Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC by default. HEIC files are small and look great, but many websites, Windows PCs and online forms can’t open them. Here are four reliable ways to get JPG files instead, starting with the quickest.
1. Convert photos in Safari (no app needed)
This is the fastest way to convert photos you have already taken, including many at once.
- Open the HEIC to JPG converter in Safari on your iPhone.
- Tap Choose files, then Photo Library or Choose File, and select your photos.
- Wait a second or two per photo. Everything happens on your iPhone, and nothing is uploaded.
- Tap Download next to a photo, or Download all (ZIP) to save them together. They are saved in the Files app, in Downloads.
Tip: to move a JPG from Files to your Photos library, open it in Files, tap the Share button and choose Save Image.
2. Take new photos as JPG
If you always need JPGs, you can tell the camera to stop using HEIC:
- Open Settings → Camera → Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible.
New photos are then saved as JPG (and videos as H.264). The trade-off is file size: JPG photos take up roughly twice as much storage. Photos you took earlier stay in HEIC.
3. Get JPGs automatically when you copy photos to a computer
- Open Settings → Photos.
- Scroll down to Transfer to Mac or PC and select Automatic.
When you connect your iPhone with a cable and import photos, iOS converts them to JPG on the fly. The originals on your phone stay HEIC, so you keep the space savings.
4. Use a Shortcut
The built-in Shortcuts app has a Convert Image action. Create a shortcut with Select Photos → Convert Image (format: JPEG) → Save to Photo Album. It works, but it takes a few minutes to set up and handles large batches slowly. For one-off conversions, the Safari method above is quicker.
Which method should you use?
| You want to… | Best method |
|---|---|
| Convert photos you already have | Safari converter |
| Never deal with HEIC again | Camera → Most Compatible |
| Copy photos to a Windows PC | Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic |
| Automate a regular task | Shortcuts |
Does converting reduce quality?
At the default quality setting (92), the JPG looks identical to the original to the human eye. The JPG file will usually be larger than the HEIC, which is normal: HEIC simply compresses better. Note that the converted JPG does not keep the original location and camera metadata, which is often what you want before sharing a photo online.