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.
Method 1: Online Converter (Recommended)
- Open ConvertHEIC.org in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox
- Drag and drop HEIC files onto the upload area
- Click Convert and download JPG files
Files are processed locally in your browser.
Method 2: Preview App
- Open HEIC file in Preview (double-click in Finder)
- Go to File then Export
- Select JPEG from Format dropdown
- 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 — and that gap creates real friction in everyday workflows.
Common scenarios where Mac users need to convert HEIC to JPG:
- Sharing with Windows colleagues — HEIC is unreadable on Windows without a paid codec. Emailing HEIC files to Windows users often results in "cannot open" errors.
- 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 — Photoshop CS6 and older Lightroom versions do not read HEIC. Even newer versions can be slow to open large HEIC files compared to JPEG.
- Client deliverables — Photographers delivering final images to clients almost always use JPG or TIFF, never HEIC, for maximum recipient compatibility.
- Printing services — Online print labs and kiosk printers uniformly expect JPG or PNG. Submitting HEIC typically results in an error or a blank print.
In short: even though your Mac handles HEIC fine, the moment your files leave the Apple ecosystem you need JPG. Converting proactively saves headaches later.
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
- In the left Actions panel, search for "Change Type of Images"
- Drag it into the workflow area on the right
- When prompted, click Add to add a "Copy Finder Items" action before it (this preserves originals)
- Set the destination folder for copies (e.g., your Desktop or a "Converted" folder)
- 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
- Select one or more
.heicfiles in Finder - Right-click and choose Quick Actions > Convert to JPG
- 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.
Search intent
Mac HEIC search intent
This page is written for Mac users comparing Preview, sips, Automator, and a browser workflow. The core two-word phrase is Mac HEIC, while the main long-tail phrase is Mac HEIC converter. Use Preview for one Mac HEIC file, sips or Automator for local automation, and the Mac HEIC converter when you want a simpler batch interface.
When this page should rank
- Mac HEIC: convert Mac HEIC files dragged from Photos or Finder.
- Mac HEIC: send client-ready JPG files to non-Apple recipients.
- Mac HEIC: batch convert a folder without building an Automator action.
- Mac HEIC: use sips when terminal repeatability matters more than interface.
Practical checks before converting
- Mac HEIC converter: Preview is fine for one or two files.
- Mac HEIC converter: Automator is best for repeated Finder workflows.
- Mac HEIC converter: sips is best for scripted folders.
- Mac HEIC converter: browser conversion is best for occasional batches.
Does Mac need a HEIC converter?
Mac can open HEIC, but a Mac HEIC converter is still useful when another system needs JPG.
Is sips safe for originals?
Yes, when you write to a new output path. The guide shows commands that preserve the HEIC originals.
Which Mac method is fastest?
For a few files, Preview is fast. For many files, Automator, sips, or the browser batch converter is faster.
Long-tail queries this page now covers
A generic page can rank for a broad term once it has authority, but a focused page needs to answer the exact job behind the query. This section helps the page answer Mac HEIC converter searches while keeping Mac HEIC language tied to real user tasks.
best Mac HEIC for Mac HEIC converter workflows: the page gives a practical answer, explains the trade-off, and links back to the working converter when a user is ready to act.
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Mac HEIC for private JPG copies: the page gives a practical answer, explains the trade-off, and links back to the working converter when a user is ready to act.
Mac HEIC for batch photo handling: the page gives a practical answer, explains the trade-off, and links back to the working converter when a user is ready to act.
Mac HEIC converter when the first app fails: the page gives a practical answer, explains the trade-off, and links back to the working converter when a user is ready to act.
Mac HEIC converter for upload and sharing problems: the page gives a practical answer, explains the trade-off, and links back to the working converter when a user is ready to act.
Mac HEIC converter with original HEIC files preserved: the page gives a practical answer, explains the trade-off, and links back to the working converter when a user is ready to act.
Mac HEIC converter using a browser-based workflow: the page gives a practical answer, explains the trade-off, and links back to the working converter when a user is ready to act.
Need the working tool instead of another guide? Open the browser HEIC to JPG converter.