What is a JPEG file?
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group image. It was created by the Joint Photographic Experts Group and first released in 1992. JPEG and JPG are the same format. The three-letter extension dates from old Windows systems that only allowed three characters after the dot, and both names are still in use.
JPG and JFIF are the same format under another extension.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Colour | 24-bit colour, 16.7 million colours |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | opens in every browser and image viewer |
| Common uses | camera photos, scanned documents and web images |
| MIME type | image/jpeg |
Which format should you convert JPEG to?
- JPEG to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- JPEG to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- JPEG to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- JPEG to ICO to use as a website favicon.
JPEG is already lossy, so converting it to a lossless format makes the file bigger without improving it; pick a lossless target only if a program requires one.
How to open a JPEG file
Whether a JPEG file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If JPEG is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | JPEG opens in every browser and image viewer. |
Want the technical details? See what a .jpeg file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
JPEG compared with other image formats
How JPEG stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, scanned documents and web images |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
| GIF | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | short looping animations, reactions and simple graphics |
How to use the JPEG converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your JPEG files on the box, or press Choose JPEG files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to AVIF, HEIC, HEIF, PSD uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting JPEG files without losing quality
JPEG is lossy, so some detail was already discarded when the file was made. Converting it cannot bring that back. Converting to a lossless format preserves what is left exactly but makes the file larger; converting to another lossy format adds a small extra loss, which is invisible at sensible settings.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert JPEG files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common JPEG conversion, to JPG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.jpeg output.jpgChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
JPEG converter FAQ
What is a JPEG file?
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group image, an alternative extension for a image format created by the Joint Photographic Experts Group in 1992. JPEG and JPG are the same format. The three-letter extension dates from old Windows systems that only allowed three characters after the dot, and both names are still in use.
How do I open a JPEG file?
JPEG opens in every browser and image viewer. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common JPEG conversion?
JPEG to JPG is the conversion people search for most. JPEG and JPG are the same format with different extensions, so nothing is re-encoded. The file is copied byte for byte and saved with a .jpg extension.
Does converting JPEG files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to AVIF, HEIC, HEIF, PSD uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the JPEG converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert JPEG files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your JPEG files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several JPEG files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.