How to convert an image to another format on Mac
Right-click the image in Finder, choose FileMate › Convert Image, and pick the format: JPEG, PNG, HEIC or TIFF, plus WebP where macOS can write it. The converted copy is saved next to the original. FileMate reads any image format macOS can open, including HEIC, WebP, TIFF, BMP and GIF. Preview’s File › Export and Finder’s Quick Actions › Convert Image are the built-in alternatives.
FileMate converts images on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded.
Convert an image with FileMate
- Select one or more images in Finder.
- Right-click and choose FileMate › Convert Image (Convert Images for several).
- Choose the format. The image’s current format isn’t offered.
- The converted copy appears next to the original, with the same name and the new extension.
Which format should I choose?
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Lossy, small | No | Photos to share, upload or email |
| PNG | Lossless, larger | Yes | Screenshots, logos, graphics with text |
| HEIC | Lossy, smallest | Yes | Storing photos on Apple devices |
| TIFF | Lossless, largest | Yes | Print shops, scanning, archiving |
| WebP | Lossy or lossless, small | Yes | Websites |
When in doubt, JPEG for photos and PNG for everything else.
Things that change when you convert
- Transparency. Converting to JPEG fills transparent areas with a colour: white by default in FileMate, adjustable in Settings.
- Size. Lossless formats (PNG, TIFF) make photos much larger. Lossy ones (JPEG, HEIC) make them smaller.
- Quality. Converting between lossy formats re-encodes the image. FileMate uses 80% quality for JPEG and HEIC by default, adjustable in Settings › Images & PDF.
- Metadata. Date, camera and location are kept by default. FileMate can remove location and device details, or all metadata, from the copies it makes.
- Animation and multiple pages. Animated GIFs and multi-page TIFFs aren’t converted; FileMate handles single images.
With Preview
Open the image, choose File › Export, and pick the format. If the format you want isn’t listed, hold the Option key while opening the Format menu to see more.
With Finder’s Quick Actions
Right-click the image and choose Quick Actions › Convert Image. It converts to JPEG, PNG or HEIF, can change the size at the same time, and asks for its settings each time.
Get FileMate
Any image, any common format, from the right-click menu. FileMate converts on your Mac and never replaces the original.
Normal price €9.99, now €4.99 incl. VAT
One payment, no subscription. macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple silicon or Intel.