How to make your iPhone save photos as JPG
iPhones save photos as HEIC by default. If you'd rather have JPGs, there are three ways to get them – each with its own trade-off.
Option 1: Change the camera format
- Open Settings › Camera › Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible instead of High Efficiency.
From now on the camera saves photos as JPG (and videos as H.264). The downsides: photos take about twice the space, and some high-resolution and video options are only available with High Efficiency. Photos you took earlier stay HEIC.
Option 2: Convert automatically when copying to a computer
If you mostly move photos to a PC with a cable, you can keep HEIC on the phone and let it convert during the transfer:
- Open Settings › Apps › Photos (on older iOS versions Settings › Photos).
- Scroll down to Transfer to Mac or PC and choose Automatic.
The PC then receives JPGs. This doesn’t affect AirDrop, cloud uploads or messaging apps.
Option 3: Keep HEIC and convert what you share
Often the best balance: the phone keeps the smaller, higher-quality originals, and you convert only the photos that need to leave the Apple world. On a computer, drop them into the converter below. On the iPhone itself, the Shortcuts app has a Convert Image action that can turn selected photos into JPGs.
Many websites also receive a JPG automatically when you upload a photo from the iPhone’s photo library in Safari, because iOS converts it on the way.
Which option should you choose?
- You never want to think about formats: option 1.
- You regularly copy photos to Windows by cable: option 2.
- You want to save storage and keep the best originals: option 3.
Not sure what you lose with each format? Read HEIC vs JPG.
Or convert the photos you already have
Drop your HEIC photos here
or
You can also paste an image with Ctrl+V.
Converted on this device. Nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Do JPG photos from an iPhone look worse?
Not noticeably in everyday use. The difference is mainly file size – JPGs take about twice the space – and the loss of HDR information on newer models.
Will changing the setting convert my existing photos?
No. The camera format only affects new photos. Photos you've already taken stay HEIC; convert them separately if you need JPGs.
Does the setting affect iCloud storage?
Yes. New JPG photos are roughly twice as large, so they fill iCloud and the phone faster.
Learn more
- What is a HEIC file?HEIC is the photo format iPhones use by default. What it is, why Apple chose it, which devices open it, and how to turn it into a JPG when you need one.
- HEIC vs JPG – which is better?HEIC saves space, JPG opens everywhere. A clear comparison of quality, file size, colour and compatibility, and when to use which.
- How to open HEIC files on WindowsWindows can't open iPhone HEIC photos out of the box. Four ways to view them – with Microsoft's extensions, free viewers or by converting to JPG.