The Mac User's Conversion Dilemma
For macOS users, discussing "how to handle HEIC files" might seem like a non-issue. After all, since macOS High Sierra, Apple's ecosystem has natively supported the HEIC format. Your Mac can effortlessly view, edit, and manage these high-efficiency images.
However, the paradox lies in the fact that precisely because you're within Apple's seamless ecosystem, compatibility barriers emerge when you need to communicate with the outside world. Have you encountered any of these scenarios?
Common Scenarios:
- Need to send project images to colleagues using Windows or Android systems
- Trying to upload ID or document photos to government, banking, or legacy online application systems that reject HEIC format
- As a designer, you need a PNG image with transparent background for design work, but iPhone-captured HEIC can't directly meet this need
Table of Contents
Method 1: Preview App - Great for Single Files, Nightmare for Batch
"Preview" is the most intuitive tool in macOS for handling single image conversions.
Single File Conversion Steps:
- Right-click a HEIC file, select "Open With" → "Preview"
- In the top menu bar, click "File" → "Export..."
- In the dialog box, find the "Format" dropdown menu, select JPEG or PNG
- Adjust quality (for JPEG) if needed, then click "Save"
Method 2: Photos App - The Hidden Trap of Drag Export
The "Photos" app is the core of image library management on Mac, and it also provides several conversion methods.
Drag Export Method:
Select one or more HEIC images in the Photos app, then drag them directly to the desktop or any Finder folder. They'll automatically be converted to JPG format.
Precise Export Method:
After selecting images, click menu bar "File" → "Export" → "Export X Photos...". Here you can choose JPEG, PNG, or TIFF formats and customize quality and size options.
The Biggest Problem: Workflow Friction
Both methods require you to first import HEIC files into the Photos app's photo library. For many users who just want to temporarily convert images in a folder and send them, they don't want to "pollute" their carefully organized personal photo library with these temporary files.
This "import first, export later" workflow is both redundant and cumbersome for one-time conversion tasks.
Method 3: Advanced User Solutions - Automator & Terminal Commands
For efficiency-seeking tech enthusiasts, macOS provides more powerful native tools.
Automator:
You can create a "Quick Action" and integrate it into the right-click menu. With just a few setup steps, you can achieve one-click batch conversion of HEIC files to JPG or PNG by right-clicking.
Terminal:
For command-line enthusiasts, the sips (scriptable image processing system) command is the ultimate weapon.
sips -s format jpeg *.heic --out ./converted/Best Solution: Online Tool - Universal Solution for All Scenarios
When you need something that's not a buggy tool, not a cumbersome workflow, and not a solution requiring programming, our online converter becomes the ideal choice for Mac users. It perfectly bridges the gap between the simplicity of system tools and the power of advanced tools.
Core Value for Mac Users:
Perfectly avoids the documented bugs in Preview App's batch export, ensuring every image is correctly converted.
No need to import any temporary files into your Photos library. Keep your personal photo library clean and organized.
Batch processing capability comparable to advanced solutions, but with simple drag-and-click operation.
When you need absolute PNG or high-quality JPG for specific websites or design projects, ensures output format precision.
Browser-based local processing, no upload waiting, privacy protection—especially important for images containing personal information.
Conclusion
For Mac users, the need for HEIC conversion is real and scenario-diverse. While macOS provides multiple native tools, they're either unreliable for batch processing or disrupt user workflows.
Our online tool provides a more modern, reliable, and pure solution—your best "Swiss Army knife" for cross-platform sharing and compatibility needs.