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How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac: Best Methods in 2026

•HEICFLY Team

Step-by-step guide to convert HEIC photos to JPG on Mac — using Preview, HEICFLY, Automator batch conversion, and the Photos app. Free, fast, and privacy-friendly methods for macOS Sequoia.

title: "How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac: Best Methods in 2026"

description: "Step-by-step guide to convert HEIC photos to JPG on Mac — using Preview, HEICFLY, Automator batch conversion, and the Photos app. Free, fast, and privacy-friendly methods for macOS Sequoia."

slug: "heic-to-jpg-mac-converter"

date: 2026-07-10

author: "HEICFLY Team"

lang: "en"

tags: ["HEIC", "JPG", "Mac", "macOS", "image conversion", "iPhone photos", "Preview"]

keywords: ["heic to jpg mac", "convert heic to jpg on mac", "heic to jpg converter mac", "how to open heic files on mac", "batch convert heic to jpg mac", "macos heic to jpg", "preview heic to jpg", "heic to jpg free mac", "convert iphone photos mac"]

Your iPhone captures photos in HEIC format by default — it's efficient, but not always compatible. When you need to upload photos to a website, send them via email, or share them with someone on Windows, converting to JPG is the smart move. On a Mac you have several excellent options, from built-in tools to fast browser-based converters.

This guide covers every reliable method to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac in 2026 — including Preview, Photos, Automator, and our own HEICFLY for private, instant conversion.

Why Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac?

macOS has supported HEIC natively since High Sierra (2017), so your Mac can open and view HEIC files just fine. The need for conversion arises when you're sending files outside the Apple ecosystem:

| Reason | Why It Matters |

|---|---|

| Email compatibility | Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo! handle JPG without issues; HEIC attachments often get blocked or stripped |

| Web uploads | Many websites, job portals, and forms reject HEIC files |

| Social media | Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter handle JPG smoothly |

| Windows / Android sharing | Non-Apple devices can't open HEIC without extra codecs |

| Print services | Photo labs and print shops prefer JPG for consistent colour rendering |

💡 Did you know? A single HEIC photo from an iPhone 16 Pro takes about 2–3 MB. The same photo as JPG (High Quality) is roughly 4–5 MB — still very manageable and universally compatible.

Method 1: HEICFLY — Fastest & Most Private (Browser-Based)

HEICFLY is the simplest way to convert HEIC to JPG on your Mac. It runs entirely in your browser — no uploads, no servers, no privacy risk.
  • Open heicfly.waaplink.com in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox
  • Drag and drop your HEIC files (or click to select)
  • Make sure JPG is selected as the output format
  • Click Convert — processing happens locally on your Mac
  • Download the converted JPG files
Best for: Quick conversions, single or small batches, privacy-conscious users.
🔒 HEICFLY processes images with JavaScript in your browser. Your files never leave your Mac. Zero server uploads, zero data leakage.

Method 2: Preview (Built-in, No Extra Software)

Every Mac comes with Preview, and it can export HEIC files to JPG in seconds.

  • Open your HEIC file in Preview (double-click or right-click > Open With > Preview)
  • Go to File > Export… (or press ⇧⌘S)
  • In the format dropdown, choose JPEG
  • Adjust the Quality slider (75–85 % is a good balance of size and quality)
  • Click Save

To convert multiple files at once: select all HEIC files in Finder, open them together in Preview (they'll appear in the sidebar), select all thumbnails, then use File > Export Selected Images….

Best for: Built-in, no installation, works offline. Slower for large batches.

Method 3: Photos App (Export Your Library)

If your HEIC photos live in the Apple Photos app, you can export them as JPG directly.

  • Open Photos
  • Select the photos you want to convert
  • Go to File > Export > Export Unmodified Original(s)…

Wait — that exports the original HEIC. Instead, choose:

  • File > Export > Export [X] Photos…
  • In the dialog:

- Photo Kind: select JPEG

- Quality: High (or Maximum for best quality)

- Size: Full Size (or a smaller size for web use)

  • Click Export
⚠️ The Photos app re-encodes the image, so the resulting JPG may differ slightly from the original. For pixel-perfect conversion, use HEICFLY or Preview instead.
Best for: Exporting your entire photo library or large albums.

Method 4: Automator — Batch Conversion Workflow

Convert dozens or hundreds of HEIC files in one go with an Automator Quick Action.

  • Open Automator (from Applications)
  • Create a new Quick Action
  • Set Workflow receives current: image files in Finder
  • Add the Copy Finder Items action (choose a destination folder)
  • Add the Change Type of Images action
  • Set To type: JPEG
  • Save as "Convert to JPG"

Now you can right-click any HEIC file (or selection) in Finder, choose Quick Actions > Convert to JPG, and get your JPGs in seconds.

Best for: Power users who convert HEIC files regularly and want a one-click solution.

Method 5: Command Line with sips (Advanced)

For developers and terminal users, macOS ships with sips (Scriptable Image Processing System) — a powerful built-in tool.

# Convert a single file

sips -s format jpeg input.heic --output output.jpg



Convert all HEIC files in a folder


for f in .heic; do


  sips -s format jpeg "$f" --out "${f%.}.jpg"


done

Add -s formatOptions 85 to control JPEG quality (1–100).

Best for: Automation scripts, server workflows, and users comfortable with the terminal.

Which Method Should You Choose?

| Method | Speed | Batch | Offline | Privacy | Ease of Use |

|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| HEICFLY | ⚡ Fast | ✅ Yes | ❌ Needs browser | ✅ Local only | ⭐ Very easy |

| Preview | 🐢 Moderate | ✅ Limited | ✅ Yes | ✅ Full local | ⭐ Easy |

| Photos app | 🐢 Moderate | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Full local | ⭐ Easy |

| Automator | ⚡ Fast | ✅ Bulk | ✅ Yes | ✅ Full local | ⭐⭐ Setup required |

| Terminal sips | ⚡ Fastest | ✅ Bulk | ✅ Yes | ✅ Full local | ⭐⭐⭐ Technical |

Pro Tips for Mac HEIC Conversion

  • Preserve metadata: All methods above keep EXIF data (date, location, camera settings). If you need to strip it for privacy, use Preview's Export or a dedicated tool.
  • Quality vs size: For web uploads, JPEG quality 80 % is indistinguishable from 100 % at half the file size. For printing, use 95–100 %.
  • Drag and drop with HEICFLY: The fastest workflow — keep heicfly.waaplink.com/en bookmarked and drag photos straight from Finder.
  • Set iPhone to shoot in JPG: If you rarely need HEIC, change your iPhone camera settings to Most Compatible (Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible). This saves JPG directly, eliminating the need for conversion.

Final Thoughts

You don't need expensive software or complicated workflows to convert HEIC to JPG on your Mac. Whether you prefer the simplicity of HEICFLY, the built-in convenience of Preview, or the power of Automator and terminal, macOS gives you everything you need.

For most users, HEICFLY offers the best balance — instant conversion, zero privacy risk, works on any Mac browser, and handles single files and batches with equal ease. Give it a try the next time you need to share iPhone photos beyond the Apple wall.