The best HEIC to JPG converter for Mac
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
You may not need to install anything: Finder's Convert Image Quick Action turns selected HEIC photos into JPG for free. Photos and Preview also export JPG. FileDial adds batch conversion with an option that strips location, and iMazing HEIC Converter is a free app with quality and metadata controls. All of these run on your Mac.
How we chose: FileDial is our product, so read this list with that in mind. We chose picks for HEIC to JPG conversion from each vendor's own published information (product pages, pricing pages, support docs and privacy statements), checked on 2026-11-09, plus FileDial's own documented behavior. We did not lab-test every tool or run size or speed benchmarks on the others, so we quote no numbers for them. Order reflects fit for this search, not who made the app. Checked 2026-11-09.
1. Finder Quick Action: Convert Image
Select one or more HEIC files, Control-click, choose Quick Actions, click More if needed, then Convert Image, and pick JPEG and a size. It is the quickest built-in way to convert a handful of photos without opening an app.
- Nothing to install
- Works on several files at once
- Lets you pick an output size
- Few options beyond format and size
- No control over metadata
2. FileDial
FileDial is our app. Convert › Convert to JPG saves a JPG beside each original, and Convert › Make uploadable produces a JPG any upload form takes, with the date kept and location removed. A recipe can chain Convert to JPG and Remove location, and a batch of 300 photos converted in 5 seconds on a MacBook.
- Fast on big batches
- Location-stripping option
- Watched folders can convert automatically
- Not free after the 1-day trial
- Needs macOS 14 or later on an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or newer)
3. Photos (built into macOS)
Select photos, choose File > Export > Export Photos, and pick JPEG as the Photo Kind, with options for JPEG quality, size and color profile. It is the natural choice when your pictures came from iPhone via iCloud Photos.
- Exports straight from your library
- Quality and size options
- Subfolder and file-name options
- Files must be in the Photos library
- Extra steps for loose files in Finder
4. Preview (built into macOS)
Open the image, choose File > Export and pick JPEG, then set the quality. To convert several at once, Apple says to open them in one Preview window, select them in the sidebar and export.
- Quality slider
- Handles several files in one window
- Already installed
- Clumsy for hundreds of files
- No metadata options
5. iMazing HEIC Converter
DigiDNA's free app converts HEIC photos to JPG or PNG and HEVC videos to H.264 MP4, with drag and drop of files or folders, quality and resolution settings, and a choice to preserve or remove EXIF metadata. It is on Mac and Windows, and its Mac App Store privacy label says the developer does not collect data from the app.
- Free on Mac and Windows
- Keep or remove EXIF
- Also converts HEVC video
- Only converts HEIC and HEVC
- A separate app for one task
Start with what is already on your Mac
HEIC is the format iPhones use by default to save space. Most Macs open it without trouble, but some websites, older Windows PCs and office systems still want JPG. macOS already includes three converters, so try them before buying anything.
The Finder Quick Action is first on this list because it works on a selection of files without opening an app, which covers most everyday needs. Photos is best when the pictures live in your library, and Preview is handy when you want a quality slider.
When a dedicated app is worth it
Built-in tools become tedious when you convert hundreds of photos regularly, or when you need to control metadata. iMazing HEIC Converter is free and lets you remove EXIF data during conversion. FileDial is paid but fast on large batches, can strip location in the same step with Convert › Make uploadable, and can run a recipe automatically on a watched folder, for example a folder you AirDrop photos into.
If you convert once a month, stay with Finder. If you convert every day, a dedicated tool saves real time.
Don't forget location data
iPhone photos often carry GPS coordinates in their metadata, and a plain conversion usually keeps them. Before you post converted photos publicly or send them to strangers, consider removing location. iMazing lets you remove EXIF, and FileDial's Make uploadable removes location while keeping the date. Our guide to removing location from photos covers other ways on a Mac.
Why not an online HEIC converter
Online converters work, but they require uploading personal photos, often of your home, family or children, to a server you know little about. The FBI's Denver field office warned in March 2025 that free online converters are increasingly used to spread malware. Every option on this page converts on your Mac, so there is no reason to upload.
Questions
How do I convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac for free?
Select the HEIC files in Finder, Control-click, choose Quick Actions, then Convert Image (under More if it is not listed), and choose JPEG and a size. You can also export as JPEG from Preview with File > Export, or from Photos with File > Export > Export Photos.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
JPG is a lossy format, so each conversion discards a little detail, but at a high quality setting the difference is hard to see. Preview and Photos let you choose JPEG quality. Keep the HEIC originals in case you need them later.
Does converting to JPG remove location data?
Not usually. A standard conversion keeps the metadata, including GPS coordinates. Use a tool that removes it, such as FileDial's Convert › Make uploadable, which keeps the date and removes location, or iMazing HEIC Converter's option to remove EXIF metadata.