Convert HEIC to JPEG 2000 on Mac
Select the HEIC files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose JPEG 2000 and press Return. FileFlip saves each JPEG 2000 next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert HEIC to JPEG 2000 with FileFlip
Select the HEIC 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 HEIC. Type “JPEG 2000” to jump to it.
Choose JPEG 2000 and press Return
The JPEG 2000 files appear next to the originals with the same names. The HEIC files stay as they are.
HEIC and JPEG 2000
iPhones save photos as HEIC to save space, but many websites, Windows PCs and older apps still can’t open it. Some archives and professional imaging systems ask for JPEG 2000.
What changes when you convert
- JPEG 2000 can store the image either lossy or lossless.
| Property | HEIC | JPEG 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | High Efficiency Image File Format | JPEG 2000 |
| Made by | MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Introduced | 2015 | 2000 |
| Compression | Lossy (HEVC) | Lossy or lossless (wavelet) |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Storing photos on Apple devices | Archiving and professional imaging |
| Opens in | Apple devices; Windows needs the HEIF and HEVC extensions; many websites don’t accept it | Preview and professional imaging tools; most browsers and many apps don’t open it |
| File extension | .heic, .heif | .jp2 |
| 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 HEIC in Preview, choose File → Export, pick JPEG-2000 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.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format jp2 IMG_4021.heic \
--out IMG_4021.jp2Built into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about HEIC and JPEG 2000
Does converting HEIC to JPEG 2000 lose quality?
JPEG 2000 can store the image either lossy or lossless.
Can I convert many HEIC files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose JPEG 2000. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where is the JPEG 2000 file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .jp2 extension. The HEIC file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert JPEG 2000 back to HEIC?
Yes, FileFlip converts JPEG 2000 to HEIC 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