How to convert iPhone photos to JPG

When you transfer photos from your iPhone to a computer, you might notice files ending in .heic instead of .jpg. Windows often can't open these, and many websites and apps don't accept them. Here's how to convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPG for free — and how to prevent the problem in future.

Why iPhone photos are HEIC instead of JPG

Starting with iOS 11, Apple switched the default photo format to HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container). HEIC images are about half the size of equivalent JPG images at the same quality, which is why Apple made the switch — it saves significant storage on your iPhone.

The problem is that HEIC is not universally supported outside of Apple's ecosystem. Windows 10/11, older Android devices, and most web upload forms don't handle HEIC natively.

How to convert iPhone photos to JPG for free

TurboConvert's HEIC to JPG converter works in any browser — your photos are never uploaded to any server:

1. Transfer your HEIC photos from iPhone to your computer (via USB, AirDrop to Mac, or iCloud).
2. Go to the HEIC to JPG tool.
3. Drop one or multiple HEIC files into the upload zone.
4. Download the converted JPG files — compatible with everything.

How to make iPhone save photos as JPG permanently

To stop your iPhone from saving photos as HEIC: Settings → Camera → Formats → select Most Compatible. This saves all new photos as JPG. The trade-off is that your photos will use more storage.

Alternatively, when transferring photos via USB to a Windows PC, Windows automatically converts HEIC to JPG during the transfer if you have the right settings (in the Photos import dialog, select 'Keep originals' or 'Convert to JPG').