Introduced in 2017 with the release of iOS 11, High Efficiency Image Coding (HEIC) is a file format that provides better image compression without compromising quality. This means you can store more photos in the same amount of space, which is great for those with smaller-capacity iPhones.
Unfortunately, the HEIC format isn't universally supported across all devices and applications. This can lead to compatibility problems, resulting in the need to convert photos from HEIC to the more widely accepted JPG/JPEG format. There are third-party tools that can do this, but if you want to seamlessly share, edit, and view your photos across multiple platforms and devices, Apple's Shortcuts app can automate the process right on your iPhone.
How to Set Up a Shortcut to Convert File Types
To automatically convert photos from HEIC to JPEG, you'll need to Shortcuts app. It should already be installed on your iPhone, but you can grab it from the App Store if you previously deleted it. Open the app and tap the plus (+) button in the upper-right corner to create a new shortcut.
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)In the search bar that appears, type "select photos" and tap the Select Photos entry. Toggle the switch next to Select Multiple if you want to convert multiple photos at once. In the search bar, type "convert image" and select the Convert Image action to add it to your shortcut. By default, the conversion should be set to JPEG. If not, tap HEIF next to Convert and select JPEG.
Type "save to photo album" in the search bar and select the Save to Photo Album action to add it to your shortcut. Choose the album where you want the converted photos to be saved. You can create a new album for JPEGs or select an existing one. Tap Done.
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)To name your shortcut, long-press on the shortcut you created. Tap Rename and type in a new one such as “Convert to JPEG.” If you want to save this shortcut to your home screen, tap Details > Add to Home Screen. From here, you can also customize your shortcut's icon. Tap Add to send the shortcut to your phone's Home screen.
Whenever you need to convert HEIC photos to JPEG, open the Shortcuts app and tap on your Convert HEIC to JPEG shortcut. Or tap the shortcut icon on your home screen if you added it there. Select the photos you want to convert, and the shortcut will handle the conversion and save the JPEG images to the specified album in your Photos app.
How to Auto-Convert When Uploading to Mac
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)If you use macOS, it’s also possible to have your photos automatically convert to JPEG when you transfer them from your phone to a Mac. On your phone, go to Settings > Photos and tap the Automatic option under Transfer to Mac or PC. Then, when you transfer photos to your computer, they will automatically be moved as JPEGs.