How to Convert HEIC Images to JPG Using Pure JavaScript (Client-Side)
Apple devices like iPhones and iPads save photos in the HEIC format by default. While HEIC is efficient in terms of file size and quality, it often causes compatibility issues when uploading images to websites, sharing on certain platforms, or opening files on non-Apple systems.
In this post, I’ll explain:
What HEIC is and why it causes problems
Why client-side conversion is better than server uploads
How browser-based HEIC to JPG conversion works
A working online demo you can try instantly
What is HEIC and Why It’s a Problem
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is based on the HEVC compression standard. Apple introduced it to reduce file size while maintaining high quality.
However, HEIC has limitations:
Not supported by many websites
Older Windows systems can’t open it by default
Some apps (WhatsApp, CMS platforms, email tools) reject HEIC uploads
Because of this, JPG is still the most universally accepted format.
Why Convert HEIC to JPG in the Browser?
Most online converters upload your images to a server. This has drawbacks:
Privacy concerns (your photos leave your device)
Slow uploads for large images
Server costs and storage limits
Client-side conversion solves this
Modern browsers are powerful enough to:
Read HEIC files
Convert them to JPG
Download the result instantly
All without uploading files to a server.
How Client-Side HEIC Conversion Works
At a high level, the process looks like this:
User selects a HEIC file
JavaScript reads the file using the File API
The image is decoded using a HEIC-compatible library
The image is rendered onto a canvas
Canvas exports the image as JPG
User downloads the converted file
This approach is:
Fast
Secure
Scalable
Cost-effective
Example: Browser-Based HEIC to JPG Tool
I built a small browser-based tool that converts HEIC images to JPG entirely on the client side. No file uploads, no sign-up, no tracking.
You can try the working demo here:
👉 https://www.simplefiletools.com/heic-to-jpg
It works on:
iPhone
Android
macOS
Windows
Any modern browser
When Client-Side Conversion Makes Sense
This approach is ideal when:
You’re building privacy-first tools
You want to avoid backend complexity
You expect high traffic without server load
You’re handling user-generated files
For heavy batch processing or very large images, server-side tools may still be useful—but for most everyday use cases, browser-based conversion is more than enough.
Final Thoughts
HEIC is a great format, but JPG remains the most compatible choice for sharing and uploads. With modern JavaScript and browser APIs, converting images directly in the browser is both practical and user-friendly.
If you’re building file tools or working with image uploads, client-side conversion is definitely worth considering.
Resources
HEIC to JPG Online Converter (Client-Side):
https://www.simplefiletools.com/heic-to-jpg
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