How to convert HEIC photos to JPG on iPhone

Quick answer

For HEIC photos you’ve already taken, save them to Files first, then in the Files app press and hold the photo > Quick Actions > Convert Image > choose JPEG. On iOS 26 you can also open the photo in the Preview app and “Export” it as JPEG. To make future photos JPG automatically, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose “Most Compatible”. If you also need to shrink the file to a specific size, PassSize can convert and compress in the same app.

First, decide: convert old photos or change future ones?

• Photos you’ve already taken: you need a conversion tool to export a JPG copy. The original HEIC won’t change by itself.
• Photos you’ll take later: just change the camera setting, but it doesn’t affect photos that already exist.

If you want to know what HEIC actually is and why websites reject it, read “What is HEIC, and why do websites reject it?” first.

Method 1: Convert Image in the Files app (built in, free)

1. In the Photos app, select the photos, tap Share > Save to Files, and save them to any folder in On My iPhone or iCloud Drive.
2. Open the Files app and find the photo you just saved.
3. Press and hold the photo > Quick Actions > Convert Image.
4. Choose JPEG as the format, then choose an image size (pick the largest, original size if you want to keep the original resolution).
5. The converted JPG appears next to the original file.

For several photos, tap ”…” at the top right > Select, choose the photos, then tap ”…” at the bottom right and choose Convert Image.

• Pros: no app to install, and batch conversion works.
• Cons: you have to save to Files first, so there are more steps, and you can’t set a file size.

Method 2: Export from the Preview app on iOS 26

Starting with iOS 26, iPhone has a built-in Preview app that can export images to other formats:

1. Open the photo in Preview.
2. Tap the menu button next to the file name > Export.
3. Choose JPEG as the format. If you need to, adjust the file size with the slider.
4. Choose where to save and save it.

• Pros: you can shrink the file with the slider at the same time.
• Cons: it’s easier one photo at a time, and the slider is by feel, so you can’t hit an exact target like “exactly 2MB”.

Method 3: Automatic JPEG conversion when transferring to a computer

When you import photos to a Mac or Windows PC with a cable, iPhone can convert them to a compatible format automatically. Check that Settings > Apps > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC is set to “Automatic” (before iOS 18 the path was Settings > Photos). If you choose “Keep Originals”, HEIC stays HEIC.

This only applies to USB transfers. Syncing to a computer through iCloud doesn’t convert anything.

Method 4: Shoot JPG from now on

Settings > Camera > Formats > choose “Most Compatible”. New photos will be JPEG (and videos H.264). To go back to the more space-saving format, choose “High Efficiency”.

The downside is that the same photo takes up more storage, so if you only need to upload occasionally, keep High Efficiency and convert when you need to.

Method 5: Convert with PassSize and compress to a set size at the same time

Many websites require both “JPG format” and “no larger than 2MB / 500KB”. PassSize can:

• Convert HEIC to JPG or PNG, several photos at a time.
• Then, if needed, use Compress to set 500KB, 1MB, 2MB or a custom size, and also limit width and height.
• Work from the Photos app: select photos > Share > PassSize, with no need to open the app separately.
• Do everything on your phone, so your photos are not uploaded to a server.

Comparing the methods

Method	Handles old photos	Can set file size	Batch	Cost
Convert Image in Files	Yes	No	Yes	Free
Export in Preview (iOS 26)	Yes	No (slider only)	Easier one at a time	Free
Auto-convert when transferring to a computer	Yes	No	Yes	Free, needs a computer
Camera set to Most Compatible	No, only affects new photos	No	N/A	Free
PassSize	Yes	Yes	Yes	5 free uses, then a one-time NT$60 purchase

A heads-up: a JPG is usually somewhat larger than the HEIC. If the website has a size limit, check the size again after converting, or see “How to compress an iPhone photo to under 2MB”.

Supported versions and where the screenshots come from

This article covers common steps on iOS 18 and iOS 26. The Preview app method is iOS 26 only. If you can’t find the Convert Image menu, you can use the Shortcuts resize-and-convert-to-JPEG flow. PassSize requires iOS 18 or later and is still in App Store review. The steps use the actual interface of the development build, and the sample files don’t represent measured numbers.

Our HEIC to JPG test

On 2026-10-08, using the iPhone 16 Pro simulator on iOS 18.4, we generated a 4032×3024 gradient-noise image from a fixed seed, exported it as a HEIC, then converted it with PassSize’s existing ImageProcessor to a JPG at 90% quality, with Keep Exif turned off.

Item	Result
HEIC input	2,335,211 bytes
JPG output	3,240,215 bytes
Format identified by the image decoder	public.jpeg (a real JPEG)
Output pixels	4032×3024

The conversion worked, but the file grew by about 39%, so check the file size again after converting HEIC to JPG. This is an engine test on a synthetic sample. We didn’t test HDR on a real device, Live Photo motion or a full multi-photo batch, so don’t assume those effects are preserved.

If it still fails after converting

1. Don’t just rename the extension: renaming .heic to .jpg doesn’t re-encode the file, and the website may still recognize it as HEIC. Use a real conversion feature.
2. Check that you picked the output copy: the original HEIC may still be in the same place, so choose the new JPG when selecting a file. Press and hold the new file to view its info.
3. Check the file size: if the conversion worked but the file is still over 2MB / 500KB, compress it next.
4. Check pixels and appearance: HDR brightness, color and motion photos may look different after JPEG export. Keep the original file.

Sources and where to read next

Camera settings and transfer formats are based on Apple: Use HEIF or HEVC media, and the iOS 26 export is based on Apple: Export images in Preview. If you need to handle both size and format, continue with the complete guide to compressing photos and PDFs.