How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone (4 Methods)

Your iPhone shoots photos in HEIC format by default. Most of the time this doesn't matter — iOS handles HEIC natively, and Apple's apps work with it seamlessly. The problem appears when you need to send a photo to someone on Android, upload it to a website that only accepts JPG, or attach it to an email where the recipient can't open it.

You don't need an app. You can convert HEIC to JPG directly on your iPhone using built-in settings, the Shortcuts app, or a browser-based converter — all free, all without installing anything from the App Store.

For background on why your iPhone uses HEIC, see What Is HEIC? Apple's Image Format Explained.

Method 1 — Change Camera Settings (Shoot JPG Directly)

The simplest fix: stop shooting HEIC in the first place. Your iPhone can capture photos as JPG instead.

Steps

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Camera.
3. Tap Formats.
4. Select Most Compatible.

Your iPhone now shoots JPG photos and H.264 video instead of HEIC and HEVC. Every photo you take from this point forward is a standard JPG file.

The Tradeoff

HEIC compresses photos to roughly half the file size of JPG at comparable visual quality. Switching to Most Compatible means your photos take about twice the storage space. If you have a 128GB+ iPhone with plenty of free space, this isn't a concern. If you're running low on storage, consider one of the other methods instead — keep HEIC on the phone and convert only when sharing.

Existing photos stay as HEIC. This setting only affects new photos. To convert older HEIC photos, use Methods 2, 3, or 4.

Method 2 — Share Sheet Auto-Convert (Automatic Transfer Setting)

iOS can automatically convert HEIC to JPG when you transfer photos to another device or share them. This is the best "set it and forget it" option.

Steps

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Photos.
3. Scroll down to Transfer to Mac or PC.
4. Select Automatic.

With Automatic selected, iOS converts HEIC photos to JPG whenever you:

• Transfer via USB to a Mac or PC
• AirDrop to a non-Apple device (some Android devices with AirDrop-like features)
• Share via the Share Sheet to apps that don't support HEIC

Important limitation: This setting does not convert photos when sharing via iMessage, AirDrop to another Apple device, or iCloud Photo Library sync. Apple-to-Apple transfers preserve HEIC.

This is the recommended setting for most users. You keep the storage benefits of HEIC on your phone while recipients get compatible JPG files.

Method 3 — Shortcuts App (One-Tap Automation)

The Shortcuts app (pre-installed on iOS 13+) lets you create a one-tap automation that converts selected photos from HEIC to JPG and saves them to your camera roll or Files app.

Create the Shortcut

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Tap + to create a new shortcut.
3. Tap Add Action and search for Select Photos. Add it. Enable Select Multiple if you want batch conversion.
4. Tap + again and search for Convert Image. Add it. Set the format to JPEG. Optionally set quality (0.85 is a good default).
5. Tap + again and search for Save to Photo Album. Add it. Choose Recents or create a dedicated album.
6. Tap the shortcut name at the top and rename it to Convert to JPG.
7. Tap Done.

Use the Shortcut

1. Open Shortcuts and tap Convert to JPG.
2. Select the photos you want to convert from your photo library.
3. Tap Done. The converted JPG versions appear in your camera roll.

Add to Home Screen: In the Shortcuts app, long-press your shortcut → Share → Add to Home Screen. Now you have a one-tap icon for HEIC-to-JPG conversion.

Add to Share Sheet: Edit the shortcut, tap the info icon (ⓘ), and enable Show in Share Sheet. Now you can select photos in the Photos app, tap Share, and choose your shortcut directly.

Batch Processing

The shortcut handles multiple photos in one run. Select 10, 50, or 100 photos — Shortcuts processes them sequentially. Large batches (100+) may take a minute, and iOS may prompt you to allow the shortcut to continue if it runs for an extended period.

Method 4 — Pixotter in Safari (No App, Browser-Based)

Pixotter's HEIC to JPG converter works in Safari on your iPhone. Your photos are processed locally in the browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.

Steps

1. Open Safari and go to pixotter.com/convert-heic-to-jpg.
2. Tap the upload area and select photos from your library.
3. Set output format to JPG and adjust quality if needed.
4. Tap Convert and download the JPG files.

Best for: One-off conversions when you don't want to set up Shortcuts or change camera settings. Works identically on iPad.

Which Method Should You Use?

Recommendation: Enable the Automatic transfer setting (Method 2) and create the Shortcuts automation (Method 3). The transfer setting handles most sharing scenarios automatically, and the shortcut covers the cases it doesn't.

FAQ

Will converting to JPG delete my original HEIC photos? No. Methods 3 and 4 create new JPG copies — the HEIC originals stay untouched in your photo library. Method 1 changes future captures only. Method 2 converts during transfer without modifying the original.

Can I convert HEIC to JPG without an app? Yes. All four methods above work without installing any third-party app. Camera Settings, Transfer Settings, and Shortcuts are built into iOS. Pixotter runs in Safari.

Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce photo quality? Slightly. HEIC and JPG use different compression algorithms, so there's a small generation loss during conversion. At 85-95% JPG quality, the difference is invisible to the human eye. The JPG file will be larger than the HEIC original.

Can I convert HEIC to PNG on iPhone? Yes. Use the Shortcuts method but set the output format to PNG instead of JPEG. PNG files are lossless but significantly larger. See How to Convert HEIC to PNG for full details.

What about Live Photos? Converting a Live Photo to JPG captures the still frame only — the short video clip attached to the Live Photo is discarded. If you need to preserve the video component, export it separately from the Photos app (Share → Save as Video).

Do I need to convert for AirDrop? When AirDropping to another Apple device (Mac, iPhone, iPad), no conversion is needed — Apple devices handle HEIC natively. When AirDropping to a device that doesn't support HEIC, iOS can auto-convert if the Automatic transfer setting is enabled.

Which iOS versions support the Shortcuts method? Shortcuts is pre-installed on iOS 13 and later. The Convert Image action has been available since iOS 13. If you're on iOS 12 or earlier, use the camera settings method or Pixotter in Safari.