How to Convert iPhone HEIC Photos to JPG Free (No Software)
You just transferred photos from your iPhone and now nothing will open them. The .heic extension is Apple's default since iOS 11- and while it saves storage on your phone, it breaks compatibility with nearly everything else. This guide covers every method to convert HEIC to JPG free, including a browser-based option that requires zero software and zero uploads.
Table of Contents
What is HEIC and why does Apple use it?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is Apple's implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) standard, which was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and adopted by Apple in iOS 11 in 2017.
At its core, HEIC uses HEVC (H.265) compression - the same video codec used for 4K video- to compress still images. The result is a file that is typically 40–50% smaller than an equivalent JPEG while maintaining the same perceptual quality. A 3 MB JPEG photo taken on an iPhone might be stored as a 1.5 MB HEIC file with no visible difference.
Apple uses HEIC for three practical reasons. First, it saves storage on devices where 64 GB can fill quickly with 12-megapixel photos. Second, it supports advanced features like 16-bit color depth (versus JPEG's 8-bit), HDR image data, depth maps from Portrait Mode, and multiple images in a single file (used for Live Photos and burst sequences). Third, it is the container used for Apple's ProRAW and ProRes workflows.
The problem is compatibility. Despite being a technically superior format, HEIC has limited support outside the Apple ecosystem. Windows requires a paid or separately installed codec. Android does not support it natively. Most web platforms, social networks, and professional photo editing workflows still expect JPEG as the universal standard. That gap is the entire reason you need to convert.
HEIC vs JPG: an honest comparison
Understanding the difference between these two formats helps you decide when converting is worth it and when you might want to shoot in JPG from the start.
| Feature | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| File size (same quality) | Smaller (40–50%) | Baseline |
| Color depth | Up to 16-bit | 8-bit |
| HDR support | Yes | No |
| Transparency (alpha) | Yes | No |
| Multiple images in one file | Yes (Live Photos, bursts) | No |
| Windows compatibility | Requires codec | Universal |
| macOS compatibility | Native (macOS 10.13+) | Universal |
| Android compatibility | Not native | Universal |
| Web browser support | Safari only | Universal |
| Social media upload | Often rejected | Universal |
| Editing software support | Limited | Universal |
The verdict is clear: HEIC wins on technical quality and storage efficiency. JPG wins on compatibility. For any use case involving sharing, uploading, or working in cross-platform environments, JPG remains the practical standard.
Method 1: Change your iPhone camera settings (prevent HEIC at source)
If you regularly transfer photos to Windows PCs or non-Apple devices, the simplest long-term solution is to stop your iPhone from saving in HEIC. This does not help existing HEIC photos already on your device, but it means all future shots are saved as JPG.
Open Settings
On your iPhone, tap the Settings app (the grey icon with gears).
Navigate to Camera
Scroll down and tap Camera. This is typically about halfway down the main Settings list.
Tap Formats
At the top of the Camera settings menu you will see Formats. Tap it.
Select Most Compatible
Under Camera Capture, tap Most Compatible. Your iPhone will now save new photos as JPG and videos as H.264, maximising compatibility with non-Apple devices.
The trade-off is storage. HEIC's efficiency means that switching to Most Compatible will roughly double the space used per photo. On a 64 GB iPhone that fills up quickly, this may not be practical. The better approach for most people is to keep shooting in HEIC (best quality for the storage cost) and convert to JPG at the point of sharing or transferring.
Bonus: automatic conversion on transfer
iOS has a built-in option to automatically convert HEIC to JPG when transferring to a Mac or PC. Go to Settings > Photos and under Transfer to Mac or PC, select Automatic. This converts files during AirDrop or USB transfer without changing how photos are stored on your iPhone.
Method 2: Convert using Mac Preview (no extra software)
If you are on a Mac, Preview- the built-in image viewer- can convert HEIC to JPG directly. macOS has supported HEIC natively since macOS High Sierra (10.13).
Convert a single file
Double-click the .heic file to open it in Preview.
Go to File > Export in the menu bar.
In the Format dropdown, select JPEG.
Adjust the Quality slider if needed (80–85 is a good default for web use).
Click Save. The JPG is saved alongside the original HEIC file.
Batch convert multiple HEIC files in Preview
Select all the HEIC files you want to convert in Finder (Cmd+A to select all, or Cmd+click for a selection).
Right-click the selection and choose Open With > Preview. All files open in a single Preview window.
In Preview, press Cmd+A to select all thumbnails in the sidebar.
Go to File > Export Selected Images...
Choose a destination folder, set Format to JPEG, adjust quality, and click Choose. All files are converted and saved.
Preview batch conversion works well for occasional use, but it has limitations: you need to have the HEIC files on your Mac first, it does not give you a progress indicator for large batches, and there is no ZIP download- you get individual JPG files in the folder you specified.
Method 3: Convert HEIC to JPG free in your browser (no software, no upload)
For Windows users, non-Mac users, or anyone who wants to convert HEIC to JPG free without installing anything, a browser-based converter is the most practical option. The key word is browser-based- not every online tool is equal.
Most online HEIC converters upload your files to a remote server for processing. That means your photos- which may contain personal content, location data, and identifiable information- leave your device and are stored on a third-party server, even if temporarily. For a family album or travel photos, this is a privacy concern worth taking seriously.
