Quick answer
For large batches, use Automator on Mac (1,000 files in 2-3 minutes) or PowerShell + ImageMagick on Windows (1,000 files in 1 minute). The Chrome extension is one file at a time.
Manual conversion works for 10 files. Not for 1,000. Here is how to automate the process so a folder of HEIC files converts while you get coffee.
heicconvert.site · HEIC to JPG Converter
Drop HEIC files here
or click to choose . up to 200 at once
HEIC
IMG_4827.HEIC
Done . 0.9s
HEIC
IMG_4828.HEIC
Done . 1.1s
HEIC
IMG_4829.HEIC
82%
3 of 28 converted
0 uploaded
Mac: Automator Quick Action (fastest GUI)
Setup once, then select folder of HEIC files and batch convert:
- Open Automator, select Quick Action.
- Set input to image files in Finder.
- Add "Change Type of Images" action.
- Set output format to JPEG (quality 90%).
- Add "Move Finder Items", set destination to Converted folder.
- Save as "Batch HEIC to JPG".
- Select all HEIC files, right-click, Quick Actions > Batch HEIC to JPG.
1,000 files in 2-3 minutes on a 2020 Mac Mini or newer.
Windows: PowerShell + ImageMagick (fastest overall)
cd C:/Users/You/Pictures/HEIC_Folder
winget install ImageMagick
Get-ChildItem -Filter *.heic | ForEach-Object { magick convert $_.FullName ($_.BaseName + ".jpg") }
Converts 1,000 files in under a minute. Fastest method available.
macOS command line: sips (built-in)
cd /path/to/heic/folder mkdir converted sips -s format jpg *.heic --out converted/
Uses macOS built-in sips tool. Converts all HEIC in current folder to converted/ subfolder. 1,000 files in 3-5 minutes.
Monitor progress
- Automator: Shows progress dialog, counts files remaining.
- PowerShell: No progress indicator by default. Add a progress bar:
$files | ForEach-Object -OutVariable +processed | ForEach-Object { Write-Progress -CurrentOperation $_ } - sips: Runs silently. Check converted/ folder to confirm files are being created.
At-a-glance comparison
| Method | Speed (1,000 files) | Setup complexity | OS | Error handling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automator (Mac) | 2-3 min | Simple | Mac only | Skips errors, continues |
| PowerShell + ImageMagick | 1 min | Moderate | Windows only | Stops on error |
| sips CLI (Mac) | 3-5 min | Simple | Mac only | Stops on error |
| Desktop app (XnConvert) | 3-5 min | Very simple | Mac/Windows | Skips errors, continues |
| Chrome extension | 10-20 min | Simple | Any | Manual (one file at a time) |
Frequently asked questions
Will batch conversion lose any image quality?
JPG quality setting (default 90%) applies to every file. No additional quality loss from batch processing.
What if batch conversion fails on one file?
Automator skips and continues. PowerShell/sips stop on error (use a try-catch wrapper to fix).
How much disk space for converting 1,000 HEIC files?
HEIC: 2.5-4 MB each, JPG: 5-6 MB each. 1,000 HEIC (2.5 GB) becomes 1,000 JPG (5 GB). Need 2.5 GB free space minimum.
Can I delete original HEIC files after batch conversion?
Yes, but keep a backup for 1-2 weeks. If conversion somehow failed on a few files, you can retry.
Which method is fastest overall?
PowerShell + ImageMagick on Windows (1 min for 1,000 files). Automator on Mac is close (2-3 min).
