Convert HEIC to JPG without uploading your photos
This HEIC to JPG converter turns iPhone and iPad photos into ordinary JPG files that open on Windows, in web forms, in older apps and on any phone. Add one photo or a whole folder, choose the quality and size, and download the results one by one or as a ZIP. The conversion runs in your browser, so your personal photos are never sent to a server.
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is Apple's name for the HEIF image format with HEVC compression. Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC by default because the files are often much smaller than a JPG of similar quality. HEIC can also hold extra data such as depth maps, bursts and Live Photo stills in a single file.
The catch is compatibility. Many Windows PCs need an extra extension to open HEIC, plenty of upload forms only accept JPG or PNG, and some photo printing services and older editing apps reject it outright. Converting to JPG solves all of that.
How to use the converter
- Drop your .heic or .heif photos onto the box, or tap it to pick files. On a phone you can choose straight from your photo library.
- Choose JPG (smaller, best for photos) or PNG (lossless, larger).
- For JPG, set the quality. 90 looks like the original; 75 to 85 makes files noticeably smaller for email and uploads.
- Optionally limit the long edge, for example to 2048 or 1600 pixels, when a site has a size limit.
- Download a single photo or everything as a ZIP. File names stay the same, so IMG_1234.HEIC becomes IMG_1234.jpg.
If your browser can decode HEIC by itself (recent Safari versions can), the tool uses that. Otherwise it loads an open-source decoder once, which takes a few seconds on the first photo. The decoder is program code downloaded to your browser; your photos still stay on your device.
JPG or PNG: which output should you pick?
For photos, pick JPG. It is accepted everywhere and keeps files small. PNG is lossless, which sounds better, but a 12 megapixel photo saved as PNG is often several times larger than the HEIC you started with, with no visible gain. Use PNG only when you need a lossless copy for further editing.
What happens to metadata
Converted files do not keep EXIF metadata: GPS location, camera and lens model, and the date the photo was taken are not copied over. The browser decodes the image to pixels and saves those pixels again, and it does not carry the metadata along. The orientation is applied to the pixels, so photos still appear the right way up.
For sharing online this is a privacy plus, because a photo without GPS data does not reveal where it was taken. If you are archiving photos and need the dates, convert on the phone instead or keep the original HEIC files as your master copies.
How to stop your iPhone saving HEIC
If you always need JPG, change the camera setting: open Settings, tap Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPG. Photos you already took stay HEIC, which is where this converter helps. When you share from the Photos app to most apps or by email, iOS usually converts to JPG automatically. When you copy files over USB to a Windows PC, set Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic for the same effect.
Tips
- Converting dozens of large photos uses a lot of memory. On older phones, convert in smaller batches of 10 to 20.
- Live Photos and bursts can contain several images in one file. The converter exports the first one and tells you when there are more.
- Want captions for the photos you are about to post? Try the caption and hashtag generator, see ideas for content creation using AI, or browse all free AI generators and tools.
Frequently asked questions
Are my photos uploaded when I convert HEIC to JPG?
No. The conversion happens in your browser. If your browser cannot decode HEIC itself, the page downloads an open-source decoder (program code, about 1.3 MB, once), but your photos are never sent to KissMySkills or anyone else.
Can I convert many HEIC files at once?
Yes. Add up to 50 photos in one batch, then download them one by one or all together as a ZIP file. The original file names are kept, so IMG_1234.HEIC becomes IMG_1234.jpg.
Does the JPG keep the date, location and camera data?
No. The converted files do not keep EXIF metadata such as GPS location, camera model or date taken, because the browser re-encodes the pixels. Orientation is applied, so photos still show the right way up. Keep your HEIC originals if you need the metadata.
Will converting HEIC to JPG lower the quality?
JPG is a lossy format, so there is a small loss, but at quality 90 the result looks the same as the original to most people. Lower the quality to get smaller files, or choose PNG for a lossless but much larger copy.
How do I make my iPhone take JPG photos instead of HEIC?
Open Settings, tap Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPG. Existing photos stay HEIC, and you can convert them here.