How to Convert JPG to HEIC: Save Storage Space

You have a photo library of thousands of JPG files eating through your storage. iCloud is full. Your backup drive is running low. HEIC can cut that storage footprint roughly in half.

Converting JPG to HEIC reduces file sizes by 40-50% without visible quality loss. A 10 GB photo collection becomes 5 GB. A 256 GB iPhone gains back tens of gigabytes. Here is how to do it on every platform, and when it actually makes sense.

Why Convert JPG to HEIC

HEIC uses HEVC (H.265) compression, the same codec behind 4K video streaming. It is fundamentally more efficient than the DCT algorithm JPG has relied on since 1992. The result is smaller files at the same perceived quality.

The primary reasons to convert are:

• Storage savings. A 3.5 MB JPG becomes roughly 1.8 MB as HEIC. Multiply that across thousands of photos.
• Cloud cost reduction. Smaller files mean slower iCloud or Google One storage consumption.
• Backup efficiency. External drives and NAS systems last longer before filling up.
• Archival consistency. If your current photos shoot in HEIC, converting older JPGs creates a uniform library.

One critical caveat: converting JPG to HEIC does not improve image quality. The JPG already lost data during its original compression. HEIC re-encodes what remains into a smaller package. You cannot recover what JPG discarded. For maximum quality, capture in HEIC from the start.

File Size Savings: Real Numbers

Here is what to expect when converting typical JPG photos to HEIC:

| Source JPG | HEIC Output | Space Saved | | --- | --- | --- | | 12 MP photo (3.5 MB) | ~1.8 MB | 49% | | 48 MP high-res photo (10 MB) | ~5.2 MB | 48% | | Screenshot with text (1.2 MB) | ~0.7 MB | 42% | | Detailed landscape (5 MB) | ~2.6 MB | 48% | | 1,000 photos (3.2 GB total) | ~1.7 GB | 47% |

A photo library of 5,000 images averaging 3 MB each takes about 15 GB as JPG. After conversion, that same library occupies roughly 8 GB as HEIC. That is 7 GB recovered from a single format change.

Method 1: Use HEICify (Browser-Based, Recommended)

The fastest way to convert JPG to HEIC is HEICify's JPG to HEIC converter. It works on any device with a modern browser. No installation. No account. No file uploads.

Steps:

1. Open HEICify JPG to HEIC converter in your browser
2. Drag and drop your JPG files onto the page, or click to select them
3. Adjust the quality slider if you want to fine-tune compression
4. Click Convert
5. Download your HEIC files

Why this method is recommended:

• No software to install -- works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge on any OS
• Private -- your photos never leave your device. All conversion runs locally using Web Workers
• Batch support -- convert dozens of files at once
• Free -- no limits, no watermarks, no signup
• Quality control -- adjust the output quality to balance size and fidelity

This is the right tool when you want results now without configuring anything.

Method 2: macOS sips Command (Terminal)

macOS includes sips (scriptable image processing system), a built-in command-line tool that handles HEIC conversion natively. No third-party software required.

Convert a single file:

sips -s format heic input.jpg --out output.heic

Convert all JPGs in a folder:

for file in *.jpg; do
  sips -s format heic "$file" --out "${file%.jpg}.heic"
done

Set a specific quality level (0-100):

sips -s format heic -s formatOptions 80 input.jpg --out output.heic

What to know:

• macOS only. This command does not exist on Windows or Linux.
• No GUI. You need to be comfortable with Terminal.
• Fast for batch jobs. The loop above processes hundreds of files in seconds.
• Quality defaults to high if you omit the formatOptions flag.

This is the best option for Mac users who want scripted, repeatable batch conversion without opening a browser.

Method 3: ImageMagick CLI (Cross-Platform)

ImageMagick is a free, open-source tool available on macOS, Linux, and Windows. It supports HEIC conversion when compiled with libheif support.

Install ImageMagick:

# macOS (Homebrew)
brew install imagemagick

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install imagemagick libheif-dev

# Windows (Chocolatey)
choco install imagemagick

Convert a single file:

magick input.jpg output.heic

Batch convert a folder:

for file in *.jpg; do
  magick "$file" "${file%.jpg}.heic"
done

Set quality:

magick input.jpg -quality 80 output.heic

What to know:

• Cross-platform. Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows.
• Requires installation. Not built into any OS by default.
• HEIC support varies. Some default ImageMagick builds lack libheif. Check with magick identify -list format | grep HEIC to verify.
• Powerful but complex. ImageMagick has hundreds of options. For a simple JPG-to-HEIC conversion, a browser tool is faster to set up.

