Сonverting HEIF to JPEG on iPhone and Mac: 3 easy ways

You’ve probably noticed, that by default, iPhones take photos in HEIF format. Although it has many advantages, images in this format are not suitable for uploading to some websites and do not open on all devices. Luckily, the problem can be solved easily by converting the image to a good old JPEG.

There are many third-party services and sites to complete this task, but you can easily get by with apps that are already available on any iPhone or Mac.

How to learn the image format

Most probably, your file was rejected by some website or service just because it does not support HEIF. But to make sure, you can check the format directly on an iPhone with iOS 15+ using the standard Photos app.

Just open the desired image and swipe up from the bottom. The metadata of the image will open, and the format of the image will be displayed here.

If you have an older version of iOS, you have to use third-party apps that show the EXIF data of the file.

How to convert HEIF to JPEG

Method 1: On the iPhone

Open the desired image in the Photo app.

1. Click Share and select Copy Photo.
2. Open the Files application.
3. Hold your finger on a free storage area until the context menu appears. Select Paste.

Done: The "JPEG image" file appears in iCloud and you can send it through any available application or save it to the gallery.

Method 2: On macOS Monterey

The new version of macOS has a handy tool that allows you to change the format of your files in a couple of clicks. All you have to do is find the file you want in the Finder, right-click on it, and select Quick Actions → Convert Image.

Next, you can choose the format (PNG is also available) and the image size - from small to real. After that, click Convert to JPEG.

This will create a JPEG copy of the original file in the folder where it is located. This method is also suitable for mass image conversion: just select all the files you want and then repeat the above steps.

Method 3. On macOS Big Sur and below

If you are not in a hurry to update your computer to the latest version of the operating system, you can convert photos through the standard utility Viewer.

1. Open the HEIF file via Viewer (by default it will open in this program, but if you have another program assigned to HEIF, do it manually by right-clicking → Open with → View).
2. Select File → Export from the top menu.
3. If necessary, change the export settings (name, save folder, format, and quality), then click Save.

How to take photos directly in JPEG

If you’ve been wondering, why iPhone is using a seemingly inconvenient HEIF, here’s the reason. This format saves nearly twice as much storage space without sacrificing quality, and the file can be restored to its original state after any changes, thanks to the preservation of editing history. But if keep converting HEIF, it's easier to change your camera settings to shoot JPEGs right away. To do this:

1. Open the iPhone settings.
2. Go to Camera → Formats.
3. Select the Most Compatible option.

Done: All photos will now be saved in JPEG. It's worth noting that if you select this format, you will not be able to shoot video in 4K at 60 frames per second, nor in 1080p at 240 frames per second.