How to Convert HEIC to JPG — iPhone Photos on PC, Mac & Web
Every photo you take on an iPhone since iOS 11 is saved in HEIC format — a smaller, higher-quality format Apple invented. The problem: Windows, older Androids, and many websites don't support HEIC. Converting HEIC to JPG gives you universally compatible images. PDFBro converts HEIC to JPG instantly in your browser — no software needed.
Free Online Tool
HEIC to JPG
Convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPEG format
How to Convert HEIC to JPG in 3 Steps
- 1
Upload your HEIC files
Upload one or multiple .heic or .heif files from your computer or connected iPhone. Batch convert up to 20 files at once.
- 2
Set output quality (optional)
The default is high quality (90%). Reduce if you need smaller file sizes.
- 3
Download JPG files
Download individual JPG files or all as a ZIP. Images are universally compatible.
What is HEIC and Why iPhone Uses It
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is based on the HEIF standard, developed to replace JPEG. It stores photos at roughly half the file size of JPEG while maintaining equal or better visual quality. Apple adopted it in iOS 11 (2017) to help users store more photos.
The catch: HEIC uses H.265 video compression technology, which requires licensing. Many older operating systems and apps never implemented it.
Who can open HEIC natively: iOS 11+, macOS High Sierra+, Windows 11 (with HEVC codec installed) Who cannot: Windows 10 (without extra codec), most Android apps, most web services (Facebook, Instagram, Google Forms)
How to Get HEIC Photos From iPhone to Computer
The first challenge is often just getting the HEIC files off the iPhone:
USB cable (most reliable): Connect iPhone to PC with a cable. Trust the computer on your iPhone prompt. Open File Explorer → This PC → iPhone → DCIM folder. Copy .HEIC files.
iCloud Photos: If enabled, photos sync to iCloud. Access at iCloud.com or via iCloud for Windows. iCloud automatically converts to JPEG when downloading to non-Apple devices.
AirDrop to Mac: AirDrop files stay as HEIC. Drag to your desktop, then upload to PDFBro.
Email to yourself: Send photos via email. Most email apps auto-convert to JPEG.
HEIC on Windows — What the Error Means
Windows 10 displays 'We can't open this file' for HEIC images. The fix is the HEVC Video Extensions codec from the Microsoft Store (it costs ~$0.99 — yes, really). Alternatively, install Apple's iCloud for Windows, which adds free HEIC support.
But for one-time conversions or occasional use, PDFBro's online converter is simpler than installing anything.
Pro Tips
- 1
Set iPhone to JPEG mode (Settings → Camera → Most Compatible) before an important event — concerts, weddings, travel — when you know photos will be widely shared.
- 2
HEIC files from iPhone also contain Live Photo data (short video). The JPG output will be the static photo only.
- 3
Converted JPGs from HEIC are nearly indistinguishable from native JPEGs. The HEIC-to-JPEG process is high quality at 90% setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC is Apple's photo format used on iPhone and iPad. It stores photos at smaller file sizes than JPEG while maintaining quality, but isn't supported on all devices.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG without installing software?
Yes. PDFBro converts HEIC to JPG entirely in your browser with no software download.
Will the HEIC to JPG conversion lose quality?
No visible quality loss at default settings (90% quality). The conversion is very high fidelity.
Can I convert multiple HEIC files at once?
Yes. PDFBro supports batch conversion of up to 20 HEIC files simultaneously.
How do I prevent iPhone from saving photos as HEIC?
Go to iPhone Settings → Camera → Formats → select 'Most Compatible'. Photos will be saved as JPEG going forward.