How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac

Your Mac opens HEIC files without complaint — but the people you send them to often can’t. Windows PCs, Android phones, web upload forms, and photo printers frequently reject .heic files, so converting to JPG is the simplest way to make sure your photos work everywhere. The good news: macOS gives you everything you need built in, and there’s an even faster route when you have a whole batch to handle.

Method 1: Preview (built into macOS)

Preview is the fastest native option for one or a few files:

1. Double-click your HEIC file so it opens in Preview.
2. In the menu bar, choose File > Export.
3. In the dialog, set the Format to JPEG.
4. Adjust the Quality slider — keep it high (90%+) for the best result.
5. Pick a location and click Save.

You now have a .jpg alongside your original. Preview re-encodes the image, but at high quality the difference is invisible.

Converting several files at once in Preview

Preview can batch-convert too:

1. Select all your HEIC files in Finder, then press Space or open them so they appear in one Preview window.
2. In Preview’s sidebar, select all the thumbnails (Cmd+A).
3. Choose File > Export Selected Items.
4. Set the format to JPEG and export them all to a folder.

Method 2: The Photos app

If your HEIC files live in the Photos app:

1. Open Photos and select the photo(s) you want.
2. Choose File > Export > Export [number] Photos.
3. Set the Photo Kind to JPEG.
4. Choose your quality and click Export.

This is handy when the images are already in your library rather than loose files in Finder.

Method 3: A private browser converter (no app needed)

Both built-in methods work, but they re-process your photos through Apple’s apps and can be fiddly for large batches mixed across folders. A browser-based converter is often faster and works identically on any computer — including a friend’s Windows PC.

Our HEIC to JPG converter runs entirely in your browser. You drag in your files, the conversion happens on your Mac (nothing is uploaded to a server), and you download standard JPGs — individually or as a ZIP for big batches. It’s the same engine whether you’re on macOS, Windows, or a Chromebook, so you don’t have to remember different steps per device.

If you need a Windows-specific walkthrough for when you switch machines, we cover that in how to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows.

JPG vs PNG: which should you pick?

• JPG is smaller and universally compatible — ideal for sharing, uploading, and emailing.
• PNG is lossless and preserves transparency — better for editing, archiving, or images with cutouts.

If you want a pixel-perfect copy rather than a compressed one, use the HEIC to PNG converter instead. For a deeper look at the trade-offs, see does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality.

Quick tips

• Keep quality high. When a slider is offered, 90–100% keeps the result indistinguishable from the original.
• Batch when you can. Converting a folder at once beats one-by-one every time.
• Mind your originals. Exporting creates a new JPG; your HEIC stays put unless you delete it.

The bottom line

On a Mac you have three solid options: Preview’s Export for quick jobs, the Photos app for images already in your library, and our HEIC to JPG converter for fast, private batch conversion that works the same on any computer. All three turn your .heic files into JPGs that open anywhere — pick whichever fits the moment.