Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?

Slightly, because JPG is a lossy format, but at a quality setting of about 85 or higher the difference is not visible in normal viewing. The JPG file will usually be larger than the HEIC original.

Can I convert many HEIC files at once?

Yes. imgloom's HEIC to JPG converter accepts multiple files and lets you download them all as a single ZIP.

Why do my iPhone photos turn into JPG when I email them?

iOS often converts HEIC to JPG automatically when sharing to apps or services that may not support HEIC, such as Mail. Files copied directly from the phone's storage usually stay HEIC.

Is it safe to convert personal photos online?

Check whether the converter uploads files. imgloom converts HEIC entirely in your browser, so your photos are never sent to a server.

Should I convert HEIC to JPG or PNG?

Choose JPG for photos you want to share or upload, since it is smaller and universally accepted. Choose PNG only if you need lossless output for further editing.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG (iPhone Photos on Windows, Android and the Web)

By the imgloom team · Updated October 15, 2026 · 5 min read

Quick answer

The fastest way to convert HEIC to JPG on any device is a browser-based converter: open it, drop in your iPhone photos, and download JPGs, with no software to install. On an iPhone you can also stop the problem at the source by setting Camera > Formats to Most Compatible, which saves new photos as JPG instead of HEIC.

Key takeaways

HEIC is the High Efficiency Image format iPhones use by default since iOS 11.
HEIC files are smaller than JPG at similar quality, but many Windows, Android and web apps cannot open them.
Converting to JPG gives a file that opens everywhere, at the cost of a somewhat larger size.
Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible makes an iPhone shoot JPG going forward.
A browser converter that processes files locally keeps private photos off third-party servers.

What is a HEIC file and why won't it open?

A HEIC file is a photo stored in the HEIF container using HEVC (H.265) compression, which Apple adopted as the default iPhone photo format with iOS 11 in 2017.

HEIC stores photos at a similar quality to JPEG in noticeably smaller files, and it can hold extras like depth data and Live Photo frames. The catch is support: Windows needs extra codecs from the Microsoft Store, many Android gallery apps and most websites and upload forms do not accept HEIC, and most web browsers cannot display it. That is why a photo AirDropped or copied off an iPhone often shows up as an unopenable file.

How to convert HEIC to JPG online (any device)

A browser-based converter works the same on Windows, Mac, Android, ChromeOS and Linux, and needs nothing installed.

Open imgloom's HEIC to JPG converter in any modern browser.
Drag in one or many .heic files, or tap to choose them from your phone.
Adjust the JPG quality slider if you want smaller files (around 85 keeps photos looking the same).
Download each JPG, or download the whole batch as a ZIP file.

How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows

On Windows 10 and 11 you can open HEIC files after installing the HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then use Photos or Paint to save a copy as JPG.

The HEVC extension is a small paid download in many regions, and you still have to export photos one at a time. For a handful of photos, or a big batch, a browser converter is usually quicker and free. If you need the image to keep transparency, convert HEIC to PNG instead.

How to convert HEIC to JPG on Android

Recent Android versions can display HEIC, but many apps, chat services and upload forms on Android still reject it, so converting to JPG is the reliable fix.

Open the converter in Chrome or another mobile browser, choose the HEIC files from your downloads or file manager, and save the JPGs back to your phone. Because the conversion runs on the phone itself, it works without uploading your personal photos anywhere.

How to make your iPhone save JPG instead of HEIC

You can make an iPhone capture JPG by going to Settings > Camera > Formats and choosing Most Compatible.

This only affects new photos; existing HEIC images stay as they are. The trade-off is storage: JPG files take more space than HEIC. A middle ground is Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic, which tells iOS to convert photos to a compatible format when you copy them to a computer over USB, while keeping space-saving HEIC on the phone.

HEIC vs JPG: what do you lose by converting?

Converting HEIC to JPG loses very little visible quality at a high JPG setting, but the file gets larger and HEIC-only extras are not carried over.

Depth maps, Live Photo motion and wide-gamut or HDR data may be dropped or reduced in a standard JPG. For everyday sharing that does not matter; for archives, keep the original HEIC and convert copies as needed. If you want small files with broad web support, HEIC to WebP is another option.

Frequently asked questions

Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?: Slightly, because JPG is a lossy format, but at a quality setting of about 85 or higher the difference is not visible in normal viewing. The JPG file will usually be larger than the HEIC original.
Can I convert many HEIC files at once?: Yes. imgloom's HEIC to JPG converter accepts multiple files and lets you download them all as a single ZIP.
Why do my iPhone photos turn into JPG when I email them?: iOS often converts HEIC to JPG automatically when sharing to apps or services that may not support HEIC, such as Mail. Files copied directly from the phone's storage usually stay HEIC.
Is it safe to convert personal photos online?: Check whether the converter uploads files. imgloom converts HEIC entirely in your browser, so your photos are never sent to a server.
Should I convert HEIC to JPG or PNG?: Choose JPG for photos you want to share or upload, since it is smaller and universally accepted. Choose PNG only if you need lossless output for further editing.