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LocalKit

HEIC to JPG Converter

Convert iPhone and iPad HEIC photos to universally compatible JPG — right in your browser. Batch convert multiple files. Your photos never leave your device.

Files never leave your device.

85 is a good default

Drop HEIC / HEIF files or browse

Photos from iPhone, iPad, Mac Camera — multiple files at once

Why iPhone Photos Are in HEIC Format

Apple introduced HEIC as the default iPhone camera format in iOS 11 (2017). It uses the HEVC codec to store photos at roughly half the file size of JPG at the same quality — a significant saving when a phone holds thousands of photos.

The trouble starts when you move photos off the iPhone. Windows, most Android devices, many web upload forms, and older desktop software do not recognise HEIC. Converting to JPG makes the photos usable everywhere.

Tip: on your iPhone you can set Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible to capture new photos as JPG instead of HEIC. Existing HEIC photos on your device are unaffected.

Opening HEIC on Windows

On Windows, double-clicking a HEIC file often shows a blank thumbnail or an error. That is because Windows does not include the HEVC/HEIF codecs by default — Microsoft charges a small fee for the codec in the Store. Converting to JPG side-steps that completely: a JPG opens in Photos, Paint, Office, and every browser with no extra software and no purchase.

When a Site Will Not Accept Your HEIC

Many upload forms only accept JPG or PNG, so a HEIC photo is rejected or quietly fails to attach. This trips people up most often with:

  • Job applications and government portals that require a photo or scanned document as JPG.
  • Older forums and web apps built before HEIC existed.
  • Printing and photo services that expect a standard JPG.

Converting to JPG first makes the upload go through everywhere.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG

  1. Set the quality. 85 is a good default — it produces JPGs that look identical to the original at about 70-80% of the HEIC file size.
  2. Add your HEIC files. Drag one or more .heic or .heif files, or click to browse. You can add files from iCloud Drive or an AirDrop transfer.
  3. Click “Convert to JPG”. Each file is converted in turn, with progress shown in the list.
  4. Download. Click Download JPG next to each finished photo to save it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HEIC and why does my iPhone use it?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default camera format since iOS 11. It uses the HEVC/H.265 codec, which stores photos at roughly half the file size of JPG at comparable quality. The downside is that many non-Apple apps, Windows, and web platforms do not support HEIC natively.

Does the converter keep my photo EXIF data (GPS, date, camera)?

No. The heic2any library redraws the image and does not copy metadata, so the converted JPG has no EXIF — no GPS location, capture date, or camera model. For a photo you are about to email or post publicly, that removal is a privacy benefit. If you specifically need to keep GPS or timestamps, set your iPhone to capture in JPG (Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible) and keep the originals, or use a desktop tool that copies metadata across.

Are my photos uploaded?

No. This converter uses a WebAssembly library (heic2any) that runs entirely in your browser. Your photos are decoded and re-encoded locally — nothing is sent to any server.

Why is the converted JPG larger than the HEIC?

HEIC uses a more efficient compression algorithm than JPG, so converting to JPG at the same visual quality produces a larger file. Lowering the quality slider reduces the JPG size at the cost of some visible compression artefacts.

Can I convert HEIF files too?

Yes. HEIF (.heif) is the container format; HEIC is the Apple-specific variant. Both are supported, and you can mix them in one batch.

Can I convert several photos at once?

Yes. Drop in as many HEIC/HEIF files as you like and the tool converts them one after another, showing progress per file. Each finished photo has its own Download button — there is no single ZIP download, so save them individually.

The conversion is slow — is that normal?

The HEIC decoder is a WebAssembly module that takes 1-3 seconds to initialise on first use. After that, each file takes roughly 0.5-2 seconds depending on resolution and device speed. Batch conversion runs one file at a time to keep memory use under control.

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