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How-To

Updated March 8, 2026

By Jack Smith, iOS Developer at DB Labs

How to Convert HEIC to JPEG on iPhone

HEIC is Apple's default photo format — efficient but not always compatible. Here are three ways to convert HEIC to JPEG on iPhone without a computer.

Quick answer: Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and tap Most Compatible to shoot JPEG from now on. For existing HEIC photos, go to Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic to auto-convert when sharing. You can also share any photo via AirDrop or email — iPhone converts HEIC to JPEG automatically for non-Apple recipients.

Method 1: Change Camera Format to JPEG

The simplest fix is to change your camera settings so all future photos are taken in JPEG. This does not affect existing HEIC photos.

  1. Open Settings and tap Camera

    Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Camera. This opens the camera configuration menu.

  2. Tap Formats

    Tap Formats at the top of the Camera settings page. You will see two options under Camera Capture: High Efficiency and Most Compatible.

  3. Select Most Compatible

    Tap Most Compatible. This switches your camera to shoot in JPEG. Note that JPEG files are about twice the size of HEIC files, so you will use storage faster. Going forward, all new photos will be JPEG.

Note: Changing to Most Compatible does not convert your existing HEIC photos. It only affects new photos taken after the change.

Method 2: Auto-Convert When Sharing

iPhone can automatically convert HEIC to JPEG whenever you transfer photos to a non-Apple device. This is the best option if you want to keep shooting HEIC (for the storage savings) but need JPEG compatibility when sharing.

  1. Open Settings and tap Photos

    Open Settings, scroll down, and tap Photos.

  2. Find Transfer to Mac or PC

    Scroll to the bottom of the Photos settings page and find the Transfer to Mac or PC section.

  3. Select Automatic

    Tap Automatic. When set to Automatic, iPhone detects whether the destination supports HEIC. If not, it automatically converts to JPEG during transfer. If you share with another iPhone or Mac, it stays as HEIC to preserve quality and save space.

Method 3: Convert via Files App

For one-off conversions of specific photos, you can use the Files app.

  1. Save the photo to Files

    Open the Photos app, select the HEIC photo, tap the Share button, and tap Save to Files. Choose a location like On My iPhone and tap Save.

  2. Open the photo in Files

    Open the Files app, navigate to where you saved it, and tap the photo to open it.

  3. Share and Save Image

    Tap the Share button, then tap Save Image. The saved copy in your Photos library will be in a JPEG-compatible format that works with most apps and platforms.

HEIC vs JPEG: Which Should You Use?

Both formats have real trade-offs:

If you mostly share photos online or to non-Apple users, JPEG is the safer choice. If you primarily view photos on your iPhone or Mac and care about storage, HEIC is the better option. See our HEIC format glossary page for a deeper comparison.

Clean Your Camera Roll After Converting

After converting formats, use Swype to quickly review and delete the photos you no longer need. Swipe left to delete, right to keep — your camera roll will be clean in minutes.

Download Swype Free

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone take HEIC photos instead of JPEG?

iPhone defaults to HEIC because it produces files about 50% smaller than JPEG at the same quality. Apple introduced HEIC in iOS 11 to help manage the growing size of photos from improved cameras. To switch to JPEG, go to Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible.

Will changing to JPEG affect photo quality?

Not in any visible way. JPEG photos look virtually identical to HEIC photos at the same resolution. The main difference is file size — JPEG files are roughly twice as large. HEIC also supports HDR data and wider color depth, which you lose when shooting JPEG, but this difference is rarely noticeable in everyday viewing.

Can I convert old HEIC photos to JPEG without a computer?

Yes. Open the HEIC photo in Photos, tap Share, and share it to an app or save it. When you share a HEIC photo via email or to an Android user, iPhone automatically converts it to JPEG. You can also use the Files app method described above to save a JPEG copy back to your Photos library.

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