Back to all posts

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone

April 21

13 min. to read

The iPhone camera is like a full-fledged camera in your pocket. It allows you to take photos with natural colors and focus on details. In this article, we’ll explain how to change HEIC to JPG on an iPhone.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone Image1Macro shooting, adjusting focus and exposure, night mode, and other settings give you a chance to realize yourself as a professional photographer. But if you have iOS 11 or a later version, you notice that your images have HEIC format and therefore are not recognized by Windows, Mac, and some applications. So, you need to change iPhone photos to JPG. How to do it? Let’s find out!

All You Need to Know about HEIC Format 

First, we consider what HEIC file format is and other important information about it. Because it’s a basis that will help you to fully understand the overall picture. 

What does HEIC mean?

HEIC is a new format developed by Apple company itself. Its abbreviation stands for High-Efficiency Image File format. And really, being a special container, it saves photos in very high quality, significantly saving space in your phone's memory. So, you can make a lot of content. 

Why does iPhone Take Photos in This Format? 

Apple company has been using .HEIC image format in modern iPhones and iPods since 2017. In particular, you can notice it in iOS 11 and later models instead of the usual JPEG in the gallery after shooting. But why? 

Apple noticed that most people who like to take photos are faced with the fact that the memory of the gadget is completely full. And it happens at the most inopportune moment, for example, when you need urgently take a few photos to advertise a new eco-friendly cosmetics or during a trip to fix a wild bird in the sky on camera. Therefore, the company decided to introduce a format HEIC that takes up space in memory thanks to modern compression technology. 

How to Find Out if your iPhone Has Files in a New Format 

If you have iOS 15, you only need to take a few simple steps:

  1. In Photos App, select the image you want to check.
  2. Tap i. 
  3. Look at the inscription opposite your phone’s model name. If there is HEIF, it means that the format of your photo is HEIC.

Also, there is another option. This is a free Exif Wizards app. After downloading it from the App Store and launching it, open the album and select the photo. Then scroll down, and you will see HEIC or JPEC opposite File Name. 

Why HEIC is Better than JPEG

There are some reasons why HEIC is superior to JPEG. Let’s consider them in detail:

  • High image quality. Thanks to supporting 16-bit color, HEIC pictures are clearer and brighter than JPEG images, even after multiple editing. 
  • Significant saving of space in the phone memory. .heic photos take up double lesser the storage space. 
  • Opportunity to save photos with transparency thanks to an alpha channel. It allows you to create logos and other graphic objects in web design.

But despite such advantages, this format has another side of the coin. Sometimes you need to change the iPhone HEIC to JPG. Why? Because it doesn’t always have compatibility with Windows, Mac, and other devices. And as a result, you can not open and edit photos. We will tell you how to remedy this situation without much effort and spending of your time.

There are three simple ways to change HEIC to JPEG on your device

  1. The iPhone’s Files App.
  2. An Email with the photo attached. 
  3. HEIC to JPEG Image Converter.

All of them are very simple because you don’t spend much time. It’s up-to-date in the realities of dynamic life that requires being fast and flexible. So, let’s get to know them better. 

Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone With the Help of The Files App 

It’s the quickest way to convert HEIC to JPEG because it doesn’t require downloading additional applications. The process includes several straightforward steps:

  1. In the Photos App, select HEIC images you want to convert. 

  2. Tap Share in the bottom-left corner.

  3. Select Copy Photos.

  4. Open the Files App. 

  5. Tap On my iPhone.

  6. Tap the more icon and make a New folder. 

  7. Long-press on the empty area and tap Paste. 

  8. You see that your photos are already in jpg format. Now you can share them by opening them in the Files app and tapping the Share icon. 

  9. After that, you only have to click Save Image if you want to save the modified images or share them on social networks or other apps.

How to Convert iPhone Photo to JPG by Using Email 

It turns up that Apple’s default Mail app is more than a tool for sending letters. You can use it for converting HEIC to JPG on iPhone! But how? Everything is very simple. Just send a letter with the attached .heic photo to yourself and save it. You will see that image will be downloaded in JPEG format. 

