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.

Your files never leave your device. All processing happens in your browser.

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 stores thousands of photos.

The problem arises 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 universally usable.

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.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG

  1. Set the quality. 85 is a good default — it produces JPGs that are visually 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 order. The list shows progress in real time.
  4. Download. Click Download JPG next to each file to save the converted photo.

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.

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. Converting to JPG at the same visual quality always produces a larger file. Lowering the quality slider reduces the JPG size at the cost of some visible compression artefacts.

Does the converter preserve EXIF data (GPS, date, camera)?

heic2any preserves most EXIF metadata during conversion. However, Canvas-based re-encoding (used by simpler tools) strips EXIF — this tool specifically uses heic2any to retain it.

Can I convert HEIF files too?

Yes. HEIF (.heif) is the container format; HEIC is the Apple-specific variant. Both are supported.

The conversion is slow — is that normal?

HEIC decoding uses a WebAssembly module that takes 1–3 seconds to initialise on first use. Individual file conversion takes 0.5–2 seconds depending on resolution and device speed. Batch conversion runs one file at a time to avoid memory issues.

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