Use ImageMagick when you already have it installed or need to integrate HEIC conversion into an automated pipeline.

Method 4: iPhone Shortcut (iOS)

You can build a Shortcut on your iPhone or iPad to convert JPG images stored in your photo library to HEIC.

Create the shortcut:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone
2. Tap the + button to create a new shortcut
3. Add the action Select Photos (enable "Select Multiple" if you want batch support)
4. Add the action Convert Image and set the format to HEIC
5. Add the action Save to Photo Album
6. Name the shortcut "Convert to HEIC" and save it

Run it:

1. Open Shortcuts and tap Convert to HEIC
2. Select the JPG photos you want to convert
3. The converted HEIC files save to your photo library automatically

What to know:

• iOS and iPadOS only. Does not work on Mac without Shortcuts app adaptation.
• No quality control. The Convert Image action uses Apple's default compression settings.
• Convenient for on-device work. Good for converting screenshots or downloaded JPGs directly on your phone.
• Originals are not deleted. The shortcut creates new HEIC copies alongside the existing JPGs. Delete originals manually if you want to reclaim space.

This method is ideal for occasional conversions directly on your phone without opening a browser.

Quality Considerations

Converting JPG to HEIC is a re-encoding operation. Understanding what happens to your image data matters.

JPG is already lossy. When a camera or app saves a JPG, it discards image information permanently. That data is gone. Converting to HEIC re-compresses the remaining data using a more efficient codec, but it cannot add back what was already removed.

Double compression is real but manageable. Going from one lossy format (JPG) to another (HEIC) introduces a second round of compression artifacts. At high quality settings (85-95), the additional degradation is imperceptible in normal viewing. At low quality settings, artifacts compound and become visible.

Practical guidance:

• Use quality 90 or higher if you plan to edit or print the converted files later.
• Use quality 75-85 if the goal is pure storage savings and the photos are for personal reference.
• Do not convert JPGs that have already been heavily compressed (small thumbnails, web-optimized images). The savings will be minimal and the quality loss noticeable.

For a deeper comparison of the two formats, see the HEIC vs JPG guide.

Compatibility Warnings

Before converting your entire JPG library to HEIC, consider who and what needs to open these files.

HEIC works natively on:

• macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and later
• iOS 11 and later
• iPadOS 13 and later
• Android 10 and later (reading support; varies by device)

HEIC requires extra steps on:

• Windows 10/11 -- install HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store
• Linux -- install libheif. Support varies by distribution and desktop environment.

HEIC does not work on:

• Most web upload forms (social media, CMS platforms, forums)
• Many photo printing services
• Older email clients and image viewers
• Firefox (no native HEIC rendering as of early 2026)

Keep JPG copies if you share photos with people who use Windows or Android without guaranteed HEIC support. Converting everything to HEIC and then finding out your recipient cannot open the files creates more work, not less.

When Converting Makes Sense

Convert JPG to HEIC when:

• You are running low on device storage and need to reclaim space
• Your photo archive is for personal use within the Apple ecosystem
• You are backing up to a drive and want to minimize backup size
• You want a uniform library format alongside your HEIC camera shots

Do not convert JPG to HEIC when:

• You need to share photos with people on unknown devices
• The JPGs are already small (under 500 KB each)
• You plan to upload the images to websites or web applications
• You need the widest possible compatibility for professional delivery
• The source JPGs are already heavily compressed or low resolution

For most people, the best strategy is selective conversion. Convert personal archives and storage-heavy folders. Keep sharing copies in JPG. Use HEICify's JPG to HEIC converter when you need fast, private conversion without installing anything.

Summary

JPG to HEIC conversion is a practical way to cut photo storage by nearly half. The conversion itself is straightforward with the right tool. HEICify handles it in seconds from any browser. macOS users have sips built in. Power users can script it with ImageMagick. iPhone users can build a Shortcut.

The main trade-off is compatibility. HEIC is not yet universal. Convert for storage. Keep JPG for sharing. To understand the full difference between the two formats, read the HEIC vs JPG comparison. To learn more about the HEIC format itself, see What is HEIC Format?.