Free online JPEG to HEIC converter

An Apple Photos library, iPhone or iPad workflow, or application may require HEIC files instead of JPEG, and HEIC can reduce storage use for supported devices. Conversion is also useful when an archive needs HEIC, but it does not restore detail already lost from JPEG compression.

What the JPEG format is

JPEG, usually saved with the .jpg or .jpeg extension, is a lossy raster-image format designed primarily for photographs. Digital cameras, smartphones, scanners, web browsers, image editors, and office software use JPEG because it produces relatively small files and opens on almost every platform.

JPEG compression uses a discrete cosine transform and discards image information to reduce size. Low-quality settings and repeated editing and saving can create block artifacts, blurred detail, and color degradation.

What the HEIC format is

HEIC is commonly the filename extension for an HEIF image that uses HEVC compression. Apple uses it for many photos captured by recent iPhones and iPads. Compared with JPEG, HEIC can preserve similar visual quality at a smaller size, although the result depends on the source image and encoder settings.

HEIF can store metadata, transparency, image sequences, depth information, and other related image data, but a simple JPEG conversion normally produces only one image. HEIC is most useful in Apple Photos libraries and other applications that explicitly support the format.

How to convert JPEG files to HEIC

Use 101convert online

1. Open the JPEG-to-HEIC converter on 101convert.com.
2. Select or drag one or more .jpg or .jpeg files into the converter.
3. Choose HEIC as the output format and start the conversion.
4. Download the resulting .heic files and open them in the intended application or device.

This option is free and does not require installed software. Do not upload confidential, personal, or regulated images unless the service's data-handling and retention policies are suitable.

Use Preview on macOS

1. Open the JPEG in Preview.
2. Select File → Export.
3. Choose HEIC in the Format menu, select a quality setting if available, and click Save.

HEIC export availability can vary with the macOS version and installed image support. If HEIC is absent from the format menu, use the online converter or a desktop encoder with HEIC support.

Use ImageMagick

Install an ImageMagick build compiled with HEIC writing support. The build needs a libheif delegate and an available HEVC encoder; some packages can read HEIC but cannot create it. Check the installed formats with:

magick -list format

Then convert a file with:

magick input.jpg -quality 80 output.heic

The -quality value is an encoder quality target rather than a guarantee of a particular file size or visual result. Test values such as 70–90 on representative images. On systems that provide the libheif command-line tools, an equivalent command may be:

heif-enc input.jpg -o output.heic -q 80

Command names, options, and HEVC encoder availability vary by operating system package.

Quality and compatibility limitations

• Lossy conversion recompresses an already compressed JPEG. Keep the original JPEG for future editing or archival use; HEIC cannot recover JPEG artifacts.
• A lossless HEIC option, when provided by the encoder, preserves the decoded JPEG pixels but not detail discarded during the original JPEG compression, and usually creates larger files.
• Recent Apple operating systems generally support HEIC well. Older Windows installations, web browsers, image viewers, and third-party applications may need an HEIF image extension or may not support the format at all.
• Conversion software may remove or alter EXIF metadata, GPS coordinates, timestamps, ICC color profiles, orientation tags, or camera-specific data. Check the output before deleting the source.
• HEIC is not the best interchange format for every image. PNG may suit screenshots and flat graphics, while JPEG or WebP may be more practical for websites and broad sharing.