# Open HEIC on Mac > How to open HEIC files on a Mac with Preview, Photos and Quick Look, then convert HEIC to JPG one at a time or in batches with Preview and Finder. URL: https://ihateheic.com/how-to-open-heic-on-mac Updated: 2026-10-04 Good news: your Mac already opens HEIC. The trick is getting a JPG out when you need one. Here are the built-in ways, from one photo to a whole folder. ## The quick fix To **open** a HEIC on a Mac, just double-click it. It opens in Preview. To **get a JPG**, open it in Preview and use **File → Export → Format: JPEG**. If you have lots of photos, or want location data stripped as you go, drop them into the converter on this page instead. It runs in Safari or Chrome on your Mac without uploading anything. ## Ways to open HEIC on a Mac Every Mac running **macOS High Sierra (10.13)** or newer understands HEIC. You have three built-in options. ### Preview Double-click any .heic file and it opens in Preview. You can zoom, crop, rotate, mark up and inspect metadata (**Tools → Show Inspector**). This is the most useful option for converting. ### Photos Drag HEIC files into the Photos app to import them into your library. Photos handles HEIC fully, including Live Photos and Portrait mode depth, as long as the original files are intact. ### Quick Look Select a HEIC in Finder and press the **Space bar**. You get an instant full-size preview without opening any app. Use the arrow keys to flick through a folder. It's the fastest way to check what's in a batch of AirDropped photos. ## Convert one photo to JPG in Preview 1. Open the HEIC file in **Preview**. 2. Choose **File → Export**. 3. Set **Format** to **JPEG**. 4. Drag the **Quality** slider. Somewhere around three-quarters is a good balance of size and detail. 5. Choose where to save it and click **Save**. Preview will also export to PNG, TIFF and HEIF from the same menu. ## Batch convert HEIC to JPG with Preview Preview can convert dozens of photos at once. It's a bit hidden, though. 1. In Finder, select all the HEIC files you want to convert. 2. Right-click and choose **Open With → Preview**. They open in one Preview window. 3. If the sidebar isn't visible, choose **View → Thumbnails**. 4. Click one thumbnail in the sidebar, then press **Command-A** to select them all. 5. Choose **File → Export Selected Images**. 6. Click **Options** in the save dialog. 7. Set **Format** to **JPEG** and adjust the quality. 8. Pick a destination folder and click **Choose**. Preview writes a JPG for each photo, keeping the original names with a .jpg extension. ## Convert with Finder Quick Actions On **macOS Monterey (12)** and later, Finder has a built-in converter. The exact menu wording may differ slightly between versions. 1. Select one or more HEIC files in Finder. 2. Right-click (or Control-click) the selection. 3. Choose **Quick Actions → Convert Image**. 4. Pick **JPEG** (or PNG/HEIF), and an image size: Small, Medium, Large or Actual Size. 5. Optionally untick **Preserve Metadata** if you don't want EXIF data copied across. 6. Click **Convert to JPEG**. The JPGs appear next to the originals. If you don't see **Convert Image**, your macOS may be older than Monterey, or the Quick Action may be turned off in Finder's Quick Actions customisation menu. ## When the built-in tools aren't enough Preview and Finder cover most needs. A few cases where a dedicated converter helps: - **Removing location data.** iPhone photos often contain GPS coordinates. Preview keeps them. The converter on this page removes GPS by default while keeping the date and camera details, and the [remove GPS from HEIC](https://ihateheic.com/remove-gps-from-heic) tool can do it without converting at all. - **Hitting a file size.** If an upload form wants "under 2 MB", [compress HEIC](https://ihateheic.com/compress-heic) will find the right quality automatically. - **Hundreds of files with a ZIP at the end.** The [batch HEIC to JPG](https://ihateheic.com/heic-to-jpg-batch) page lets you drop a whole folder, pause and resume, and download one archive. - **Colour for Windows recipients.** iPhone photos are Display P3. A Mac shows them perfectly, but some Windows software doesn't read colour profiles. Our sRGB option converts colours so they look right anywhere. ## Getting HEIC files onto your Mac How the files arrive affects what you get: | How you transfer | What you usually get | | --- | --- | | AirDrop from iPhone | Original HEIC | | iCloud Photos sync | HEIC in the Photos library | | Image Capture or Photos import by cable | HEIC or JPG, depending on the iPhone's transfer setting | | Email or Messages attachment | Often JPG, sometimes HEIC | | Export from Photos (**File → Export**) | Your choice of JPEG, TIFF or PNG | That last row is handy. In the Photos app, select photos and choose **File → Export → Export Photos** to get JPGs directly. Choose **Export Unmodified Original** if you want the HEIC instead. ## Troubleshooting ### Preview won't open a HEIC file Check the file isn't a partial download or a renamed file from another format. Very old Macs on macOS Sierra (10.12) or earlier don't support HEIC at all; convert the file in a browser instead. ### Quality slider is missing in Finder's Convert Image Convert Image offers size presets but not fine-grained quality. Use Preview's Export for control over quality. ### Exported JPGs look duller in other apps The JPG carries a Display P3 profile. Apps that ignore profiles show muted colours. Export with sRGB colours if your recipient uses older software. ## Sending to Windows users? Your Mac is happy with HEIC, but the person you're sending to might not be. Converting before you send saves them a headache. If they're stuck with HEIC already, point them at our guide to [opening HEIC on Windows](https://ihateheic.com/how-to-open-heic-on-windows). ## FAQ ### Can a Mac open HEIC files? Yes. Macs running macOS High Sierra (10.13) or later open HEIC natively in Preview, Photos and Quick Look. No extra software is needed. ### How do I convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac for free? Open the photo in Preview, choose File then Export, set Format to JPEG and save. On recent macOS versions you can also right-click files in Finder and use Quick Actions then Convert Image. ### How do I batch convert HEIC to JPG in Preview? Open all the photos in Preview, select every thumbnail in the sidebar, then choose File then Export Selected Images. Click Options, set Format to JPEG and choose a folder. ### Why don't I see Convert Image in Quick Actions? Convert Image arrived in macOS Monterey (12), so older versions don't have it. It may also be switched off; check System Settings for Extensions or Finder's Quick Actions customise menu. ### Why are my AirDropped iPhone photos HEIC on my Mac? AirDrop usually sends the original file, and iPhone originals are HEIC. Your Mac opens them fine, but convert to JPG before sending them on to Windows users or websites. ### Does converting in Preview keep the photo's metadata? Preview generally keeps EXIF data, including location. If you want to remove GPS before sharing, use a tool with metadata options, like the converter on this page.