How to convert an image easily on macOS

How-to
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Convert to JPEG or PNG in seconds.

Photos for Mac
(Image credit: iMore)

When it comes to macOS, no tool is as helpful as Quick Actions, an easy-to-access menu built-in into Finder. One of the most useful aspects of Quick Actions is converting image formats in split seconds, an absolute godsend for anyone that works with image files daily.

Here’s how to convert an image on macOS using Quick Actions.

How to convert an image on macOS

Using Quick Actions is so simple that once I’ve shown you how to convert an image once, you’ll likely never need this How To again. Not only can you convert an image in seconds with Quick Actions, but you can also quickly remove the background from an image without needing third-party applications.

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How to remove the background from an image on macOS

(Image credit: John-Anthony Disotto)
  1. Open Finder and find the image you want to remove the background from
  2. Right-click and select Quick Actions
  3. Click Convert Image
  4. Select the Format (for this example, I chose JPEG) and Size, then click Convert to JPEG

How to convert an image on macOS

(Image credit: John-Anthony Disotto)

It couldn’t be any simpler. For far too long, I’ve AirDropped HEIC images from my iPhone to my Mac and then used Canva or Photoshop to convert them. Now, I can quickly get JPEGs on my Mac without having to go through any hassle at all.

Quick Actions, my new best friend

After I started to use Quick Actions to convert images quickly on Mac alongside the ability to remove backgrounds from any image, I began to wonder how I ever lived without it. Quick Actions is fantastic, and it has so many capabilities thanks to Apple allowing third-party developers to access the menu.

Now, I feel far more in control of my Mac and never have to worry about jumping through extra steps just to upload a scanned document of my passport photo onto a website. Gone are the days of smashing my head off the table as a red exclamation mark prevents me from uploading a HEIC to an online form. Quick Actions has made my life so much easier, and I’ll never stop singing its praise.

John-Anthony Disotto
John-Anthony Disotto
Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the Editor of iMore, helping you get the most from your Apple products and fixing things when your technology isn't behaving itself.

Based in Scotland, where he worked as a Genius Bar technician repairing iPhones, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself on closing his Apple Watch activity rings.

He leads iMore's work on AI in the newsroom, testing where it genuinely improves editorial work and where it doesn't. Every story is written, edited, and signed off by a person.

Previously in editorial at TechRadar and Tom's Guide, John-Anthony is an avid film geek who won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. Away from Apple, he tinkers with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.