Convert HEIC to JPG Without Losing Metadata: 5 Ways

You can convert HEIC to JPG and keep the metadata (capture date, camera details, GPS location), but not every converter does it. Some tools keep EXIF data, some drop it, and many online converters don't say which. The only reliable approach is to convert, then check the JPG's metadata and compare it with the original.

This guide covers five ways to convert, what tends to go wrong, and a quick check to confirm the GPS coordinates and dates survived.

What metadata a HEIC file carries

A HEIC file from an iPhone stores the same kinds of metadata as a JPG:

• EXIF: capture date and time, camera and lens, exposure settings, orientation and GPS coordinates (if Location Services was on for the Camera app).
• XMP/IPTC: title, description, keywords and similar fields, if someone has added them.
• Colour profile: often Display P3 on iPhones.

If you want a refresher on these fields, see EXIF Data Explained.

One caveat: if the HEIC never had GPS data, no converter can keep it. Check the original first (see the last section).

Method 1: Change the iPhone camera format

If you only need JPGs going forward, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. The phone then saves photos as JPG, and the EXIF data, including location, is written as normal.

This doesn't help with photos you've already taken in HEIC.

Method 2: Use the Mac Photos export dialog

On a Mac, select photos in Photos and choose File > Export > Export [n] Photos. Set the format to JPEG. The dialog has a Location Information checkbox under the metadata options. Tick it if you want GPS coordinates in the exported file, and untick it if you don't.

This is one of the few places where you get an explicit choice. Still verify the result, since other fields (such as a title or keywords) may not behave the way you expect.

Method 3: Use exiftool to copy tags across

If you're comfortable with the command line, exiftool gives you the most control. Convert the file with any tool, then copy every tag from the original into the new JPG:

exiftool -TagsFromFile original.heic -all:all converted.jpg

This works well when a converter strips metadata and you have to put it back. Two cautions:

• Some tags don't translate cleanly between the HEIC and JPG containers, so check the output.
• Orientation can differ. HEIC often stores rotation in the file structure rather than an EXIF tag, so copying the orientation tag blindly can leave the JPG sideways. Open the result and look.

Method 4: Use ImageMagick or a similar desktop tool

Command-line converters such as ImageMagick can turn HEIC into JPG, provided they were built with HEIC support. Whether EXIF survives depends on the version and options. Avoid any option that strips metadata (in ImageMagick, -strip does exactly that).

Treat this as "probably keeps EXIF, verify it." The same goes for desktop apps with a batch convert feature. Test with one file before running a folder of 500.

Method 5: Convert in the browser

If you also want to add or fix metadata at the same time, a browser tool can do both in one pass. In the Geotagr editor you can open HEIC files, and they're converted and saved as JPG. Processing happens in your browser, so the photo files aren't uploaded to Geotagr's servers.

I'd treat the conversion and the metadata as two separate questions. After saving, run the JPG through the free photo metadata checker to see which EXIF fields are present. If GPS is missing or wrong, you can write coordinates, a title, description, keywords and business details into the file in the same editor. The steps for that are in How to Add GPS Coordinates to Photos Online.

Methods to be careful with

Free online converters

Many strip EXIF to reduce file size, and some don't mention it. Most also require you to upload your photos to someone else's server. That matters if the photos show client homes, job sites or anything private. I can't tell you how any specific converter behaves without testing it, so test it.

Sharing and messaging

Sharing from the iPhone Photos app can convert HEIC to JPG automatically depending on the app and settings. In the share sheet, Options lets you choose what's included, and Location can be switched off. Messaging and social apps often strip metadata on their own, so don't use them to move files you need to keep intact.

Screenshots and "Save as" from previews

A screenshot of a photo is a new image with no original EXIF. It will have today's date and no GPS data.

How to verify nothing was lost

Take one photo, convert it, and compare the original and the JPG. Check these:

Field	What to look for
Date taken	Matches the original, not the conversion time
GPS latitude/longitude	Present and the same, if the original had it
Camera make/model	Present
Orientation	Image displays upright
Title, description, keywords	Present if you'd added them
Colour	No obvious shift from the original

The free photo metadata checker shows these fields for a JPG, and How to Check Photo Metadata on Any Device covers built-in methods on phones and computers.

Keeping metadata isn't always what you want

Preserved GPS data means anyone who receives the file can see where it was taken. That's useful for a job-site record or a property listing, and a risk for a photo taken at home. If the photo is going public and the location is sensitive, remove it deliberately: see How to Remove Location Data from Photos.

Also, metadata that survives conversion can still be lost later. Some platforms strip metadata when you upload, and Google hasn't published how it uses photo metadata in search. If the metadata matters, keep your own copy of the JPG with its metadata intact, and don't count on what a platform shows. For more on this, read Does Geotagging Photos Help Local SEO?

A simple workflow for batches

1. Convert one test photo using your chosen method.
2. Check date, GPS, orientation and any title or keyword fields.
3. If something is missing, switch method or restore tags with exiftool.
4. Convert the full batch and spot-check several files, not just the first.
5. Keep the original HEIC files until you've confirmed the JPGs are right.

FAQ

Does converting HEIC to JPG remove EXIF data?

It depends on the tool. Some copy EXIF into the JPG and others strip it. Test with one file and check the result.

Will the GPS location be kept when I convert?

Only if the original HEIC has GPS data and the converter preserves it. On a Mac, the Photos export dialog has a Location Information checkbox. Elsewhere, check the JPG afterwards.

Can I add metadata back after converting?

Yes. exiftool can copy tags from the original file. You can also write GPS coordinates, a title, description and keywords into the JPG with an editor like Geotagr, which is useful when the original had no location.

Is JPG lower quality than HEIC?

JPG is a lossy format, and HEIC usually produces smaller files at similar visual quality. Converting re-compresses the image, so keep the HEIC originals if quality matters. Colour profile handling can also differ between tools.

Are online HEIC converters safe for private photos?

Many require uploading your files to a server, so avoid them for sensitive images. A tool that processes files locally in your browser, or software on your own computer, keeps the files on your device.