Images conversion
Convert JPG to HEIC
Updated Jul 2026
HEIC is the compact image format Apple uses by default for photos, and JPG is the older, universal format most cameras and phones still produce. To convert JPG to HEIC, open the file in a converter and export it as HEIC. Doing it on your own computer means the photo never has to leave your machine to make the switch.
- Extension
- .jpg
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- The universal photo format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .heic
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Default iPhone photo format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert JPG to HEIC on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert JPG to HEIC
- Open Morphjet and drag in the JPG photos you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose HEIC as the output format.
- Convert. The HEIC files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
JPG vs HEIC: what actually changes
| JPG | HEIC | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Yes, universal support | No, needs a recent Apple device or added support elsewhere |
| File size | Larger for the same quality | Smaller, often close to half |
| Quality | Already lossy from the original capture | Efficient compression, but re-encoding a JPG adds a further small loss |
| Transparency | No | No |
| Keeps date and location (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, unless you strip it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert JPG to HEIC when you want your photos to take up less space on an iPhone or Mac, or you're bringing older JPGs into a photo library that's standardized on HEIC.
Keep the JPG if you need to send the photo somewhere you don't control, like a website, an old printer, or a friend's Windows PC, since HEIC support is still hit or miss outside Apple's devices.
Why not just use an online converter?
JPG photos, especially ones straight off a phone or camera, often carry EXIF metadata including the date, device, and sometimes the exact GPS location of the shot. An online converter receives that metadata along with the image the moment you upload it. Converting on your own computer keeps the photo, and everything attached to it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting JPG to HEIC lose quality?
There's a small additional loss, since the JPG is already compressed and HEIC re-encodes it rather than restoring detail that's gone. In practice it's hard to see, but the JPG was never a perfect source to begin with.
Will HEIC photos made from JPGs open on a Windows PC?
Not by default in most cases. Older Windows versions and many apps still don't read HEIC natively, so check where the photo needs to go before converting a whole library.
Does the HEIC file keep the JPG's date and location?
Yes. Whatever EXIF data was in the JPG, including GPS location if it has any, carries over to the HEIC unless you strip it during conversion.
Why would I convert JPG to HEIC instead of the other way around?
Mainly for space. HEIC stores similar-looking photos in a noticeably smaller file, which helps if you're filling up an iPhone or Mac and want your library in one consistent, efficient format.
Can I convert JPG to HEIC without uploading my photos anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the files on your own computer, so nothing is sent over the internet. It works the same with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts JPG, HEIC, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.