Convert a HEIC image to JPEG in Mac Preview

Export the HEIC photo as a JPEG copy in Mac Preview, then share the exported file. JPEG is a widely supported image format, though the recipient’s app still needs to accept it. See Apple’s Preview export instructions and MDN’s image format guide.

1. Open the HEIC photo in Preview.
2. Choose File > Export. In the Format menu, select JPEG.
3. If a JPEG quality control appears, choose a setting that keeps the photo clear enough for its purpose.
4. Export with a distinct name or location so you can identify the JPEG copy and keep the HEIC original.

The format choice and the image size are separate requirements. If the receiving form asks only for JPEG, do the export first and try that copy before resizing it. If the form also specifies pixel dimensions or a maximum file size, inspect the JPEG against those requirements rather than assuming conversion met them. Apple’s guide says the JPEG export may offer a quality control; MDN explains that JPEG is lossy, so compare important detail in the saved copy before lowering quality again.

Before sending it, open the exported file in Preview and check that the photo displays as expected. Then confirm that the file you attach is the exported JPEG, usually named with a .jpg or .jpeg extension, rather than the HEIC original.

If the export looks too soft for its intended size, return to the original HEIC and try a different JPEG quality setting. Keep the original for that retry. Changing a file extension by renaming it would not perform the conversion: the recipient needs the exported JPEG file, not a HEIC file with a new name.

If JPEG is unavailable in Preview’s Format menu, you cannot complete these steps as written. If the recipient still cannot open the exported file, confirm which image formats their app accepts before trying another export.