Convert HEIC to JPG on macOS: Terminal & GUI Options

macOS often saves photos in the HEIC format by default, especially from iPhones. While efficient, HEIC isn’t always compatible with all platforms. If you need to convert HEIC files to JPG, macOS offers multiple options—no third-party software required (unless you want advanced features).

Here’s how to do it via Terminal or Finder:

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1. Using sips (Built-in macOS Tool)

sips is a command-line utility pre-installed on macOS that allows for quick and efficient format conversions.

Convert a single HEIC to JPG:

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

Batch convert all HEIC files in a folder:

mkdir Converted
for i in *.heic; do sips -s format jpeg "$i" --out "Converted/${i%.*}.jpg"; done

Result: All .heic images are saved as .jpg in a new Converted folder.

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2. Using ImageMagick (For Advanced Users)

If you need more processing power or flexibility, ImageMagick supports HEIC conversion—provided it’s installed with the right codecs.

Install ImageMagick with Homebrew:

brew install imagemagick

Convert a single file:

magick convert input.heic output.jpg

Batch convert all HEICs in a directory:

magick mogrify -format jpg *.heic

Converts .heic files in-place to .jpg.

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3. Using Finder Quick Actions (No Terminal Needed)

For those who prefer a graphical approach:

1. Select your .heic images in Finder.
2. Right-click → Quick Actions → Convert Image.
3. Choose JPEG and preferred image size.
4. Click Convert.

The JPG files will appear alongside the originals.

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Summary Table

Method	Requires Install	Batch Conversion	Ease of Use
sips (Terminal)	No	✅	Simple & Built-in CLI
ImageMagick (Terminal)	Yes (via Homebrew)	✅	Advanced CLI Tool
Finder Quick Actions	No	✅ (Multi-select)	Easiest GUI Option

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Conclusion

For quick one-off conversions, sips is the best built-in tool via Terminal. If you need more control or image manipulation features, ImageMagick is worth installing. Prefer not to touch Terminal? Finder’s Quick Actions provide a fast, user-friendly alternative.

Whichever method you choose, converting HEIC to JPG on macOS is both flexible and hassle-free.