How to Download HEIC as JPG in iCloud on Windows and Mac

Although HEIC is the default storage format for the iPhone (from iOS 11), there is no need to stick to that. Whether you want to convert your HEIC images directly to the iPhone itself or to shoot them in older JPEG format, you're never short of options. But there is another solution: download your HEIC images in JPG format via iCloud.

If iCloud Photos is enabled, all your photos are easily accessible via the iCloud.com web application. Visit it with any Windows-based browser and the selected photos will automatically download as JPG. It's great because you will not have to manually convert HEIC images to JPG.

You can also do this on a Mac, but you must make an adjustment to appear as if you were using Windows. Unfortunately, iCloud.com does not work properly on mobile devices. You can not download HEIC images in JPG format, even with desktop mode enabled on your iPhone or iPad.

Download HEIC as JPG – Windows

On Windows, downloading photos in JPG format via iCloud.com is ridiculously easy. Simply launch a download and iCloud.com will convert HEIC files to the most compatible (JPEG) format for Windows even before reaching your computer. This is perfect for situations such as, for example, if you have problems transferring your photos to a PC via File Explorer.

If you do not see any automatic JPG conversion, you can "prompt" the browser to start downloading in JPG format.

Step 1:Log in to iCloud.com with the help of your Apple credentials.

S2nd step: Click Photos to access your library.

SStep 3: Select the image you want to download. If you want to select multiple photos, drag the slider over the images or select them individually while holding down the Ctrl key. Follow up by clicking on the Download icon.

You should see the HEIC images download as JPG immediately. Pretty cool, right? You can download as many JPG photos as you like.

If the photo or selected photos are downloaded in HEIC format, select them again, then click and hold the Download button for a few seconds. In the pop-up menu that appears, click the Most compatible option, and then click the Download button. This should make the trick so that the downloads are converted to JPG format.

Remember that you can also use iCloud desktop applications or the Windows Store to automatically download your entire library in JPG format. Just be sure not to check the option 'Keep high efficiency original if available' when configuring the application. Uploading your photos via iCloud.com is the way to go if you only want JPG copies as needed.

Download HEIC in JPG – macOS

Since MacOS is fully compatible with the HEIC image format, uploading an image via iCloud.com to a Mac will not convert it to JPG format. However, you can do a little trickery by "disguising" yourself as if you were using Windows. This involves changing the user agent of your browser, and with Safari, it's very easy to do it.

Step 1: Open Safari. Then, click Safari in the menu bar, and then choose Preferences.

S2nd step: Click the Advanced tab, and then select the check box next to "Show the development menu in the menu bar." Then exit the Preferences window. You should now see a new option called Expand in the menu bar.

SStep 3: Visit iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Follow this by clicking on Photos.

SStep 4: Click Expand on the menu bar, point to User Agent, and select Google Chrome – Windows or Firefox – Windows. You should see iCloud.com start to recharge automatically – wait until the end of the operation.

SStep 5: Select the photos you want to download, and then click the Download icon. To select multiple items, drag the slider over the images or click the desired photos while holding down the Cmd key.

iCloud.com will require and download images in JPG format. You can find converted photos in the Finder download location.

Safari will automatically change the user agent to the default on the most recent tabs. However, you can easily switch to Google Chrome (Windows) or Mozilla Firefox (Windows) user agents through the Development menu when you want to download HEIC images in JPG format.

You can also hide the Expand menu. To do this, open the Safari Preferences panel, click Advanced, and then uncheck the box next to "Show the development menu in the bar" to do so.

Convert this image HEIC

Windows supports the codecs needed to open and view HEIC files, while macOS supports the format natively. But that does not mean that you will not encounter instances of third-party applications and services that are not fully compatible with the HEIC format. Therefore, knowing how to convert them to JPG format can be crucial. And, among all the manual conversion methods, using iCloud.com to easily recover copies in JPG format may prove to be the most practical.

Then: Running out of storage on iCloud? Here are all possible ways to regain valuable space directly in the comfort of your iPhone or iPad.