Camera RAW conversion
Convert ARW to JPG
Updated Jul 2026
ARW is the raw photo format Sony Alpha cameras save, and JPG is the format almost everything else can open. To convert ARW to JPG, open the file in a converter and export it as JPG. Doing this on your own computer means the raw file, and the camera and shooting data inside it, never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .arw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Sony cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .jpg
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- The universal photo format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert ARW to JPG on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ARW to JPG
- Open Morphjet and drag in the ARW files you want to convert. Add a single shot or a whole memory card's worth at once.
- Choose JPG as the output format, and pick a quality level if you want a smaller file.
- Convert. The JPGs are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
ARW vs JPG: what actually changes
| ARW | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, needs raw-capable software | Yes, universal support |
| File size | Much larger, often 20 to 60 MB | Far smaller, usually a few MB |
| Quality | Full sensor data, nothing discarded | Very good, with a one-time loss on export |
| Editing headroom | High, can recover blown highlights and shadows | Low, adjustments show artifacts faster |
| Keeps camera and location data (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, unless you strip it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ARW to JPG when you need to share a photo, upload it somewhere, print it, or view it on a device or app that can't open Sony raw files.
Keep the ARW original if you plan to edit the photo seriously, because it holds far more detail in the highlights and shadows than a JPG ever will, and that data is gone for good once you export.
Why not just use an online converter?
ARW files from Sony cameras carry detailed EXIF data, often including the exact GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken along with camera settings. Run that file through an online converter and the photo, plus everywhere you've taken it, sits on someone else's server. Converting on your own computer keeps the raw file, and its metadata, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting ARW to JPG lose quality?
Yes, some. A raw file holds far more brightness and color data than a JPG can store, so exporting to JPG throws away information you can't get back. For everyday viewing and sharing it looks fine, but for serious editing you want the ARW.
Will the JPG keep the camera settings and location?
Yes. The date, camera model, lens, exposure settings, and GPS location stored in the ARW carry over to the JPG unless you strip the metadata. Worth checking before you post a photo publicly.
Why does my Sony camera save ARW instead of JPG?
Raw files like ARW capture everything the sensor recorded, which gives you much more room to fix exposure and color in editing. The trade-off is a huge file that most software, phones, and websites can't open directly, so people convert to JPG for anything outside of editing.
Can I convert ARW to JPG without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet reads and converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to travel over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off entirely.
Can I batch convert a whole folder of ARW files at once?
Yes. You can drag in an entire folder, whether that's one shoot or a full memory card, and convert every ARW to JPG in one pass.
Morphjet converts ARW, JPG, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.