Convert ICNS to JPEG on Mac
Select the ICNS 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 ICNS to JPEG with FileFlip
Select the ICNS 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 ICNS. 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.
ICNS and JPEG
The icon format of macOS. One ICNS file holds the same icon at several sizes, up to 1024 × 1024 pixels. 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.
| Property | ICNS | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Apple Icon Image | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Made by | Apple | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Compression | Usually PNG inside | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Best for | Mac app, folder and file icons | Photos you want to send, upload or print anywhere |
| Opens in | macOS; rarely anything else | Every computer, phone, browser and photo app |
| File extension | .icns | .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 ICNS 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.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format jpeg icon.icns \
--out icon.jpgBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about ICNS and JPEG
Does converting ICNS 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 ICNS 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 ICNS file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert JPEG back to ICNS?
Yes, FileFlip converts JPEG to ICNS 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