Convert Photo to JPG on iPhone Thanks to Special Converter 

Also, you can use a third-party application to transform HEIC to JPG on iPhone. There are many converters. We recommend paying attention to HEIC to JPEG Image Converter. It allows you to change content with its subsequent sharing via Airdrop. All you need is to download this tool from App Store, install it on your iPhone, and follow the instructions that are in the app. 

How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone With the Help of The Files App 

It’s the quickest way on how to save iPhone photo as JPEG. Here are several steps:

  1. In the Photos App, select HEIC images you want to convert. 

  2. Tap Share in the bottom-left corner.

  3. Select Copy Photos.

  4. Open the Files App. 

  5. Tap On my iPhone.

  6. Tap the more icon and make a New folder. 

  7. Long-press on the empty area and tap Paste. 

  8. You see that your photos are already in jpg format. Now you can share them by opening them in the Files app and tapping the Share icon. 

  9. After that, you only have to click Save Image if you want to save the modified images or share them on social networks or other apps.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone Image2

How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone Permanently

You don’t want to play with changing iPhone photos HEIC to JPG? Or is working with a new format difficult for you? Just configure the camera capture format thanks to using iPhone’s Settings app. Here are some simple steps:

  1. Go to the Setting app. 

  2. Scroll down with your finger and tap Camera. 

  3. Select Formats from the drop-down list and click on them.

  4. Tap Most Compatible. 

  5. Go to the Setting app again.

  6. Tap Photos.

  7. In the Transfer to Mac Or PC section, tap Automatic.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone Image3After these acts, your new photos automatically change to JPG and your phone’s camera will always shoot by default in the familiar old format. So, now you know how to make iPhone photos JPEG.

Sending HEIC Files as JPEG 

Also, you can shoot in HEIC format and share photos as JPEGs during sending them on Mac or Windows. For this, you don’t need to convert the file. Just do the following:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap Photos. 
  • Scroll down and in the Transfer to Mac or PC, choose Automatic.

Some Things You Must Know After Changing Format 

Now you know how to change iPhone photos from HEIC to JPG. They are really easy to convert. But there are some things you must know about:

  • The photos that you have previously taken will remain in the same format. But your next images will be JPG.
  • After you convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone local storage will fill up faster. 

Conclusion

Do you want to make stop your iPhone to take photos in HEIC format? Is it causes many problems after the transfer of content to the Mac or Windows? Now, you know how to turn HEIC to JPG, thanks to the ways we talked about in this article.

FAQ

How can I convert HEIC to JPG without software?

You can use online conversion services like HEICtoJPG or CloudConvert. Simply upload your HEIC files to their website, and they'll convert them to JPG for you. However, be cautious with sensitive photos due to privacy concerns when using online services.

How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone for free?

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos. Under the "Transfer to Mac or PC" section, select Automatic. This will ensure that when you transfer photos to a computer, they are automatically converted to JPG format. For direct conversion on the device without transferring, you might need third-party apps.

How to convert Multiple HEIC Photos to JPG on iPhone?

To convert multiple HEIC photos to JPG on your iPhone, you can use free apps like "iMazing HEIC Converter" from the App Store. Once installed, you can select multiple HEIC photos and batch convert them to JPG format.

How to Change HEIC to JPG on iPhone: 3 Effective Ways | Skylum How-to(2)

Experience the power of Luminar Neo

Try free Try free

Written by

Vladislav Patana

Amateur Photographer, Web-designer at Skylum

Photography, to me, is a cherished hobby. What started with smartphone snapshots has evolved into a journey with film cameras and a profile on Unsplash. Recently, I've upgraded to a semi-professional camera, and my enthusiasm for capturing life’s moments hasn’t waned. Whether I'm exploring the outdoors, visiting friends, or on a trip, my camera is my constant companion. My images are reflective of mood, emotions, and the beauty of light and nature.

Get started for free

Try out Luminar Neo for free for 7 days. No credit card needed.

Sent successfully!

Please check your email

Make sure it's a valid email address

👆 This app is available for desktop only. We will send you a link when you’re back on your computer.
How to Change HEIC to JPG on iPhone: 3 Effective Ways | Skylum How-to(14)