How to Convert JPEG to PNG

Turning a JPEG into a PNG is a simple re-save. It is useful when a program, upload form or editing workflow asks for PNG, or when you plan to make further edits and want to avoid adding another round of lossy compression. This guide covers the conversion, how to check the new file, and how to choose between the two formats.

Before you start

You need the original JPEG and a tool that can open it and save in PNG format. Choose a local or online option before you begin:

• Local conversion: a desktop image editor or viewer, including the ones bundled with common operating systems, or a command-line image tool. The file stays on your device.
• Online conversion: a web converter uploads your image to a remote server. Before using one with personal photos, screenshots of video calls or anything confidential, read the service's own statement about how long uploaded files are stored and who can access them. Do not assume files are deleted immediately.

Keep the original JPEG. Saving the PNG as a separate copy makes the process fully reversible, and the PNG cannot give you back anything the JPEG did not already contain.

Step-by-step instructions

Using a desktop image editor

• 1. Open the JPEG in your image editor or viewer.
• 2. Use the program's Save As or Export command. The exact name and location of this command depend on the application and its version.
• 3. Choose PNG as the file format or file type.
• 4. Give the copy a name or folder that does not overwrite the original.
• 5. If the program shows PNG options, leave the defaults unless you have a reason to change them (see the settings below).
• 6. Save the file.

Using the command line

If ImageMagick is installed, version 7 converts a file with: magick photo.jpg photo.png. Older version 6 installations use: convert photo.jpg photo.png. This is convenient for batch work, but test the command on a copy of your files first.

Using an online converter

Upload the JPEG, select PNG as the output format and download the result. Check that the downloaded file is a PNG and that its pixel dimensions match the original, because some web tools resize or recompress images without making it obvious.

Settings worth understanding

• Compression level: PNG compression is lossless, so a higher level only makes the file smaller and slower to save. It does not reduce image quality.
• Bit depth and color type: for photos, standard 8-bit RGB is usually appropriate. Reducing to an indexed palette can shrink the file but causes visible banding in photographs.
• Interlacing: this changes how the image loads progressively in some viewers and typically increases file size slightly. It is optional.
• Resize and crop options: leave these unchanged if you want the same pixel dimensions and aspect ratio as the original.
• Metadata and color profile: whether camera data and embedded color profiles are carried over depends on the tool. Check the result if they matter to you.

Check the output

Open the file's properties or info panel and confirm the type is PNG. Do not rely on the file extension alone, because a renamed file can still contain JPEG data. Compare the pixel dimensions with the original. They should be identical unless you resized on purpose.

View both images at full size. They should look the same. Any JPEG artifacts, such as blockiness or halos around edges, will still be visible in the PNG, because the conversion preserves the pixels exactly rather than repairing them. Expect the PNG to be noticeably larger than the JPEG for photographs. This is normal for lossless storage and does not mean quality improved.

Common problems and next steps

The background is not transparent

JPEG has no transparency, so the converted PNG keeps a solid background. To get a transparent background, remove or mask it in an editor that supports transparency after converting, then save as PNG again.

The PNG file is too large

Photos stored losslessly take more space. Raise the PNG compression level, try an optimization tool, or reconsider whether PNG is needed. If a site or app accepts JPEG, the original may be the better upload.

Quality did not improve

Detail lost to JPEG compression cannot be recovered by changing the file format. For a cleaner image, return to the original camera file or a higher-quality source if you have one.

JPEG vs PNG: which should you use?

• Choose JPEG for photographs and camera snapshots where small file size matters and slight lossy compression is acceptable.
• Choose PNG for screenshots, text, diagrams, logos and interface graphics with sharp edges, and for any image that needs transparency.
• Choose PNG as a working copy when you will edit and re-save an image several times, since each JPEG re-save can add further compression loss.
• Keep JPEG when the destination specifically requires it or limits upload size.

In short, PNG versus JPEG is a choice between lossless fidelity and transparency on one side and compact photo files on the other. Converting a JPEG to PNG changes the container, not the detail inside it.