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In today’s digital age, people take a lot of photos on their iPhones. The new image format HEIC promises to save space on your phone and improve your photos. However, HEIC is not well supported by all devices or platforms. So, what do you do when you have an important picture in HEIC format that you need to share or use on a device that doesn’t support it? Luckily, there are several ways to convert your HEIC files to JPEG format on your iPhone, and in this blog post, we will show you how.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Convert HEIC to JPG
There are a few reasons why you may need to convert your HEIC files to JPG. Firstly, not all devices support HEIC files. So, if you want to share a photo with someone who doesn’t have an iPhone or a device that supports HEIC, you will need to convert the file to JPG. Secondly, some social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter don’t support HEIC files, so if you want to post your photos on these platforms, you need to convert to JPG first. Finally, if you are editing photos on a computer, many photo editing software only support JPG format, so you will need to convert to JPG for editing purposes.
Method 1: Convert HEIC to JPG via Photos App
Open the Photos app on your iPhone
Select the photo that you want to convert to JPG
Tap the share button in the bottom left corner
Scroll down to find the “Save as Image” option
Select JPEG from the list of options
Tap the “Save” button to save the JPG version of your photo to your camera roll.
Pros:
- Easy and convenient
- Pre-installed on your iPhone
Cons:
- Not the quickest method
- Can only convert one photo at a time
Method 2: Convert HEIC to JPG via Files App
Launch the Files app on your iPhone
Navigate to the folder where your HEIC photo is saved
Select the HEIC photo
Tap and hold the photo icon until a menu is displayed
Select “Export”
Select “Photos”
Your photo will be saved in JPG format in your Camera Roll.
Pros:
- Pre-installed on your iPhone
- Can be used on multiple photos at once
Cons:
- Cannot be used to convert photos saved in iCloud
- May take longer for more photos
Method 3: Change the iOS camera settings to JPEG
Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Scroll down and tap on "Camera"
Select "Formats"
Select "Most Compatible" option (this preserves the original JPEG copy of your photos taken on your iPhone and saves a compatible HEIF copy here instead)
Pros:
- Changes automatically for all future photos
- No need to convert newly saved photos
Cons:
- Cannot convert photos already saved in HEIC format
- Takes up more storage space on your iPhone
What to Do If You Can’t Change The Format
If you can’t convert a HEIC file to JPG using any of the above methods, it’s likely because your iPhone is set to capture photos in HEIC format and you need to change the settings or find third-party software that allows you to convert the files on your device. It is also possible that third-party apps downloaded from the App Store could help with your HEIC files, so it may be worth checking the App Store to see if there are any apps that can help with converting formats.
Bonus Tip
Consider storing your photos in a cloud-based service like iCloud, Google Photos, or DropBox. These services automatically convert HEIC files to JPG when uploading so you do not have to worry about the hassle of converting images manually each time. Just bear in mind that converting your HEIC photos to JPG may increase the size of your photo library, so you may want to consider backing up your photos to other locations to avoid running out of storage space on your device or web storage.
FAQs
Q: Can I still keep my original HEIC files if I convert them to JPG?
A: Yes, once you have converted your HEIC files to JPG, both versions will exist in your camera roll, and you can keep the original HEIC files if you need to.
Q: Can I convert multiple HEIC files at once?
A: Yes, you can use the second method to convert multiple HEIC files at once. However, you may find it takes longer for a large number of photos.
Q: Why can’t I just email the HEIC file to myself and save it as a JPEG on my computer?
A: You can certainly email the HEIC file to yourself and then save it as a JPEG on your computer. However, this method is not as efficient as completing the conversion process on your iPhone, especially if you need to convert many images. Additionally, you may be required to convert multiple files frequently, and this method may not be the most comfortable option for you.
Q: Does converting to JPG affect the quality of the photo?
A: Converting from HEIC to JPG has the potential to reduce the quality of a photo, as JPG is a compressed image format. However, users usually don’t notice any difference for regular photos – only for images with a lot of details and very vibrant colors.
Q: Can I go back to taking photos in HEIC format once I have switched to JPEG?
A: Yes, you can change the format of your camera back to HEIC whenever you want via the "Formats" setting in your Camera settings.
Final Thoughts
Converting files from HEIC to JPG on iPhone is an essential task for some people who want to share, edit or archive their photos. Luckily, you have a few options to make the process easier. The built-in Photos and Files apps on your iPhone are both useful for converting photos from HEIC to JPEG with minimal effort. You can also change your camera settings to capture photos in JPEG format in the first place. We hope this post has helped you choose the most convenient method for your needs.