Since iOS 11, iPhones default to saving photos in HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) format. It offers roughly half the file size of an equivalent JPEG with no visible quality loss — great for storage, frustrating for everything else. Windows can't open HEIC natively without a paid codec, and many websites, email clients, and older apps still reject the format entirely.
Here are three reliable, free methods to convert your HEIC photos to JPG, from one-off conversions to batch processing hundreds of files.
Method 1 — Change Your iPhone to Shoot JPG Directly
If you're transferring photos to a Windows PC regularly, the simplest fix is to stop your iPhone from saving HEIC in the first place.
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Open Settings and tap Camera
Scroll down past the main settings groups to find the Camera entry.
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Tap Formats
This is at the very top of the Camera settings screen.
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Select Most Compatible
This switches new photos to JPEG and new videos to H.264. Your existing HEIC photos stay as-is; this only affects new shots.
Method 2 — Convert Existing HEIC Files Online (One at a Time)
For files you've already taken, a browser-based converter handles the job without installing anything. Several free tools exist; heictojpg.com and FreeConvert.com are well-established options that run the conversion server-side and don't require an account.
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Go to the converter site
Navigate to heictojpg.com or freeonlineconverter.net/heic-to-jpg in your browser.
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Upload your HEIC file(s)
Most tools accept drag-and-drop or a file picker. Some allow up to 50 files per batch on the free tier.
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Download the converted JPGs
Processing usually takes a few seconds. Files arrive as individual downloads or a ZIP archive.
Privacy consideration: You're uploading photos to a third-party server. For family snapshots or screenshots this is usually fine. For anything sensitive — ID documents, financial records — use a local method instead.
Method 3 — Bulk Convert on Windows Using iCloud (Free)
If you have the free iCloud for Windows app installed, it automatically converts HEIC to JPEG when you access photos through the iCloud Photos folder in File Explorer. No manual steps needed — navigate to the photo, and Windows sees a JPEG.
For users without iCloud, Microsoft's free HEIF Image Extensions add-on (available in the Microsoft Store, free) lets Windows Photos open and export HEIC files as JPG natively.
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Open the Microsoft Store
Press
Win + S, type "Microsoft Store", and open it. -
Search for "HEIF Image Extensions"
The publisher is Microsoft Corporation. Install the free version.
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Open your HEIC photo in the Photos app
Right-click the file, choose "Open with > Photos".
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Export as JPEG
In the Photos app, click the three-dot menu, select "Save as", and choose JPEG from the file type dropdown.
What About Mac?
On macOS, HEIC support is built in — Preview opens and exports HEIC files natively. Open the file in Preview, go to File > Export, set the format to JPEG, and save. For batch conversion, select multiple files in Finder, right-click, choose "Open With > Preview", then export all via File > Export Selected Images.
Which Method Should You Use?
If you want to avoid the problem permanently: change your iPhone to shoot in Most Compatible mode. If you're converting a handful of old photos: use a browser-based tool. If you have hundreds of files and stay on Windows: install the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. All three options are free and take less than five minutes to set up.