How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac Using Preview

What to know first

You can convert a HEIC image to JPG on a Mac using Preview, the image viewer that comes with macOS. Preview opens HEIC files natively and can export them as JPEG without any additional app or download. This applies to Macs running a supported version of macOS with Preview installed. The output is a standard JPG file that can be shared or uploaded anywhere.

Why use Preview for conversion

HEIC is Apple's default high-efficiency image format for iPhone photos. It keeps file sizes smaller than JPG while preserving image quality, but some websites, email clients, and older apps still require JPG. Preview can already read HEIC files, so converting with it is usually the quickest method.

How to convert a HEIC file to JPG step by step

• Open Finder and locate the HEIC file you want to convert. Double-click it to open it in Preview. If Preview is not set as the default app for HEIC files, right-click the file, choose Open With, and select Preview. In the menu bar, click File, then choose Export. In the Export dialog, click the Format menu and select JPEG. Move the Quality slider to your preferred level. Higher quality produces a larger file; lower quality produces a smaller file. Choose a name and destination for the converted file, then click Save.

After the export, check the destination folder for the new file with the .jpg extension. Open that file in Preview or another image viewer to confirm that it displays correctly.

How to convert multiple HEIC files at once

Preview does not offer a built-in batch HEIC-to-JPG export for multiple files. If you need to convert several HEIC images at once, select them and open them together in Preview. The files appear as thumbnails in the sidebar. However, this method still typically requires exporting each image individually through File, Export for each selected file.

What to do if the HEIC file does not open correctly

On a Mac with current macOS versions, the built-in support for HEIC is available. If your system or app cannot read the file, the image may be stored in a different format or may not have transferred correctly from the source device. The instructions in this guide cover the built-in Preview workflow on macOS; no measurements or compatibility claims beyond that are supplied here.

Completion check

You have completed the conversion when you can see the saved JPEG in the destination folder, open it, and view the same image content as the original HEIC file. If the file does not appear or cannot be opened, repeat the export step and confirm that JPEG was selected in the Format menu.