Google Play has dozens of “HEIC to JPG” apps. Some are excellent; many are thin wrappers full of ads, and a few upload your photos to unknown servers. Rather than recommending apps whose ownership and policies can change overnight, here’s how to choose well — and the options that need no app at all.
Option 1: No app — use your browser
The simplest “app” is a website that works like one:
- Open convertheicto.com/jpg in Chrome or Samsung Internet.
- Tap the ⋮ menu → Add to Home screen.
- Open it from your home screen whenever you need to convert, pick photos, and download JPGs.
It converts on your phone without uploading, has no ads inside the converter, keeps the date taken, and also converts to PNG and PDF.
Option 2: What’s already on your phone
- Google Photos can display HEIC files, which is often all you need to view them.
- Samsung Gallery opens HEIF/HEIC and, on some One UI versions, can convert to JPEG when sharing.
- Samsung Camera can stop producing HEIF files — turn off High efficiency pictures in Camera settings.
Full steps are in How to convert HEIC to JPG on Android.
Option 3: A dedicated converter app — what to check first
If you prefer an installed app, look for these before tapping Install:
| Check | Good sign | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | “Converts on device / works offline” | Requires upload or an account |
| Permissions | Photos/media only | Contacts, location, phone, SMS |
| Developer | Has a website and privacy policy | No contact details |
| Ads | Occasional banner | Full-screen ads between every step |
| Output | Quality setting, batch, keeps date | Fixed low quality, watermarks |
| Reviews | Recent, specific | Many 1-star “doesn’t convert” reviews |
A quick test: turn on airplane mode and try converting. If the app still works, it’s processing on your phone.
Which should you use?
- Occasional conversions: the browser converter — no install, no ads, private.
- Samsung user who wants fewer HEIC files: change the camera setting.
- Daily heavy use offline: a well-reviewed on-device app that passes the checks above.
Converting on a computer instead
For large batches, moving the photos to a computer is often faster — see How to batch convert HEIC to JPG. For a comparison of desktop and online tools, see Best free HEIC to JPG converters compared. And if the HEIC files come from a friend’s iPhone, they can switch it to JPG in a few taps: How to turn off HEIC on iPhone.
Having trouble just viewing the photos? See How to open HEIC files on any device.