Abstract
- Understanding HEIC format: Apple’s compressed picture format saves storage, retains high quality, however lacks common compatibility.
- Changing hassle-free: Use Preview on MacBook to transform HEIC to JPEG simply by opening, exporting, and saving.
- Make iPhone save as JPEG: Modify Digital camera settings to save lots of pictures to JPEG format as a substitute of HEIC, albeit with extra storage utilization.
As a contract social media supervisor, I am two issues: a
Canva
Queen, and knowledgeable drag-and-dropper. I obtain hundreds of pictures a month from shoppers and influencers who doc each little bit of their lives (and companies) on their trusty pocket-computer — which is commonly an iPhone. In case you’ve ever discovered your self shifting pictures out of your
iPhone
to your Mac laptop, the difficulty I usually run into: the dreaded HEIC format.
Fortunately, after years of placing up with the least likable format on the market, I’ve found workarounds that fully streamlined my workflow and made the drag-and-drop recreation rather less tedious. However what’s the HEIC format, why does Apple use it, and how are you going to nip the file within the bud earlier than you even hit
AirDrop
?

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Overlook glue sticks — that is how I create the final word imaginative and prescient board on my laptop yearly.
What’s .HEIC format?
Apple’s favourite file
HEIC is an acronym for Excessive Effectivity Picture Container, and it has been Apple’s default file format since iOS 11. What makes it completely different from conventional JPEGs is the way it compresses — HEICs take up much less storage, retain higher picture high quality, and might assist a number of pictures in a single file. That is how we get the Harry Potter-esque Dwell Photograph function everybody loves a lot.
The underside line is that Apple defaults to the HEIC file format to save lots of area in your system and protect picture high quality.
So what is the huge subject? Sadly, as versatile as HEIC information are, they don’t seem to be as universally supported or appropriate as JPEGs. In case you’re a photographer or anybody who uploads and edits pictures, precisely the ache I am describing. As quickly as you get out of the Apple walled backyard and into some trusty third-party apps, virtually all digital bouncers are vulnerable to stopping .HEIC information on the door. So, what’s one of the best ways to transform them?

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How you can convert HEIC to JPEG on macOS
It is a hoop to leap via
Yeah, it is annoying, however there is a tremendous easy repair proper there in your MacBook. To transform an HEIC file to a JPEG:
- Open the HEIC file in Preview.
- Click on File > Export.
- Select JPEG from the format drop-down.
- Choose your high quality, and hit save.
In downloads, a brand new model of your picture ending in .JPEG ought to populate. Nevertheless, there’s a solution to keep away from this course of totally — but it surely’ll price you.

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How you can make your iPhone save pictures as JPEG by default
It’s going to price you storage, although
Generally, storage is not a problem for some customers. If seeing .HEIC add is actually the bane of your existence, it may very well be value upgrading your storage plan or no less than cleansing out your digital camera roll if you happen to select this selection.
JPEGs take up way more area than the standard HEIC file, so you may run into the “Storage Full” message a lot sooner.
This is the best way to tweak your iPhone’s settings to save lots of all captured pictures as JPEGs reasonably than HEIC information:
- Open Settings.
- Choose Digital camera.
- Scroll till you see Codecs. Choose it.
- On the high, you will notice the Digital camera Seize part. Selecting Excessive Effectivity will trigger the photo-default to stay HEIC. Choose “Most Appropriate” to have pictures all the time save in JPEG format.
And there you’ve it — high-quality pictures at a high-quality storage worth. Comfortable snapping.

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Different methods to transform
In case you wish to be artistic
I did not say I used to be a Canva Queen for nothing earlier. As a contract social media supervisor, I exploit numerous instruments on daily basis that require particular file codecs, dimensions for auto-posting, and photograph editor instruments which are totally included into my workflow, so typically, it is actually simply simpler to stay with what you employ on daily basis.
Once I seize HEIC information from shoppers, I instantly add them into Canva. There, I drag and drop them right into a 4:5 1080×1350 doc, one of many sizes that Instagram and third-party scheduling apps require for auto-posting functions. In Canva, I do fundamental enhancing and file conversions, however that is simply me.
I will be in Canva if you happen to want me.
There are additionally many different file converters on the market if you happen to’re anti-easy-graphic-design-for-everyone instruments. I, nonetheless, am a sucker for a user-friendly interface and extremely accessible parts. I will be in Canva if you happen to want me.

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