How-To

Convert HEIC Photos from iPhone to JPG

April 14, 2025·4 min read

Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos in HEIC format by default. HEIC files are about 50% smaller than JPG at the same quality, which saves storage space on your phone. The problem is that many apps, websites, and Windows computers cannot open HEIC files. Converting to JPG gives you universal compatibility while keeping your photos looking great.

What is HEIC format?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is based on the HEVC video codec. It offers superior compression compared to JPG, meaning your iPhone can store twice as many photos in the same space. HEIC also supports features like depth maps, live photos, and 16-bit color that JPG cannot handle. Apple adopted it to save storage space on devices.

Why you might need to convert

Windows 10 and 11 can open HEIC files with a free codec from the Microsoft Store, but many other applications cannot. Uploading HEIC to social media, email clients, or web forms may fail or produce errors. Most printing services require JPG or PNG. If you share photos frequently with non-Apple users, converting to JPG avoids compatibility headaches.

Change iPhone settings to shoot in JPG

To avoid the HEIC issue altogether, open Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and select Most Compatible. This makes your iPhone save photos as JPG directly. The trade-off is that photos will take up more storage space on your device, roughly double compared to HEIC. You can also enable Automatic transfer mode which converts to JPG only when sharing.

Convert HEIC to JPG online

SquishConvert handles HEIC to JPG conversion instantly. Upload your HEIC files from your iPhone, Mac, or any device, and download JPG versions with all metadata preserved. The conversion maintains the original image quality at JPG level 90. No app installation needed, works directly in your browser.