Convert GIF to JPEG on Mac
Select the GIF files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose JPEG and press Return. FileFlip saves each JPEG next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert GIF to JPEG with FileFlip
Select the GIF files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from GIF. Type “JPEG” to jump to it.
Choose JPEG and press Return
The JPEG files appear next to the originals. To make them smaller first, press ⇥ and lower the quality or size.
GIF and JPEG
GIF is limited to 256 colors and makes large files. JPEG opens everywhere, from email and websites to Windows PCs and photo printing services.
What changes when you convert
- JPEG is lossy: the file gets much smaller and some fine detail is discarded. At high quality settings the difference is hard to notice.
- JPEG can’t store transparency, so transparent areas become a solid background.
- JPEG can’t hold animation, so an animated GIF becomes a single still image.
| Property | GIF | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graphics Interchange Format | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Made by | CompuServe | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Introduced | 1987 | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossless, up to 256 colors | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Best for | Short animations and simple graphics | Photos you want to send, upload or print anywhere |
| Opens in | Everywhere, including browsers and chat apps | Every computer, phone, browser and photo app |
| File extension | .gif | .jpg, .jpeg |
| In FileFlip | Opens and saves | Opens and saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Preview
Open the GIF in Preview, choose File → Export, pick JPEG from the Format menu and click Save. For several files, open them together, select all thumbnails in the sidebar and choose File → Export Selected Images.
Good for a few files now and then.
Photos
If the pictures are in your Photos library, select them, choose File → Export → Export Photos and set Photo Kind to JPEG.
Good for pictures already in your library.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format jpeg animation.gif \
--out animation.jpgBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about GIF and JPEG
Does converting GIF to JPEG lose quality?
JPEG is lossy: the file gets much smaller and some fine detail is discarded. At high quality settings the difference is hard to notice.
Can I convert many GIF files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose JPEG. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where is the JPEG file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .jpg extension. The GIF file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert JPEG back to GIF?
Yes, FileFlip converts JPEG to GIF as well.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole folder of images at once
FileFlip also handles video, audio, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac