By: Johanna Parker
Posted in: Smartphone Tips & Tutorials
What is HEIC Format and How it Got an Edge Over JPG?
- In this video tutorial, I show you how to easily convert HEIC image files to JPG. I give you three different ways to convert HEIC files to JPEG, so if you ha.
- May 24, 2020 How to Save iPhone Photos in JPEG Format Instead of HEIC. To switch from HEIC to JPEG, you must configure the camera capture format using the iPhone Settings app. Follow the steps below to make changes. Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
Click Start to convert HEIC files to JPG on your Mac. Select Show In Finder to access your JPG images. Even better, your iPhone camera could automatically save images as JPG instead of HEIC: 1. Open Settings, then Camera. Choose Most Compatible. If you want to revert to capturing HEIC pictures, select High Efficiency.
If you own an iOS 11 or later device, then you are familiar with the HEIF file format. Adopted by Apple in the summer of 2017 this photo format has changed the way that your photos are stored on your iPhone and iPad. HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image format, and you will find it with the HEIC extension, which stands for High Efficiency Image Container.
Even though this technology became known when Apple adopted it, this type of file has been around for longer. In more detail, it was first introduced by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), and it uses the HEVC technology, or High Efficiency Video Coding. At the moment, this file format has become the new standard for all Apple devices, threatening the popularity of the JPEG, PNG, and GIF formats.
What makes the HEIC files so attractive for online and mobile use is that it has a much smaller file size compared to that of the other and more widely-used file formats, such as JPEGs. In addition to this, HEIC will store the image, its properties, and thumbnails. Another impressive feature of this file format is that it can also store image sequences, similarly to GIF files.
Why Would I Want to Convert HEIC Files to JPG?
Now you must be wondering when this HEIC format is so cool, then why someone would want to convert it to JPEG. Well, the answer is that it is not compatible with many devices. HEIC files are not yet supported by most image editors. To make matters worse, Windows is an operating system that cannot support them at all. For this reason, if you want to access and edit your iPhone images on your PC, you will first need to convert them to JPEGs.
In this article, you will learn how to convert the HEIC files to JPG right from your computer. Don’t worry! In this article, we will show some of the easiest ways to export WhatsApp chat into PDF both on iPhone and Android. Let’s get started!
Method 1: Convert HEIC files to JPG on a Windows
As we have mentioned above, Windows is an operating system that has yet to adopt the HEIC file format. Therefore, all of your images from your iPhone and iPad need to be converted into other file formats, before you can open and edit them on your Windows PC. Below, you will find a step-by-step guide on how to convert HEIC files to JPEG on a Windows PC so that you can use them in any way you desire.
Step 1: Download and install a HEIC converter on your Windows PC
There are multiple tools that you can download and install on your Windows PC to convert HEIC files to JPEGs, like the HEIC converter by Tansee. This one is good because it can convert all the HEIC/HEIF files to JPG without any quality loss.
Step 2: Open HEIC files with HEIC converter
Once you have launched the app on your PC, you can insert all of your HEIC files. This can easily be done by dragging and dropping the HEIC images on the tool or by clicking the 'Open .heic' option.
Step 3: Click on 'Save to JPG' button to convert your HEIC files JPEG
Lastly, you need to click the “Save to JPG” button and choose a target location on your computer, where the converted files will be saved to. Once you pick a location, you will need to wait for a couple of minutes until the conversion is completed.
Method 2: Convert HEIC Files to JPEG If You are Using a Mac
Even though the HEIC file format is used by iOS 11 or later, not all the applications on Mac support them. Also, you cannot view and edit them on an older Mac running version 10.11: 'El Capitan' or earlier. However, you can easily convert them into JPEG files and use them in any other applications you wish. These are the two options for converting your HEIC files to JPEG on your Mac computer:
Option 1: Convert HEIC files to JPG using the Preview
Using the Preview app is probably the easiest way to convert HEIC/HEIF files to JPG on a Mac. You just need to follow these 3 steps:
Step 1: First, you need to transfer the image you want to edit to your Mac, and then open it with the Preview app by right-clicking on it.
Step 2: Now you need to click File > Export from the menu on the top left corner of your screen.
Step 3: Once you click on “Export”, you will see a new popup window. Select the desired file format, which is JPEG, and then the file location, where the converted file will be saved.
Option 2: How to Convert HEIC Files to JPEG on Mac with Automator
Using the Preview app is probably the easiest way to convert HEIC/HEIF files to JPG on a Mac. You just need to follow these 3 steps:
Step 1: Launch Automator app on your Mac.
Step 2: Choose “Quick Action” as a type for your document.
Step 3: On the left, use the search bar to find “Copy Finder Items” and drag it to the right side (Workflow).
Step 4: Then, search for “Change Type of Images” and drag it to the right side. Use the dropdown menu to select the target file format, i.e. JPEG.
Step 5: Go to File > Save and save the new quick action by naming it “HEIC to JPEG”.
Step 6: Right-click on any HEIC file on your Mac computer and go to Quick Action > HEIC to JPEG. Your HEIC file will be instantly converted to JPG
Method 3: Convert HEIC to JPG with Online Converters
If you are comfortable with uploading your images to a random third-party website, then you can use some free online HEIC to JPG service to convert HEIC files to JPG. We wouldn't recommend this method if your image files are sensitive in nature. This is how it works:
Step 1:
Visit HEICtoJPG or any other HEIC to JPG conversation website from your computer.
