How to Batch Convert HEIC Files

The Problem: Too Many HEIC Files, Too Little Time

If you own an iPhone or iPad, you've probably accumulated hundreds — if not thousands — of HEIC photos over the years. Apple introduced the HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) format with iOS 11 back in 2017, and it's been the default camera format ever since. The format is brilliant at saving storage space: HEIC files are typically 50% smaller than equivalent JPEGs while maintaining comparable image quality.

But here's the problem: HEIC files don't play well with everything. Upload them to WordPress and they break. Send them to Windows users and they can't open them. Drop them into Google Docs and nothing happens. Even your smart TV might refuse to display them.

Converting one or two HEIC files manually is manageable. But what do you do when you have 50 vacation photos, 200 product shots, or an entire photo library that needs converting? That's where batch processing comes in. This guide covers every reliable method for bulk converting HEIC files, ranked from fastest to most technical.

Method 1: heicviewer.com Batch Converter (Fastest, Most Private)

Best for: Anyone who wants speed, privacy, and zero software installs — especially when dealing with dozens or hundreds of files.

The heicviewer.com batch converter is purpose-built for bulk HEIC processing. Here's why it's the top recommendation:

• Drag-and-drop 50+ files at once — no upload limits that slow you down
• All processing happens locally in your browser — your photos never leave your device, ever
• Download all converted files as a single ZIP — one click, all files organized
• Choose your output format: JPG, PNG, or WebP
• No registration, no payment, no ads — completely free forever

How to Use the Batch Converter

1. Go to heicviewer.com and scroll to the Batch HEIC to JPG section.
2. Drag and drop your HEIC files into the upload area, or click to select multiple files from your device.
3. Choose your desired output format (JPG recommended for maximum compatibility).
4. Click "Convert All" — the processing starts instantly in your browser.
5. Once complete, click "Download All as ZIP" to get a single compressed folder containing every converted image.

Because everything runs client-side, the conversion speed depends on your device's processing power. On a modern laptop, converting 100 HEIC files takes less than 30 seconds. And since nothing touches a remote server, you never have to worry about privacy — your photos stay where they belong.

Method 2: Mac Photos App (Built-In, No Extras Needed)

Best for: macOS users who already have their photos in the Photos app and don't mind a slightly slower workflow.

Apple's Photos app includes a bulk export feature that converts HEIC to JPG on the fly. It's not the fastest method, but it requires absolutely nothing extra:

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
2. Select the photos you want to convert — hold Command to select multiple, or press Command + A to select all.
3. Go to File > Export > Export [N] Photos (NOT "Export Unmodified Original" — that would keep them in HEIC).
4. In the export dialog, set Photo Kind to JPEG and choose your quality level.
5. Click Export and choose a destination folder.

Tip: The Export Photos option converts all selected images automatically. If you accidentally pick Export Unmodified Original, you'll just get the HEIC files again — a common mistake on first try.

Method 3: Mac Preview (Quick for Small Batches)

Best for: Quick conversions of 5–20 files on Mac when you don't want to open the Photos app.

Preview can batch convert images, but the workflow is a bit hidden:

1. Open all HEIC files in Preview at once (select them in Finder, right-click, choose Open With > Preview).
2. In Preview's sidebar (View > Thumbnails if hidden), select all thumbnails with Command + A.
3. Go to File > Export Selected Images.
4. Under Options, set format to JPEG and pick your quality.
5. Choose a destination folder and click Choose.

Preview exports each file individually to a folder of your choice. It works, but it's slower than Method 1 for large batches since you have to handle files one folder at a time and can't download everything as a ZIP.

Method 4: Windows — CopyTrans HEIC & Alternative Solutions

Best for: Windows users who want a straightforward right-click conversion workflow.

