You have just shared a photo from your iPhone and received a confused message back: "I can't open this file" or "unsupported file format." Or you tried to upload a photo to a website and it refused to accept it. The file ends in .heic instead of .jpg — and that one extension is causing the problem.
This guide explains what HEIC is, why it causes compatibility issues, and three reliable ways to convert HEIC photos to JPG for free — whether you are on Windows, Mac, or iPhone.
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is the photo format that Apple introduced with iOS 11 in 2017, and it is now the default format for every iPhone and iPad running a modern version of iOS.
Apple chose HEIC for a simple reason: it is significantly more efficient than JPG. A HEIC photo typically takes up roughly half the storage space of the equivalent JPG while maintaining the same — or often better — visual quality. For a phone with 64GB of storage used heavily for photography, this difference is meaningful. It is why you can store two years of iPhone photos in the space that one year of JPG photos would consume.
The format is built on the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) codec — the same technology used for streaming 4K video. This is why HEIC handles gradients, skin tones, and shadow detail better than the JPEG compression standard, which dates back to 1992.
The issue is software licensing. The HEVC codec that HEIC depends on carries patent fees. Microsoft ships Windows without HEIC support by default — you have to either install a paid codec extension from the Microsoft Store, or convert your photos to a universally compatible format like JPG.
Converting to JPG is by far the more practical solution for sharing. JPG is supported by every operating system, browser, email client, social media platform, and image editor in existence. Once you convert, the compatibility problem disappears entirely — for every recipient, on every device.
The quickest method — works on Windows, Mac, Android, or directly on iPhone in a browser. No app download required:
The conversion runs entirely in your browser — your photo is not uploaded to any server, so your images remain completely private. Output quality defaults to maximum, so the resulting JPG looks identical to the original HEIC at normal viewing sizes.
If you would rather stop the problem at the source and have your iPhone take JPG photos going forward, this setting takes about 20 seconds to change:
From this point on, every new photo will be saved as JPG. Your existing HEIC photos are unaffected — you will need to convert those separately. The trade-off is that JPG photos are roughly twice as large as HEIC, so you will use more storage over time. If storage is tight, keeping HEIC and converting specific photos when needed is the better approach.
If you are on a Mac, the built-in Preview application converts HEIC to JPG without any additional software:
To convert multiple files at once: select all your HEIC files in Finder, open them together in Preview, then choose File → Export Selected Images. The entire batch converts in one step.
For a one-off conversion on any device — especially on Windows — the online converter is the fastest route. For a permanent fix if most of your photos are shared with non-Apple users, changing the iPhone camera setting saves the most time long-term. For Mac users who prefer to stay offline, Preview handles both single files and batch conversions cleanly.
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce photo quality?
Minimally, and not in a way you would notice at normal viewing sizes. HEIC and JPG both use lossy compression. Re-encoding from one to the other introduces a small amount of additional compression — but at a quality setting of 90% or higher (which Criply uses by default), the difference is invisible even on high-resolution screens.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG directly on my iPhone without a computer?
Yes. Use Criply in Safari or Chrome on your iPhone — the browser-based converter works on mobile. Alternatively, when you use AirDrop or the Photos share sheet to send a photo to a non-Apple app or to someone on a non-Apple device, iOS will automatically convert the HEIC to JPG during the transfer.
Will converting to JPG make the file smaller?
No — it will typically make it larger. HEIC is more efficient than JPG, so converting usually results in a file 30–100% bigger. If you need a smaller file, compress the JPG afterwards using an image compressor.
My Windows PC shows a prompt to buy a codec from the Store — do I need it?
You do not need it if your goal is to share photos as JPGs. The paid "HEVC Video Extensions" from the Microsoft Store lets Windows open HEIC files natively, but converting to JPG is free and ensures compatibility on every device and platform — not just Windows.
Use our free HEIC to JPG tool — works in your browser, nothing to install.
HEIC to JPG — Free