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For MacFor MacHEIC → JPGBatch HEIC → JPG

Try “png”, “smaller”, “gps” or “windows”

    How-to · 4 min read

    Open HEIC on Mac

    Good news: your Mac already opens HEIC. The trick is getting a JPG out when you need one. Here are the built-in ways, from one photo to a whole folder.

    Updated

    The quick fix

    To open a HEIC on a Mac, just double-click it. It opens in Preview. To get a JPG, open it in Preview and use File → Export → Format: JPEG. If you have lots of photos, or want location data stripped as you go, drop them into the converter on this page instead. It runs in Safari or Chrome on your Mac without uploading anything.

    Try it right here: For Mac

    Open full tool →

    Drop HEIC photos here

    HEIC, HEIF · also JPG, PNG, WebP

    Ways to open HEIC on a Mac

    Every Mac running macOS High Sierra (10.13) or newer understands HEIC. You have three built-in options.

    Preview

    Double-click any .heic file and it opens in Preview. You can zoom, crop, rotate, mark up and inspect metadata (Tools → Show Inspector). This is the most useful option for converting.

    Photos

    Drag HEIC files into the Photos app to import them into your library. Photos handles HEIC fully, including Live Photos and Portrait mode depth, as long as the original files are intact.

    Quick Look

    Select a HEIC in Finder and press the Space bar. You get an instant full-size preview without opening any app. Use the arrow keys to flick through a folder. It's the fastest way to check what's in a batch of AirDropped photos.

    Convert one photo to JPG in Preview

    1. Open the HEIC file in Preview.
    2. Choose File → Export.
    3. Set Format to JPEG.
    4. Drag the Quality slider. Somewhere around three-quarters is a good balance of size and detail.
    5. Choose where to save it and click Save.

    Preview will also export to PNG, TIFF and HEIF from the same menu.

    Batch convert HEIC to JPG with Preview

    Preview can convert dozens of photos at once. It's a bit hidden, though.

    1. In Finder, select all the HEIC files you want to convert.
    2. Right-click and choose Open With → Preview. They open in one Preview window.
    3. If the sidebar isn't visible, choose View → Thumbnails.
    4. Click one thumbnail in the sidebar, then press Command-A to select them all.
    5. Choose File → Export Selected Images.
    6. Click Options in the save dialog.
    7. Set Format to JPEG and adjust the quality.
    8. Pick a destination folder and click Choose.

    Preview writes a JPG for each photo, keeping the original names with a .jpg extension.

    Convert with Finder Quick Actions

    On macOS Monterey (12) and later, Finder has a built-in converter. The exact menu wording may differ slightly between versions.

    1. Select one or more HEIC files in Finder.
    2. Right-click (or Control-click) the selection.
    3. Choose Quick Actions → Convert Image.
    4. Pick JPEG (or PNG/HEIF), and an image size: Small, Medium, Large or Actual Size.
    5. Optionally untick Preserve Metadata if you don't want EXIF data copied across.
    6. Click Convert to JPEG.

    The JPGs appear next to the originals. If you don't see Convert Image, your macOS may be older than Monterey, or the Quick Action may be turned off in Finder's Quick Actions customisation menu.

    When the built-in tools aren't enough

    Preview and Finder cover most needs. A few cases where a dedicated converter helps:

    • Removing location data. iPhone photos often contain GPS coordinates. Preview keeps them. The converter on this page removes GPS by default while keeping the date and camera details, and the remove GPS from HEIC tool can do it without converting at all.
    • Hitting a file size. If an upload form wants "under 2 MB", compress HEIC will find the right quality automatically.
    • Hundreds of files with a ZIP at the end. The batch HEIC to JPG page lets you drop a whole folder, pause and resume, and download one archive.
    • Colour for Windows recipients. iPhone photos are Display P3. A Mac shows them perfectly, but some Windows software doesn't read colour profiles. Our sRGB option converts colours so they look right anywhere.

    Getting HEIC files onto your Mac

    How the files arrive affects what you get:

    How you transfer What you usually get
    AirDrop from iPhone Original HEIC
    iCloud Photos sync HEIC in the Photos library
    Image Capture or Photos import by cable HEIC or JPG, depending on the iPhone's transfer setting
    Email or Messages attachment Often JPG, sometimes HEIC
    Export from Photos (File → Export) Your choice of JPEG, TIFF or PNG

    That last row is handy. In the Photos app, select photos and choose File → Export → Export Photos to get JPGs directly. Choose Export Unmodified Original if you want the HEIC instead.

    Troubleshooting

    Preview won't open a HEIC file

    Check the file isn't a partial download or a renamed file from another format. Very old Macs on macOS Sierra (10.12) or earlier don't support HEIC at all; convert the file in a browser instead.

    Quality slider is missing in Finder's Convert Image

    Convert Image offers size presets but not fine-grained quality. Use Preview's Export for control over quality.

    Exported JPGs look duller in other apps

    The JPG carries a Display P3 profile. Apps that ignore profiles show muted colours. Export with sRGB colours if your recipient uses older software.

    Sending to Windows users?

    Your Mac is happy with HEIC, but the person you're sending to might not be. Converting before you send saves them a headache. If they're stuck with HEIC already, point them at our guide to opening HEIC on Windows.

    FAQ

    Questions, answered

    Can a Mac open HEIC files?

    Yes. Macs running macOS High Sierra (10.13) or later open HEIC natively in Preview, Photos and Quick Look. No extra software is needed.

    How do I convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac for free?

    Open the photo in Preview, choose File then Export, set Format to JPEG and save. On recent macOS versions you can also right-click files in Finder and use Quick Actions then Convert Image.

    How do I batch convert HEIC to JPG in Preview?

    Open all the photos in Preview, select every thumbnail in the sidebar, then choose File then Export Selected Images. Click Options, set Format to JPEG and choose a folder.

    Why don't I see Convert Image in Quick Actions?

    Convert Image arrived in macOS Monterey (12), so older versions don't have it. It may also be switched off; check System Settings for Extensions or Finder's Quick Actions customise menu.

    Why are my AirDropped iPhone photos HEIC on my Mac?

    AirDrop usually sends the original file, and iPhone originals are HEIC. Your Mac opens them fine, but convert to JPG before sending them on to Windows users or websites.

    Does converting in Preview keep the photo's metadata?

    Preview generally keeps EXIF data, including location. If you want to remove GPS before sharing, use a tool with metadata options, like the converter on this page.

    Keep reading

    For MacFor when your Mac is fine with HEIC but everyone else isn't.ToolHEIC → JPGThe classic. Opens on every computer, app and website.ToolBatch HEIC → JPGA whole folder of HEIC in, a ZIP of JPGs out.ToolRemove GPSDelete the location tag, keep the dates. Lossless.ToolHEIC on WindowsWindows can open iPhone photos, it just won't do it out of the box. Here are four ways to fix that, from a two-minute install to never seeing a HEIC on your PC again.Guide