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echoes579
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Auto convert of heic files.

Amateur photographer and new to the Mac world with a Mac mini 4. I am finding that when I transfer my heic files from my mini to an external hdd, formatted APFS, they are automatically converting to jpegs. I prefer the heic files for storage issues. Is there a way to stop the auto conversion? I've spent hours trying to find an answer online but everything I have found is iPhone related? This and other issues may drive me back to my Windows computers if I can't get comfortable with the operating system. I haven't tried working with my 35mm RAW images yet. I have 10 days left to decide if I will return the mini.

Posted on Oct 17, 2026 5:54 PM

4 replies

6x6
User level: Level 7 (26,777 points)

Oct 17, 2026 6:18 PM in response to echoes579

I just did some tests on my end.


HEIC photos in the Photos app dragged to the internal drive or to an external drive will automatically converted to JPEG. In one test case, the resulting JPEG size is 35% larger than the original HEIC photo.


If I transfer an HEIC photo from my iPhone to my Mac using AirDrop, the HEIC format is kept.


If your HEIC photos are in the Photos library, select them and click File > Export to export them in the desired format.

OldToad
User level: Level 4 (1,299 points)

Oct 25, 2026 3:01 PM in response to echoes579

If the photos are in your Photos library dragging them out to another location will create JPEGS. You must export them as Unedited Original Files to retain the original format, HEIC.


HOWEVER if you hold down the Option key while dragging them out of the library you will retain the original format BUT without any edits.




Matti Haveri
User level: Level 7 (22,314 points)

Oct 18, 2026 12:31 AM in response to echoes579

echoes579 wrote:
when I transfer my heic files from my mini to an external hdd, formatted APFS, they are automatically converting to jpegs

Please describe in more detail how you transfer those images.


Drag 'n drop from Photos library is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.


Use Photos > File > Export so you have control of the output.


Importing from iPhone has similar gotchas. For example, importing via USB imports originals and ignores any edits and added metadata.

echoes579 Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 18, 2026 2:03 PM in response to 6x6

Works great. Thank you

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256378117