According to the Web File System Access API documentation and modern browser capabilities, client-side image processing is now fully practical in the browser without any server involvement. File decoding, pixel transformation, and re-encoding to JPEG can all happen locally using JavaScript APIs- your files never leave your device.
This is exactly how SammaPix HEIC Converter works. Processing is done entirely on your device inside the browser tab. No account required. No file size limit imposed by server bandwidth. No waiting for upload progress bars.
Step-by-step: convert HEIC to JPG with SammaPix
This method works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and any device with a modern browser. No installation, no account, no file upload.
Open the HEIC Converter
Go to sammapix.com/tools/heic in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). The converter loads instantly- there is no installation or plugin required.
Add your HEIC files
Drag and drop your .heic files onto the drop zone, or click to browse and select files from your device. You can add a single file or an entire batch at once- there is no per-session file limit.
Choose output quality (optional)
Use the quality slider to set your JPG output quality. The default setting of 85 is a well-tested balance between file size and visual quality that suits most sharing and web use cases. Increase to 90–95 for print-ready output.
Convert
Click Convert. All processing happens locally in your browser tab. For a batch of 20–30 photos, conversion typically completes in a few seconds depending on your device speed.
Download your JPG files
Download converted files individually, or use the Download All as ZIP button to get everything in one archive. Files are named identically to your originals- just with the .jpg extension.
Free- no upload, no account
Convert HEIC to JPG now - SammaPix HEIC Converter
Why use SammaPix to convert HEIC to JPG free?
There are dozens of online HEIC converters. Here is what makes the SammaPix approach meaningfully different.
No upload- total privacy
Your files never leave your device. Conversion happens locally in your browser tab using JavaScript APIs. SammaPix cannot see, store, or access your photos.
Batch conversion
Convert your entire iPhone photo library in one session. Drop hundreds of files at once, convert, and download as a single ZIP archive.
No file size limits
Server-based tools cap file sizes to control bandwidth costs. Since SammaPix processes files locally, there is no per-file size restriction imposed by a server.
No account required
The HEIC converter is completely free with no registration, no email, and no account. Open the tool and start converting immediately.
Quality control
Adjust output quality per batch. Get the exact balance of file size and visual quality you need- whether that is a compact 70 for social media or a crisp 90 for printing.
Works everywhere
Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iPad. Any modern browser works. No platform-specific software or codec installation required.
What to do with your JPG files after converting
Once you have converted your HEIC photos to JPG, a few additional optimisation steps can make a significant difference depending on your use case.
Compress before uploading to a website or social media
A direct HEIC-to-JPG conversion preserves full resolution. A photo from an iPhone 15 Pro is 48 megapixels- the JPG output will be several megabytes even at quality 85. Before uploading to a blog, e-commerce site, or portfolio, run the files through SammaPix Compress to reduce file size by up to 70% without visible quality loss. Smaller images load faster, rank better, and cost less to host.
Convert to WebP for web delivery
If you are publishing photos to a website, consider converting from JPG to WebP instead of- or after - HEIC conversion. WebP delivers 25–35% smaller files than JPEG at equivalent quality, and browser support is now above 97% globally. You can use SammaPix WebP Converter to convert your JPGs to WebP in a second step, or read the Complete Guide to WebP to understand when it is the right choice.
Remove location and privacy metadata
iPhone photos embed GPS coordinates, device model, and capture timestamp in their EXIF metadata. When you convert HEIC to JPG, this metadata typically transfers to the output file. Before sharing photos publicly- on a website, social media, or with people you do not know- consider stripping the EXIF data. This is a meaningful privacy step that prevents recipients from knowing exactly where a photo was taken.
Frequently asked questions
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format for iPhones running iOS 11 and later. It uses HEVC compression to store photos at roughly half the file size of JPEG while maintaining comparable visual quality. The format also supports advanced features like 16-bit color depth, HDR data, and multiple images in a single file.
Why can't I open HEIC files on my PC?
Windows does not natively support HEIC without an optional codec installed from the Microsoft Store. Most non-Apple software- including older versions of Photoshop, web browsers, and most social platforms- requires JPG. Converting HEIC to JPG solves the compatibility issue immediately without changing how photos look.
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
Converting HEIC to JPG at a high quality setting (80–90%) produces output that is visually indistinguishable from the original on any standard display. You will lose the advanced HEIC features (16-bit color, HDR data) but the visual difference is negligible for sharing, social media, and web use.
How do I stop my iPhone from taking HEIC photos?
Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and select 'Most Compatible'. Your iPhone will then save photos as JPG instead of HEIC. Note that this uses roughly twice the storage space per photo since JPEG files are larger than equivalent HEIC files.
Is there a free way to convert HEIC to JPG without software?
Yes. SammaPix HEIC Converter runs entirely in your browser- no downloads, no account, no upload to any server. Drop your HEIC files and download JPGs instantly. It supports batch conversion and processes files locally on your device.
Can I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows without downloading anything?
Yes. A browser-based converter like SammaPix works on Windows without any installation. Open the tool in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, drop your HEIC files, and download the JPGs. No codec, no software, no Microsoft Store download required.
