How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac

While macOS can open and display HEIC files natively, there are many situations where you need to convert them to JPG. Uploading to websites that reject HEIC, emailing photos to Windows users, importing into older software, or preparing images for print services all require JPG. Mac offers several built-in methods to make this conversion quick and painless, and there are even faster options available online.

Method 1: Use an Online Converter (Fastest)

For the quickest conversion without any app switching, open Safari or Chrome and visit HEICtoJPG. Drag your HEIC files directly from Finder into the browser window. The conversion runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly, so the files never leave your Mac. This method is especially convenient for batch conversions since you can drop dozens of files at once and download them all as a ZIP.

Method 2: Use Preview (Built-In)

Preview is the simplest built-in option for converting individual HEIC files. Open the HEIC file in Preview, which is usually the default image viewer. Then go to File in the menu bar, select Export, choose JPEG from the Format dropdown, adjust the quality slider to your preference, and click Save. Preview preserves the image quality well and gives you control over the compression level.

For multiple files, you can open them all in Preview at once by selecting them in Finder and pressing Command-O. In Preview’s sidebar, select all thumbnails with Command-A, then use File then Export Selected Images to convert the entire batch. Choose JPEG as the format, pick a destination folder, and Preview will convert all selected files.

Method 3: Use Finder Quick Actions

macOS Monterey and later include a Quick Action for image conversion built right into Finder. Select one or more HEIC files in Finder, right-click to open the context menu, hover over Quick Actions, and select Convert Image. A dialog will appear where you can choose JPEG as the output format and select the image size. Click Convert and Finder creates JPG copies alongside your original files.

This method is ideal for quick batch conversions without opening any application. You can select hundreds of files in Finder and convert them all through the context menu. The resulting JPG files appear in the same folder as the originals.

Bonus: Use Automator for Recurring Conversions

If you regularly convert HEIC files, you can create an Automator Quick Action that appears in your right-click menu permanently. Open Automator, create a new Quick Action, add the Change Type of Images action, set it to JPEG, and save it with a descriptive name like Convert to JPG. Now this action appears in Finder’s right-click menu for any image file, making future conversions a single click.

Quality Comparison: Which Method Produces the Best JPGs?

All three methods produce equivalent quality JPG files when using the same compression settings. Preview gives you the most control with its quality slider. The Finder Quick Action uses sensible defaults. The online converter at heictojpg.co offers an adjustable quality setting similar to Preview. For most purposes, the default settings of any method will produce JPGs that are visually indistinguishable from the HEIC originals.

• Preview: Best for single-file conversions with precise quality control.
• Finder Quick Actions: Best for batch conversions without leaving Finder.
• Online converter: Best for speed, privacy, and cross-platform access.
• Automator: Best for creating a permanent one-click workflow.

Final Thoughts

Mac users have excellent built-in options for converting HEIC to JPG. For occasional single-file conversions, Preview is perfectly adequate. For frequent batch work, the Finder Quick Action or an online batch converter will save you the most time. The key takeaway is that you do not need any third-party software to handle HEIC conversion on a Mac.