Converting PNG to JPG on every device you own

Format conversion · 9 min read

Written by the photoedit.in editorial team · Reviewed against current tool behaviour

What actually changes when you convert

PNG and JPG store pixels differently. PNG is lossless and supports transparency, so it is the right format for screenshots, logos and anything with a cut-out background. JPG is lossy and has no transparency at all, so every transparent pixel has to be filled with a colour before the file can be saved.

That single fact explains most conversion complaints. A logo with a transparent background converted to JPG will show a solid block behind it, usually white or black depending on the app. If you need the transparency, keep the PNG. If you need a small file for a form or a website, convert to JPG and choose the background colour deliberately.

Windows: three built-in routes

The simplest is Paint. Open the PNG, choose File, Save as, JPEG picture, and pick a quality level. Paint is basic but it lets you set the background colour first by filling the canvas before pasting the image.

The Photos app can also do it: open the image, click the three dots, choose Save as, then JPEG. Windows 11 also lets you right-click a file, choose Open with, then Paint, and save as JPEG. For batches, install PowerToys and use Image Resizer, which can convert and resize many files at once from the right-click menu.

Mac: Preview and the command line

Open the PNG in Preview, choose File, Export, then set Format to JPEG and drag the quality slider. Preview shows the estimated file size as you move the slider, which is genuinely useful when a portal has a hard limit.

For batches, the terminal is faster. The command sips -s format jpeg input.png --out output.jpg converts a single file, and a short for loop converts a whole folder. sips is built into macOS, so nothing needs installing. If the PNG has transparency, sips fills it with black by default, so flatten it onto white first in Preview if that matters.

Android: Files and Google Photos

On most Android phones, open the Files app, tap the PNG, choose Share, then Save to Files or use an image editor. Google Photos can export a copy as JPG through the edit menu on many devices, though the option varies by manufacturer.

The most reliable route on Android is a browser converter. Chrome on Android handles a local file picker and canvas conversion without uploading anything, which is faster than installing an app that wants access to your whole gallery.

iPhone: Photos, Files and Shortcuts

iPhone does not offer a direct PNG to JPG switch in the Photos app. The workaround that works everywhere is to open the image, tap Share, choose Save to Files, and then in the Files app long-press the file, choose Quick Actions, then Convert Image, and pick JPEG. This is built into iOS 16 and later.

If you convert often, build a one-step Shortcut: Get Images from Input, Convert Image, Set Format to JPEG, Save to Photo Album. Once it is in your share sheet, converting takes two taps. Note that iOS fills transparency with white during Convert Image, which is usually what you want for documents.

Keeping quality and a white background

Save JPG at quality 85 to 92 for photographs. Below 80 you start to see blocking around edges, especially on text and sharp lines. Above 92 the file grows quickly for very little visible gain.

If the PNG had a transparent background and you need white, do not convert straight away. Open the image on a white canvas first, flatten it, then save as JPG. A browser converter that lets you choose the background colour handles this in one step and avoids the black-background surprise.

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