Images conversion
Convert JPG to HEIF
Updated Jul 2026
JPG is the universal photo format, and HEIF is the newer, more efficient format Apple uses on iPhones and Macs. To convert JPG to HEIF, open the file in a converter and export it as HEIF, which shrinks the file while keeping quality close to the original. Doing this on your own computer means the photo never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .jpg
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- The universal photo format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .heif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Apple devices
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert JPG to HEIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert JPG to HEIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the JPG photos you want to convert. Add a single file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose HEIF as the output format.
- Convert. The HEIF files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
JPG vs HEIF: what actually changes
| JPG | HEIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Yes, universal support | No, needs a recent Apple device or added support elsewhere |
| File size | Larger | Smaller, often about half of JPG |
| Quality | Good, standard compression | Very good, more detail kept per byte |
| Transparency | No | No |
| Keeps date and location (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, unless you strip it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert JPG to HEIF when you want to save storage space on an iPhone or Mac, or when you're moving a photo library onto an Apple device and want smaller files without a noticeable quality drop.
Keep the JPG if the photo needs to be opened, shared, or edited somewhere that isn't a recent Apple device, since HEIF support outside Apple's ecosystem is still spotty.
Why not just use an online converter?
A JPG from a phone or camera usually carries EXIF data, including the date, device, and sometimes the exact location where it was taken. Uploading it to a web-based converter to get HEIF means that information travels to someone else's server along with the image. Converting on your own computer keeps the photo, and everything attached to it, on the machine you already trust.
Questions
Does converting JPG to HEIF lose quality?
There's a small re-encoding step since JPG is already lossy, but HEIF's compression is efficient enough that the result usually looks as good or better than the JPG at a noticeably smaller file size.
Will HEIF photos open on a Windows PC?
Recent versions of Windows can open HEIF with an extra codec installed, but plenty of software and websites still don't support it, so don't convert your whole library if you need broad compatibility.
Does the HEIF file keep the photo's date and location?
Yes. The metadata stored in the JPG, including GPS location if it's there, carries over to the HEIF file unless you strip it out beforehand.
Why would I convert to HEIF instead of just keeping JPG?
Mainly storage. HEIF holds similar or better quality in roughly half the space, which matters if you're filling up an iPhone or Mac and want to keep more photos without buying more storage.
Can I convert JPG to HEIF without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the files on your own computer, so nothing gets sent over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts JPG, HEIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.