How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac: 4 Free Ways
Convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac with Finder Quick Actions, Preview, the Photos app or a free browser tool. Clear steps for one photo or a whole folder.
Updated · 4 min read
Use the free HEIC to JPG ConverterTurn HEIC files into JPG in seconds. Batch convert as many as you like.No sign-up, no upload – runs in your browserConvert nowIf you are wondering how to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac, the quickest built-in way is in Finder: select your photos, right-click, choose Quick Actions, then Convert Image, and pick JPEG. Preview and the Photos app can do it too, and if you'd rather use a website, the free ConvertLime HEIC to JPG converter works in Safari or Chrome with nothing to install.
Why convert at all if a Mac opens HEIC?
Your Mac opens HEIC photos with no trouble. The problem starts when the photo leaves your Mac: Windows PCs, many websites, job and visa upload forms, and older programs often reject HEIC. Turning the photo into a JPG means it opens everywhere. If you're curious about the format itself, read what a HEIC file is.
Four ways compared
| Method | Best for | Many photos at once | Where the JPG goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finder Quick Actions | Quick batches | Yes | Same folder as the originals |
| Preview | One photo, choosing quality | Yes, with a few extra clicks | Wherever you choose |
| Photos app | Photos already in your library | Yes | Wherever you choose |
| ConvertLime in your browser | Any Mac, any version | Yes, with ZIP download | Your Downloads folder |
Method 1: How to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac with Quick Actions
This works on macOS Monterey and newer, including Sonoma and Sequoia.
- Open Finder and go to the folder with your HEIC photos.
- Select the photos. Hold Command and click to pick several, or press Command-A to select all.
- Right-click (or hold Control and click) one of the selected photos.
- Choose Quick Actions, then Convert Image.
- Set Format to JPEG. Choose an Image Size – Actual Size keeps the full resolution.
- Click Convert to JPEG.
The new JPG files appear in the same folder, next to the HEIC originals. Nothing is deleted.
Method 2: Use Preview's Export option
Preview gives you a quality slider, which helps if you need a smaller file.
- Double-click the HEIC photo. It opens in Preview.
- In the menu bar, choose File, then Export.
- Next to Format, choose JPEG.
- Move the Quality slider. Towards Best gives the sharpest picture; moving it left makes a smaller file.
- Choose where to save it and click Save.
To do several at once, select them all in Finder and open them together in Preview. In the sidebar, select every thumbnail (Command-A), then use File → Export Selected Images. Click Options in that window to choose JPEG.
Method 3: Export from the Photos app
If the photos synced from your iPhone into the Photos app, export them from there.
- Open Photos and select the pictures you want.
- Choose File, then Export, then Export Photos (the menu shows the number of photos, such as "Export 3 Photos").
- Set Photo Kind to JPEG and choose a quality.
- Click Export, pick a folder, and click Export again.
Be careful not to choose Export Unmodified Original – that one keeps the HEIC format.
Method 4: Convert in your browser with ConvertLime
This is handy on a Mac that isn't yours, an older Mac without Quick Actions, or when you also want a ZIP file to email.
- Open the HEIC to JPG converter in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- Drag your photos from Finder into the box.
- Wait a second for each one. The work happens on your Mac – your photos are not uploaded.
- Click Download, or Download all as ZIP.
Need a different result? HEIC to PNG keeps every detail with no compression, and HEIC to PDF puts several photos into one document – useful for receipts or forms.
Make the JPG small enough to upload
A JPG is usually bigger than the HEIC it came from. If a website says your photo is too large:
- Use Preview's Quality slider when exporting (Method 2), or
- Run the JPG through the free image compressor, or
- Use resize image to 100KB when a form asks for a set size.
Stop your iPhone sending HEIC to your Mac
You can't change how a Mac stores photos, but you can change what the iPhone creates. On the iPhone, go to Settings → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible to take JPG photos from now on. Our iPhone HEIC to JPG guide explains the trade-offs, and HEIC vs JPEG helps you decide which format to keep.
Troubleshooting
Convert Image is missing from Quick Actions. Right-click a photo, choose Quick Actions → Customize, and make sure Convert Image is ticked. If it isn't listed at all, your macOS is older than Monterey; use Preview or the browser method.
The JPG has a different date. The file's "created" date in Finder changes to today, but the date the photo was taken is normally kept inside the photo.
I converted a Live Photo and lost the motion. A JPG can only hold a still picture. The motion part stays in your Photos library.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac?
Select the photos in Finder, right-click, and choose Quick Actions, then Convert Image. It converts many photos at once and keeps the originals.
I don't see Convert Image in Quick Actions. What now?
Convert Image arrived in macOS Monterey. On older Macs, use Preview's Export option or a browser converter instead. On newer Macs, check that it is switched on under Quick Actions, then Customize.
Does converting HEIC to JPG on Mac lose quality?
Hardly any if you choose a high quality setting. The JPG will look the same but take up more space.
How do I export HEIC photos from the Photos app as JPG?
Select the photos, choose File, then Export, then Export Photos, and set Photo Kind to JPEG. Then pick a folder and click Export.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac without any apps?
Yes. Finder and Preview are built into every Mac. You can also use ConvertLime in Safari or Chrome, which needs no download.