How to Open HEIC Files on Mac: With Step-by-Step Guides

Part 1: Let's Know about HEIC Format

The High-Efficiency Image Format (HEIC) is created by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is based on the High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard and is designed to improve the efficiency of digital image and video compression.

HEIC was introduced in iOS 11 and is the default format for photos on iOS 11 and later on Apple devices. The format is also supported on macOS High Sierra and later. HEIC is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to reduce file sizes while retaining image quality.

HEIC is designed to be a more efficient alternative to the JPEG format, potentially reducing file sizes by up to 50%. The format is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by several websites and applications.

Part 2: How to Open the HEIC File on Mac? (with the High Sierra version or later)

Here you can discover some methods to open HEIC files on your Mac. They all are easy to manipulate. And you will find the most suitable HEIC viewer.

1. Try Preview on Mac

Opening a HEIC file on Mac is straightforward. Two primary ways to open the HEIC files are using the default Preview app or third-party software. If you go to Preview, you don't need to download other apps.

To open a HEIC file using the Preview option, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Finder and locate the HEIC file you want to view.

Step 2. Right-click the file and select Open with > Preview.

Step 3. If Preview is not an option, you can locate it in the Applications folder.

Step 4. When the file opens, select the Tools menu and then select Adjust Size.

Step 5. Enter a width and height in the fields provided, then select OK.

Step 6. The file should now be viewable in Preview.

2. Try Photos

Photos is a versatile image app. Not only can you view the images with high quality, but also it supports many image formats. So, HEIC is clearly one of the formats you can open on Mac with Photos.

The following steps will help you open HEIC files with the Photos app:

Step 1. Open the Finder and locate the HEIC file. 

Step 2. Right-click on the file, select “Open with," and then select "Photos."

Step 3. The Photos app will open, and the file will be available for viewing.

Step 4. If you need to edit the file, select the "Edit" button to open the editing tools.

Step 5. When editing is finished, select "Done" to save the changes.

3. iMovie

iMovie is a professional video editor. You can put your photos and videos you're your edit. With this app, it offers a simple method to open HEIC images.

The steps to use iMovie to open HEIC files are below:

Step 1. Download and install iMovie on your mac.

Step 2. Open iMovie and go to the File menu, then select "Import."

Step 3. Please navigate to the location of the HEIC file you want to view.

Step 4. The file will now be imported into iMovie.

Step 5. Please select the file and drag it onto the timeline.

Step 6. You can now edit the HEIC file within iMovie.

4. Upload the HEIC file to Google Drive

Google Drive is an exhaustive tool to encrypt your files. Everyone can upload many file formats to it. If you choose to upload HEIC files, they become accessible for viewing via Google Drive.

Here's how you can use Google Drive to open HEIC files on your mac:

Step 1. Get into Google Drive and log in with your account.

Step 2. Click the "New" button and then select "File Upload."

Step 3. Select the HEIC file you want to open. The file will begin uploading.

Step 4. Once the file is uploaded, double-click on it to open it; the file will open in Google Photos or the Google Drive viewer.

Part 3: How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Mac?

1. Convert HEIC with Automator

If you're Mac user, you can use the built-in function in macOS and Automator to quickly convert HEIC to JPG mac. To save time, you can set it up as a Quick Action (or what used to be called a context menu service) to quickly convert the file with a single click.

• To start, open the Automator App in `/Applications/Automator.app'.
• When it asks for the document type, select Quick Action and click Choose.

• In the right-hand workflow panel, select Image Files for the top option next to "Workflow receives current."
• Then, click on Photos from the Library in the left column and select the "Change Type of Images" action.

• Drag it to the workflow panel and set the output type to JPEG.
• Next, export the action to file> Export in the Automator main menu.
• Name the action and choose a location to save it.
• Then, double-click the file to install it as a quick action.
• You can now right-click on the file to convert it using the quick action.

2. Dr.Fone-Phone Manager

Wondershare Dr.Fone-Phone Manager is an easy-to-use mobile device management tool that allows you to easily manage your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android devices.

Moreover, it can convert HEIC to JPG on mac. It's an excellent solution for those who need to manage their mobile devices quickly and easily.

Here are the steps to use Wondershare Dr.Fone-Phone Manager:

Step 1. Download and install Wondershare Dr.Fone-Phone Manager on your computer.

Step 2. Connect your mobile device to the computer using the USB cable.

Step 3. Access the "Photos" tab from the home screen of the application.

Step 4. View all the photos stored on your iPhone, which would be segregated into different categories for your convenience.

Step 5. Select the photos or entire album that you wish to move.

Step 6. Tap the export icon from the toolbar and choose to export the photos to your PC or Mac.

Step 7. Select the location where you wish to export the photos.

Step 8. Allow the application to transfer the photos without any loss in quality, which would be automatically converted to JPG format.

safe & secure

3. HEIC Online Converter

HEIC Online Converter is a platform designed to convert HEIC to JPG mac. It is an easy-to-use platform that is free to use and allows users to turn their HEIC images into more compatible formats for sharing across many devices.

The steps for using HEIC Online Converter are as follows:

Step 1. Upload the HEIC/HEIF file from your computer to the HEIC Online Converter.

Step 2. Select the desired output format, such as PNG or JPG.

Step 3. Select the desired resolution.

Step 4. Click the 'Convert' button to start the conversion process.

Step 5. When the conversion is over, you can have the file to your computer or share it directly with other platforms.

Pros of HEIC Online Converter:

• Easy-to-use platform
• Free to use
• A quick and efficient conversion process
• Supports multiple output formats

Cons of HEIC Online Converter:

• File size limit of 10MB
• Limited customization options
• No batch conversion option

Part 4: FAQs

How to take JPG photos in iOS?

• Turn on the Camera app on your iOS device.
• In the Camera app, tap the Settings icon at the top right.
• Tap the "Formats" option.
• Choose "Most Compatible" or "Automatic" from the available options.
• Take a photo as you usually would. Your photo will be saved in JPEG format.

Why can't I open the HEIC file on Mac?

HEIC files are a new image format that Apple introduced with iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra. All versions of macOS do not support them, so if you are using an older version, you may be unable to open them.

You can check your macOS version by going to the Apple menu > About This Mac. If you need to update your macOS, open the App Store and click Updates.

Note:

• If you have a Mac with High Sierra or later, you can open a HEIC file without any extra apps or plugins.

• If you have an earlier version of Mac, you have to convert the HEIC file to a more compatible format such as JPG. You can use an online converter or download a free image converter for Mac to do this.

The Bottom Line

We have also discussed ways to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac, including using Automator, Wondershare Dr.Fone-Phone Manager, and HEIC Online Converter.

We hope this guide has been helpful and that you now have the tools to open and convert HEIC to JPG Mac.