Step-by-step instructions
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Option 1: Browser-based (no installation needed)
Open formatdrop.com/heic-to-jpg in Firefox or Chrome. Drop your HEIC files onto the converter. Everything runs in your browser using WebAssembly-compiled libheif — nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded. This works on any Linux distro and is the fastest path for one-off conversions.
Go to converter - 2
Option 2: Install libheif command-line tools
On Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install libheif-examples. On Fedora: sudo dnf install libheif-tools. On Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S libheif. After installation: use heif-convert to convert. Command: heif-convert photo.heic photo.jpg. For batch conversion: for f in *.heic; do heif-convert "$f" "${f%.heic}.jpg"; done
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Option 3: ImageMagick with libheif plugin
ImageMagick can convert HEIC if compiled with libheif support. Check: convert --version | grep -i heic. If HEIC is listed, convert with: convert photo.heic photo.jpg. For batch conversion: mogrify -format jpg *.heic. If ImageMagick wasn't compiled with libheif support, install libheif-examples instead (Option 2).
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Option 4: GNOME Files / Nautilus file manager preview
On GNOME desktops (Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation): install gdk-pixbuf HEIC support for thumbnail previews. Package: sudo apt install heif-gdk-pixbuf (Ubuntu) or sudo dnf install libheif-freeworld (Fedora, requires RPM Fusion). After installation, HEIC files show thumbnails in Nautilus. For converting (not just previewing), still use heif-convert or the browser-based tool.
Why convert HEIC to JPG?
HEIC uses HEVC (H.265) compression for still images. HEVC is a patented codec with license fees that covered hardware implementation. Many Linux distributions ship without HEVC support by default to avoid potential patent concerns in certain jurisdictions (particularly the US). libheif is an open-source HEIC decoder and encoder library developed by Struktur AG that handles HEIC decoding. It's the backend used by most Linux HEIC conversion tools and is what runs inside FormatDrop's browser-based converter. On Ubuntu, libheif is available in the universe repository since Ubuntu 18.04. On Fedora, the free codec version handles most HEIC files; for files using the H.265 codec specifically, the RPM Fusion rpmfusion-free-release package provides libheif with full H.265 support.
Your files never leave your device
FormatDrop runs the conversion engine entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly. No file upload. No server. Nothing stored. You can verify this by opening DevTools → Network tab and watching: zero upload requests.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open HEIC files in GNOME Photos or Shotwell?
What is the libheif command for batch HEIC to JPG conversion?
Does converting HEIC to JPG work on ARM Linux (Raspberry Pi)?
No account. No upload. Works in any browser.