HEIC to JPG: The Free Ways That Actually Work
One iPhone setting stops the problem at the source.
Reviewed by Omar
To convert HEIC to JPG for free: set iPhone to Settings ▸ Camera ▸ Formats ▸ Most Compatible to capture JPEG going forward, and convert existing HEIC files with a local browser tool. No paid app needed.
Quick facts
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- iPhone, Windows, Any browser
- Availability
- Worldwide
- Sign-up
- Not required
- Ads
- No
- Privacy
- Browser-based conversion keeps photos on your device.
You send an iPhone photo to a friend on Windows, or upload it to an older website, and it simply won’t open. The culprit is HEIC — Apple’s space-saving image format. It’s efficient, but far less universally supported than plain old JPG. Here are the free ways to fix it, including one setting that solves it permanently.
Fix it at the source (best option)
If you’d rather never deal with HEIC again, change how your iPhone captures photos. Per Apple’s own guidance, go to Settings ▸ Camera ▸ Formats and choose Most Compatible. From then on your iPhone saves new photos as JPEG, which opens essentially everywhere. (Switch back to High Efficiencyany time if you want the smaller HEIC files again.)
Convert photos you already took
For existing HEIC files, you don’t need a sketchy “HEIC converter” download. Open them in our Image Studio, which converts and exports images to JPG in your browser — the photos stay on your device. You can do several at once and download the JPGs ready to share.
The trade-off
JPG files are larger than HEIC for the same visual quality, so converting loses some of the storage savings HEIC was designed for. If a converted photo is now too big to email, run it through our Image Compressor to bring the size back down.
Pros
- The camera setting fixes future photos for good
- Browser conversion is free and private
- No sketchy 'HEIC converter' downloads needed
Cons
- JPEG files are larger than HEIC for the same quality
- Converting loses HEIC's space savings on your phone
Convert WebP images to JPG instantly.
Alternatives
- Most Compatible camera setting
Stops HEIC at the source for new photos.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my iPhone photos in HEIC?
HEIC (HEIF) is Apple's space-saving image format. It stores good quality in smaller files, but fewer apps and devices can open it than JPG.
How do I make my iPhone take JPG instead?
Go to Settings ▸ Camera ▸ Formats and choose Most Compatible. Your iPhone will then capture JPEG, which opens almost everywhere.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
Converting is visually fine for most uses, but JPG files are larger than HEIC for the same quality, so you lose some of HEIC's storage savings.
Sources
- Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices — Apple. Verified June 20, 2026.