How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac

Updated April 2026

Quick Answer

The fastest way: open our free HEIC converter, drag and drop your HEIC files, and download JPGs.

Convert HEIC on Mac

Method 1: Online Converter (Recommended)

  1. Open ConvertHEIC.org in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox
  2. Drag and drop HEIC files onto the upload area
  3. Click Convert and download JPG files

Files are processed locally in your browser.

Method 2: Preview App

  1. Open HEIC file in Preview (double-click in Finder)
  2. Go to File then Export
  3. Select JPEG from Format dropdown
  4. Click Save

Only works for one file at a time.

Method 3: Terminal (sips)

Use the built-in sips command:

sips -s format jpeg input.heic --out output.jpg

Why Mac Users Need to Convert

macOS has supported HEIC natively since macOS High Sierra (10.13), so your Mac can open, display, and edit HEIC files without any extra software. However, native support does not mean universal compatibility — a recipient or upload form may still require JPG.

Common scenarios where Mac users need to convert HEIC to JPG:

  • Sharing with Windows colleagues — Windows support depends on the installed app and codecs. Send JPG when a colleague cannot open the HEIC original.
  • Web uploads — Many CMS platforms, e-commerce backends, and form builders reject HEIC. WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify historically had inconsistent HEIC support.
  • Older Adobe software — Older versions may not accept HEIC. Check the installed version and operating system before choosing a delivery format.
  • Client deliverables — Ask the client which formats they accept; JPG or TIFF may be required even when HEIC opens on your Mac.
  • Printing services — Check the print service's accepted formats. Create a JPG copy if HEIC is not listed.

Convert when the receiving app needs another format. Apple documents exporting to JPEG or PNG from Photos or Preview in its HEIF and HEVC guidance.

Method 4: Use sips Command in Terminal (Detailed)

sips (Scriptable Image Processing System) is a command-line tool built into every Mac. It requires no installation and can convert a single file or an entire folder in seconds.

Convert a single file:

sips -s format jpeg photo.heic --out photo.jpg

Convert all HEIC files in a folder:

for f in ~/Pictures/*.heic; do

sips -s format jpeg "$f" --out "${f%.heic}.jpg"

done

This loop finds every .heic file in your Pictures folder and saves a converted.jpg next to it, leaving the originals untouched.

Control output quality:

sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 85 photo.heic --out photo.jpg

Replace 85 with any value from 0–100. Values of 80–92 give excellent quality with significant file size savings. The default when omitted is best quality (equivalent to ~100).

No Homebrew or third-party tools needed — sips is pre-installed on all Macs.

Method 5: Use ImageMagick for Batch Conversion

ImageMagick is a powerful open-source image processing suite. It handles batch conversions, image resizing, watermarking, and more. Install it via Homebrew:

brew install imagemagick

Convert a single file:

magick photo.heic photo.jpg

Batch convert all HEIC in current directory:

magick mogrify -format jpg *.heic

mogrify converts files in-place by default. Add -path ./output/ to save JPGs into a subfolder and preserve the originals:

mkdir output

magick mogrify -format jpg -path ./output/ *.heic

Resize while converting (useful for web):

magick mogrify -format jpg -resize 1920x1080 -path ./output/ *.heic

ImageMagick is ideal when you need conversion combined with resizing or other transformations in one pass.

Automator Quick Action Setup (Detailed)

Automator lets you create a right-click context menu action in Finder so you can convert HEIC files without opening any app or terminal. Once set up, it takes two clicks from anywhere in Finder.

Step 1: Open Automator

Open Automator from Applications (or Spotlight). Choose New Document, then select Quick Action as the document type.

Step 2: Configure the workflow input

At the top of the workflow panel, set:

  • Workflow receives current: image files
  • in: Finder

Step 3: Add a "Change Type of Images" action

  1. In the left Actions panel, search for "Change Type of Images"
  2. Drag it into the workflow area on the right
  3. When prompted, click Add to add a "Copy Finder Items" action before it (this preserves originals)
  4. Set the destination folder for copies (e.g., your Desktop or a "Converted" folder)
  5. In the "Change Type of Images" action, select JPEG from the dropdown

Step 4: Save the Quick Action

Press Cmd+S and name it something like "Convert to JPG". Automator saves it automatically to the correct system location.

Step 5: Use it in Finder

  1. Select one or more .heic files in Finder
  2. Right-click and choose Quick Actions > Convert to JPG
  3. Converted JPG files appear in the destination folder you configured

This method is excellent for recurring use. You can also assign a keyboard shortcut to the Quick Action via System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Services.

Convert HEIC on Mac

Choose a Mac method

Use Preview, automation, or a browser for Mac HEIC conversion

This comparison is for Mac users deciding between Preview, the sips command, Automator, and a visual Mac HEIC converter.

Preview is convenient for one or two photos, while sips and Automator suit repeatable local workflows. A browser-based Mac HEIC converter is useful when you want to select a batch, adjust JPG quality, and download the results without building an automation.

Match the method to the size of the job

  • Use Preview when you want to inspect a photo and export one JPG manually.
  • Use sips when a command-line workflow and predictable output folders are important.
  • Use Automator when the same Finder action will be repeated regularly.
  • Use the browser converter for an occasional batch or a ZIP of Mac HEIC files.

Keep Mac originals and JPG copies separate

  • Export or download to a separate folder so the HEIC originals remain easy to identify.
  • Choose JPG quality for the destination: higher for editing or print, lower when attachment size matters.
  • Test one representative image before converting a large collection.
  • Open a finished JPG in the destination app before deleting or moving any source files.

What the browser option is for

The converter produces JPG copies from HEIC, HEIF, or ZIP input. It is not a replacement for a managed Photos export, a scripted archive workflow, or a master copy. Very large batches can be limited by the memory available to the browser.

Does a Mac need a HEIC converter?

A Mac can normally view HEIC photos, but conversion is still useful when a recipient, website, or older application requires JPG.

When is sips better than a browser converter?

Choose sips for repeatable command-line jobs and known output paths. Choose the browser when a visual batch and a quality slider are more convenient.

Will Mac HEIC conversion overwrite the original?

The browser converter downloads new JPG files. It does not rewrite the HEIC files you selected from Finder or Photos.

Prefer to convert a batch in your browser?

Select Mac HEIC files or a ZIP, choose JPG quality, and download the converted copies from the browser.

Convert HEIC on Mac

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