Guides

Why are my iPhone photos HEIC, and how do I convert them to JPG?

Updated 22.9.2026

Your iPhone saves photos as HEIC because it is Apple's default image format. Apple says it offers better compression than JPEG, so photos take up less storage on your devices and in iCloud Photos.^[1] The catch is that not every computer or app can open it. You can set the iPhone to save new photos as JPEG instead, and you can convert the HEIC photos you already have on a Mac, on Windows or in your browser.

What is a HEIC file

A HEIC file is a photo stored in HEIF, the High Efficiency Image File Format. HEIF is a standard from the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), published as ISO/IEC 23008-12. MPEG lists it as the file format for HEVC still images.^[2] HEVC, also called H.265, is the format Apple uses for video.^[1]

Apple describes HEIC as the default image format for Apple devices, one that stores images more efficiently without compromising image quality.^[3]

Why your iPhone uses it

Apple added support for HEIF with iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra, and calls it an industry-standard format. iPhone 7 and later can take photos in it. The reason Apple gives is space: HEIF compresses better than JPEG, so the files use less storage.^[1]

When you share from the iPhone, Apple handles some of this for you. According to Apple, iCloud Photos keeps photos in their original format, and when you share by AirDrop, Messages or email with a device that does not support HEIF, the photo might automatically be sent as a more compatible format, such as JPEG.^[1] The trouble starts when a HEIC file reaches a computer or app that expects a JPG.

Stop new photos being saved as HEIC

Apple recommends HEIF, but you can switch the camera to the older, more widely supported formats. Apple's steps are:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Camera, then tap Formats.
• Tap Most Compatible.

From then on, the camera captures photos in JPEG and videos in H.264.^[4] This only affects new photos, so the HEIC files you already have stay as they are. To go back to the space-saving format, choose High Efficiency. Apple says the setting is only available on iPhones and iPads that can capture HEIF.^[1]

One more setting matters if you copy photos with a cable. Apple says photos imported from an attached iPhone into Photos, Image Capture or a PC might be converted to JPEG. If you do not want that, Apple points to Settings > Apps > Photos > Keep Originals.^[1]

How to convert HEIC photos you already have

On a Mac. Apple's HEIF support page says to open the photo in Photos or Preview, choose File > Export, then pick a format such as JPEG or PNG before saving.^[1] You can also use the Finder: Apple's guide to Finder quick actions says to click More, choose Convert Image, then choose a format and a size, for example from .heic to .jpeg or .png.^[5]

On Windows. The Photos app may show the message "You need an extension to use this file." The easiest fix Microsoft lists is to get both the HEIF Image Extensions and the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, and it says you need both even if you only want photos.^[6] Microsoft also suggests letting the files convert on the way: plug the iPhone into the PC and move the files over, because many devices convert HEIC to a more common format when transferring, or email the photos to yourself and save them on the PC.

In a browser. Toololo's HEIC to JPG converter converts the files in your browser, and they are not uploaded. You can choose JPG, PNG or WebP, add several files at once, and download each result on its own or all of them as one ZIP file.

Before you convert

• Keep the originals until you have checked the converted copies.
• Pick the format for the job. Apple describes JPEG as small files suitable for websites and other photo apps, and PNG as a lossless format popular for web images and image editing.^[3]
• Multi-image files. If a HEIC file holds more than one image, Toololo's converter keeps only the first one.
• Space. HEIC files use less storage, so you may only want to convert the photos you need to share.

Questions people ask

How do I make my iPhone take JPG photos instead of HEIC?

Open Settings, tap Camera, then Formats, and tap Most Compatible. Apple says the camera then captures photos in JPEG. Photos you have already taken are not changed.^[4]

Do photos stay HEIC when I send them from my iPhone?

It depends on how you send them. Apple says iCloud Photos keeps the original format, while AirDrop, Messages or email might send a more compatible format such as JPEG if the receiving device does not support HEIF.^[1]