Windows doesn't natively handle HEIC files well, but several free tools fill the gap:

• CopyTrans HEIC for Windows — Install it, then right-click any HEIC file and choose "Convert to JPEG". Supports batch selection in File Explorer. Free for personal use.
• Microsoft Store HEIC extensions — Install both HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions (the latter costs $0.99) from the Microsoft Store to enable native viewing. Then use Paint or Photos app to convert individually — not ideal for batches.
• IrfanView (free) — A classic image viewer that supports batch conversion via File > Batch Conversion/Rename. Select your HEIC files, set JPG as output, and process all at once.

Of course, the easiest cross-platform solution remains heicviewer.com, which works identically on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even mobile browsers — no installation required.

Method 5: Command Line with heif-convert (For Developers & Power Users)

Best for: Developers, sysadmins, and anyone comfortable with the terminal who needs scriptable bulk conversion.

The libheif open-source library provides a command-line tool called heif-convert that can batch process HEIC files:

# Install on macOS
brew install libheif

# Install on Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install libheif-examples

# Batch convert all HEIC files in a folder to JPG
for file in *.heic; do
  heif-convert "$file" "${file%.heic}.jpg"
done

For more advanced users, tools like ImageMagick (with HEIC support compiled in) and FFmpeg also handle HEIC batch conversion. These are powerful options for automated workflows, server-side processing, and CI/CD pipelines — but overkill for most people who just need their vacation photos in JPG.

Tips for Successful Batch Conversion

1. Choose Quality Settings Wisely

HEIC files use modern compression that's superior to JPEG. When converting to JPG, set quality to 80–85% — this gives excellent visual fidelity while keeping file sizes reasonable. Going above 95% increases file size dramatically for barely noticeable quality gains.

2. Rename Before You Convert

HEIC files from iPhones are typically named IMG_1234.HEIC. If you're batch converting, the output files will all share similar names, making organization tricky. Consider renaming files or organizing them into folders by event before starting the batch conversion.

3. Check Output Before Deleting Originals

Always verify a few converted files before deleting the original HEIC versions. Check that the colors look right, the resolution is preserved, and the files open correctly in your target applications. It takes 30 seconds and can save you from heartache.

4. Keep an HEIC Backup

Since HEIC offers better compression and quality than JPEG, consider keeping the originals as an archive. Convert to JPG for sharing and everyday use, but retain the HEIC files as your high-quality backup — storage is cheap, memories are not.

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

"Some files failed to convert. Why?"

This usually happens when HEIC files are corrupted, partially downloaded, or contain Live Photo data. Try viewing the problem files in the Photos app first — if they open there, they should convert. If they don't open anywhere, the file may be damaged beyond recovery.

"Windows doesn't recognize HEIC at all."

Windows 10 and 11 need the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store to display HEIC thumbnails in File Explorer. Without it, Windows will show generic icons. But this doesn't prevent conversion — tools like heicviewer.com and CopyTrans can still process the files because they include their own HEIC decoders.

"The output files have weird names or are in the wrong order."

Most batch converters preserve the original filename, only changing the extension (e.g., IMG_5678.HEIC becomes IMG_5678.jpg). If ordering matters (such as for a photo slideshow), sort and rename files before converting. Use Finder/File Explorer's sort-by-date to ensure chronological order.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Here's the simple breakdown:

• Fastest, most private, works on any device: heicviewer.com batch converter — drag, drop, convert, download ZIP. Done in under a minute.
• Mac user with photos already in the Photos app: Use the built-in File > Export feature. Solid but slower for very large batches.
• Windows user who wants right-click simplicity: Install CopyTrans HEIC or use IrfanView for batch operations.
• Developer or automation need: heif-convert or ImageMagick with shell scripting for maximum control.

For 90% of people, the answer is heicviewer.com. It requires zero setup, keeps your photos private by processing everything in your browser, handles Live Photos gracefully, and lets you download all converted files as a single organized ZIP. Whether you have 10 photos or 1,000, the workflow is the same: drag, drop, click convert, download.

Stop converting files one by one. Batch processing exists for a reason — use it and reclaim your time.