1Understanding HEIC on macOS
macOS has supported HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container) natively since macOS High Sierra. This means your Mac can view HEIC files without any additional software. However, you'll still need to convert HEIC to JPG when sharing photos with Windows users, uploading to websites that don't accept HEIC, or working with software that only supports JPEG format.
Fortunately, macOS provides several excellent built-in tools for HEIC to JPG conversion, ranging from quick single-file methods to powerful batch processing workflows. This guide covers every method available to Mac users, along with our recommended online tool for the fastest results.
2Method 1: Using Preview (Simplest Built-in Method)
Preview is the default image viewer on macOS and the quickest way to change HEIC to JPG for individual files. Every Mac has it pre-installed, and it handles the conversion with full quality control.
Step-by-Step Preview Conversion
- Locate your HEIC file in Finder and double-click to open it in Preview.
- If it opens in a different app, right-click the file, select Open With > Preview.
- Once the image is open, go to File > Export in the menu bar (or press ⌘ + Shift + E).
- In the export dialog, click the Format dropdown and select JPEG.
- Adjust the Quality slider — 75-80% is ideal for web use, 90-95% for archival quality.
- Choose a save destination and filename, then click Save.
Preview also lets you resize during export by entering specific pixel dimensions. This is useful if you need smaller images for web use. After conversion, you can further optimize using our JPG compressor to reduce file size.
3Method 2: Using the Photos App
If your HEIC files are stored in the macOS Photos app (synced from iPhone via iCloud), you can export them directly as JPEG.
Step-by-Step Photos App Export
- Open the Photos app on your Mac.
- Select the HEIC photos you want to convert (hold ⌘ to select multiple, or ⌘ + A to select all).
- Go to File > Export > Export [number] Photos.
- In the export dialog, set Photo Kind to JPEG.
- Adjust the Quality slider and set your preferred Size (actual, large, medium, or small).
- Choose an export destination and click Export.
This method is ideal when your photos are already in the Photos library. It supports batch conversion and preserves metadata like dates and location information.
4Method 3: Batch Convert with Automator
For power users who need to convert HEIC to JPG in bulk regularly, Automator is a powerful built-in tool that can create a reusable conversion workflow.
Creating an Automator Workflow
- Open Automator from your Applications folder (or search with Spotlight).
- Create a new Quick Action (or Workflow in older macOS versions).
- Set "Workflow receives" to image files in Finder.
- Search for and drag the Change Type of Images action to the workflow area.
- In the action settings, change "To Type" to JPEG.
- Search for and add Copy Finder Items before the conversion action (to preserve originals).
- Save the workflow with a name like "Convert to JPG".
Now you can select HEIC files in Finder, right-click, and choose your custom Quick Action from the Services menu to convert them instantly. This is the most efficient method for batch HEIC to JPG conversion on Mac.
5Method 4: Online Converter (Universal & Fast)
If you prefer not to use desktop apps or need to convert files from any browser, our HEIC to JPG online converter works perfectly on macOS. It processes everything locally in your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your Mac.
- No app installation — works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
- Batch processing — convert multiple HEIC files simultaneously.
- Quality control — adjust output quality from 10% to 100%.
- Complete privacy — all processing happens on your device.
After conversion, you can also use our HEIC to PNG converter if you need a lossless format, or our JPG to PNG converter for further format changes.
6Changing iPhone's Default Format on Mac
If you want to prevent HEIC issues entirely, you can change your iPhone's camera format so it captures JPEG by default:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats.
- Select Most Compatible to use JPEG instead of HEIC.
- New photos will be captured as JPEG and work seamlessly across all platforms.
7Quality Comparison: HEIC vs JPG on Mac
- HEIC at original quality: 10-bit color depth, approximately 50% smaller than equivalent JPEG.
- JPG at 95% quality: Very close to original HEIC, slightly larger file size, 8-bit color.
- JPG at 80% quality: Good balance for web use, significantly smaller than HEIC, minor quality loss.
- PNG from HEIC: Lossless quality, but file sizes can be 3-5x larger than the original HEIC.
8Conclusion
Mac users have excellent options for converting HEIC to JPG. Preview offers the quickest single-file method, Photos handles library exports beautifully, Automator enables powerful batch workflows, and our online converter provides the most versatile cross-platform solution. Choose the method that best fits your workflow and start converting your iPhone photos today.
For more tips, read How to Convert HEIC to JPG (All Platforms) or explore What is a JPG vs PNG?