How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac

Mac users are in a fortunate position: macOS supports HEIC natively, so you have more built-in options than Windows users. Preview, Automator, the sips command, and even a Quick Action can all convert HEIC to JPG without any additional software.

This guide covers all five methods, from the click-and-go Preview approach to the automated Automator workflow that converts files with a right-click.

Method 1: Preview (Single File)

For converting one HEIC file at a time, Preview is the fastest option — zero setup, built into every Mac.

1. Open the HEIC file in Preview Double-click the HEIC file in Finder. It opens in Preview automatically on macOS 10.13+.
2. Go to File → Export In the menu bar, click File and select Export (not "Export as PDF").
3. Choose JPEG format In the Format dropdown, select JPEG. A quality slider appears below it.
4. Adjust quality (optional) Drag the quality slider to your preference. For sharing, 80–90% is excellent. For archival, use 95%+.
5. Choose location and Save Name your file, choose a save location, and click Save. Done.

Method 2: Preview (Batch Conversion)

Preview can convert dozens or hundreds of HEIC files simultaneously using its batch export feature.

1. Select all HEIC files in Finder Navigate to your HEIC files. Press Cmd+A to select all, or Cmd+click to select specific files.
2. Open them all in Preview Right-click the selection and choose Open With → Preview. All files open as a batch in Preview's sidebar.
3. Select all in the sidebar Press Cmd+A in Preview to select all thumbnails in the left sidebar.
4. File → Export Selected Images Go to File → Export Selected Images. (Note: this only appears when multiple files are open and selected — it's different from the standard Export option.)
5. Choose format and destination Select "JPEG" from the format dropdown, choose a destination folder (create a new "JPG" folder to keep originals separate), and click Choose. Preview converts all files.

Method 3: sips Command Line (Batch — Most Powerful)

macOS includes a built-in command-line image processor called sips (Scriptable Image Processing System). It's the fastest Mac method for large batches and can be automated in scripts.

Single file conversion:

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

Batch convert entire folder:

cd ~/Desktop/heic-photos
mkdir -p converted
for f in *.heic *.HEIC; do
 [ -f "$f" ] && sips -s format jpeg "$f" --out "converted/${f%.*}.jpg"
done

With quality control:

sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 92 input.heic --out output.jpg

Quality values: 0 (worst) to 100 (best). Default is system-determined if omitted.

Method 4: Automator Quick Action (Right-Click Converter)

Set up a one-time Automator workflow and you'll never need to open Preview manually again — just right-click any HEIC file and convert it instantly.

1. Open Automator Press Cmd+Space, type "Automator", and open it.
2. Create a Quick Action Click New Document, then select Quick Action (previously called Service).
3. Configure the workflow At the top, set "Workflow receives current: image files in Finder". In the search box on the left, search for "Change Type of Images". Double-click it to add it to the workflow.
4. Select JPEG as the output type In the Change Type of Images action, set "To Type: JPEG". Check "Preserve embedded color profiles" for best results.
5. Save the workflow Press Cmd+S and name it "Convert to JPG". It saves as a macOS Service.
6. Use it anywhere In Finder, right-click any HEIC file (or group of selected files), look in the "Quick Actions" submenu, and click "Convert to JPG". Files are converted in-place.

Method 5: Chrome Extension (Cross-Platform)

If you use Chrome on your Mac (or need a method that works on both Mac and Windows), the HEIC to JPG Converter Chrome extension is a good option that provides explicit quality control and works identically on all platforms.

1. Install the extension Add HEIC to JPG Converter from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Open your HEIC file in Chrome Drag the HEIC file into a Chrome tab or press Cmd+O.
3. Convert and download Click the extension icon, set quality/format, and click Convert. The JPG downloads to your Downloads folder.

Comparison of Mac Methods