Step 2:
Upload your HEIC files to this website by clicking the '+' icon. You need to wait for few minutes and this website convert your HEIC files to JPG.
Step 3:
Click 'Download JPEG' button to download the converted JPG files on your computer.
With all of the above methods, you can convert HEIC to JPG files on your PC in no time, no matter the operating system you are using.
Bonus Tip: How to Stop iPhone or Android from Taking Photos in HEIC
We've already covered how you can easily convert HEIC files to JPG. Now, we will show you how you can prevent your smartphone from taking photos in HEIC format so that you don't have to keep converting them to JPG.
Option 1: If you have an iPhone
This is how you can stop your iPhone from taking photos in HEIC format:
Step 1:
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on Camera.
Step 2:
Tap on Formats.
Step 3:
Finally, select Most Compatible.
Now, your iPhone will start taking all the pictures in JPEG format.
Option 2: If you are using an Android smartphone
Microsoft Program To Convert Heic Photos
If you are using an Android device, then you need to follow these steps to prevent your Android smartphone from taking pictures in HEIC/HEIF format.
Step 1:
Open the Camera app on your Android smartphone.
Step 2:
Next, tap on the Settings (gear) symbol.
Step 3:
Finally, in the 'Format' option menu deactivate HEIF/HEIC pictures option.
Now, your Android smartphone will no longer take photos in HEIC format. All the images will be saved in JPEG format.
Apple iPhone aside, the HEIC format works best on Mac. You can open and view HEIC images within or outside the Photos app with no issues whatsoever. macOS even auto-converts photos to the JPG format when sharing them with native apps such as Mail and Notes.
But there are still instances where you may want your hands on JPG versions of your HEIC images. That often happens when certain third-party applications or web portals refuse to accept the HEIC format.
If that's the case, then here are three remarkable ways that you can make use of to convert your HEIC images to the JPG format easily.
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Read MoreSave Heic As Jpg Mac
1. Photos App — Drag and Drop or Export
The Photos app features two ways to convert your HEIC images to the JPG format. The first method is super-easy — drag and drop the photos to the desktop or some other folder within Finder, and they will be converted to the JPG format automatically.
Tip: To select multiple photos within the Photos app, simply click on the relevant thumbnails while holding down the Command (Cmd) key.The other method is a tad complicated and involves exporting images. You may prefer this over dragging and dropping since it allows for granular control over the file conversion process.
Once you’ve selected the HEIC image or images, open the File menu. Next, point to Export, and then click Export Photos.
On the dialog box that shows up, specify the output file format (JPEG in this case). After that, select the preferred image quality, perform any other configurations as desired, and then click Export.
You will then be prompted to select an output location. Once you do that, the Photos app will convert and export the images.
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#File Conversion
Click here to see our File Conversion articles page2. Preview App — Convert and Export
For HEIC images that reside outside the Photos app, you can use the Export function in the Preview app instead to convert them to JPG.
To export a single image to the JPG format, open the image in Preview, and then open the File menu. Follow up by selecting the Export option.
You will be prompted with a tiny pop-up box. Set the output format to JPEG, adjust the quality level, select the output folder, and then click Save to convert the image.
To convert multiple photos using the Preview app, start by selecting the files while holding down the Command (Cmd) key. Next, right-click any selected photo, and then click Open to open the photos in a single Preview window.
Note: If the selected photos open in separate windows, you must configure the Preview app to open them in a single window. To do that, open the Preview menu, click Preferences, click Images, and then click Open Groups of Files in the Same Window. Next, close all the Preview windows, and then re-open the images.Press Command+A shortcut to select all the photos in the Preview window. Follow up by opening the File menu. Click Export Selected Images to continue.
On the Finder window that shows up, specify an output location, and then click the Options button on the lower-left corner to reveal the export options.
Select JPEG using the pull-down menu next to Format, adjust the level of quality using the slider provided, and then click Choose to convert the files.
3. iMazing — Third-Party Converter
Aside from the Preview app, another easy way to convert images located outside the Photos app involves using a third-party file conversion utility called Imazing HEIC Converter. It’s an incredibly tiny and user-friendly applet and is free to use with no bloat or advertisements whatsoever.
Download iMazing HEIC ConverterAfter downloading and installing the applet, simply drag the HEIC files that you want to convert into the iMazing HEIC Converter window. You can then specify the output format (JPEG), adjust the file size, and choose to keep or remove the EXIF data after conversion.
After that, click Convert. You must then specify an output location to save the converted images.
Keep iMazing HEIC Converter if you plan to convert HEIC files on a regular basis. That will eliminate the need to export images using the Preview app often.
Good Ol’ JPG
The HEIC format brings numerous benefits to the table. It requires just half the storage space compared to traditional formats (such as JPG), yet it can surprisingly hold even more visual data. It should definitely be the standard photo format of the future.
But outside of the Apple ecosystem, HEIC is yet to catch up. So until it becomes the norm everywhere, knowing how to convert a HEIC image to the widely compatible JPG format, even on a HEIC-friendly platform such as macOS, can be vital. Or you can ditch the HEIC format and choose to shoot photos directly in the JPG format itself.
Next up: You can also download any HEIC image shot on the iPhone in the JPG format to your Mac via iCloud.com. Find out how to do that easily.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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