

Can I convert HEIC to PNG or WebP on iPhone?

Yes. Our converter supports multiple formats. Use HEIC to PNG for lossless quality or HEIC to WebP for modern web-optimized format — both work in Safari on iPhone.

Is there an app for converting HEIC on iPhone?

There are several App Store apps, but many are ad-heavy or require paid upgrades. Our browser-based converter at heictojpgconverter.com is free, ad-light, and doesn't require installing anything.

Start Converting

Ready to convert HEIC photos on your iPhone? Open HEICtoJPG Converter in Safari — it takes just a few taps.