The built-in route
macOS already reads HEIC. Apple’s support article on HEIF and HEVC media states that if you open an HEIF image in Photos or Preview on your Mac, you choose File, then Export, and pick a format such as JPEG or PNG before saving. Preview’s own user guide has a section called “Convert image file types” (Preview User Guide). We could read the guide’s contents list but not the full steps, so follow Apple’s page for exact menu wording on your macOS version.
A rough workflow in Preview:
- Open the HEIC.
- Choose File, Export.
- Pick JPEG or PNG, set quality if offered, and save.
For many photos, the Photos app has its own export command. The detailed options there are Apple’s to define, and they vary by version, so check Photos’ Help menu.
When the built-in route is awkward
- You need to convert a large folder and do not want to import it into Photos.
- You are on a shared or managed Mac where you cannot install anything.
- You want to control the colour handling, metadata, or output format (WebP, AVIF, TIFF, PDF) beyond what Export offers.
- You want a reproducible setting for a whole batch.
In those cases a browser tool is easier, since it needs no install and nothing is uploaded.
Using FromHEIC on a Mac
Open the HEIC to JPG converter in your browser, drop the files in, and download. The work runs in a Web Worker on your Mac. Specifically:
- Quality runs 1 to 100, default 90.
- Colour is converted to sRGB by default. iPhone photos are usually in Display P3, a wider-gamut space (ICC registry entry), and converting pixels with the embedded profile makes them look right in any app. You can instead keep the original profile embedded. See HDR and Display P3.
- Orientation is applied to the pixels, and the output is marked as normal orientation, so photos do not show sideways in apps that ignore the flag. See orientation and colour.
- Metadata: GPS is off by default. A checkbox keeps date, camera and settings. GPS needs its own separate checkbox.
For lossless output use the HEIC to PNG converter. PNG files are often several times larger than the HEIC.
Many files at once
The batch converter accepts a selection or a whole folder, up to 200 files, and writes JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, TIFF or PDF with shared settings. It reports failures per file, offers a ZIP, and you can cancel at any time; files finished before cancelling remain downloadable. More on that in batch conversion.
Check what you are sharing
A converted photo can still carry location data if you chose to keep it. EXIF’s GPS tags include latitude, longitude and more, and many apps display them. If you convert for public posting, keep GPS unticked, or use Remove HEIC GPS on the original. The metadata and GPS guide explains what to check.
Stop getting HEIC from your iPhone
If your workflow keeps ending in conversion, Apple says you can set the camera to Settings, Camera, Formats, Most Compatible, which makes new photos JPEG. The same page says that importing to a computer over USB might convert HEIF to JPEG, and that “Keep Originals” in Photos settings on the iPhone prevents this. Choose based on whether you want the smaller files or the broader compatibility. See HEIC on iPhone and Android.
Troubleshooting
- Export menu lacks the format you want: use the browser tool for WebP, AVIF, TIFF or PDF output.
- Photo looks darker or duller after conversion elsewhere: the colour profile was probably dropped. Convert with sRGB selected, or keep the profile.
- File will not open at all: run the file checker or the health check.