How to Convert PNG to JPG on Mac

PNG or JPG: which should you use?

• JPG is made for photos. It drops detail your eye won't miss, so files are small.
• PNG keeps every pixel exactly and supports transparency. That suits screenshots, text, logos, and icons, but makes photos heavy.

Convert to JPG when the image is a photo or you need a smaller file. Keep PNG when the image has a transparent background or sharp text you want to stay crisp.

Method 1: Convert one PNG in Preview

1. Open the PNG in Preview.
2. Choose File → Export.
3. Set Format to JPEG and move the Quality slider. The estimated file size updates as you drag.
4. Click Save. The JPG is saved as a new file and the PNG stays as it was.

Converting several PNGs in Preview

Open them all at once, click any thumbnail in the sidebar, and press Command-A. Choose File → Export Selected Images, click Options, set the format to JPEG, and pick a folder.

Method 2: Convert a batch from Finder

On macOS Monterey and later, this is the quickest way to convert many PNGs.

1. Select the PNG files in Finder.
2. Right-click and choose Quick Actions → Convert Image.
3. Set Format to JPEG and Image Size to Actual Size to keep the full resolution.
4. Click Convert to JPEG. The JPGs appear next to the originals.

Choose Small, Medium, or Large instead of Actual Size if you also want smaller pictures. For exact dimensions, see how to resize multiple images on Mac.

Method 3: Convert a whole folder in Terminal

The built-in sips command converts any number of files and lets you set the JPG quality. Open Terminal and run:

cd ~/Desktop/screenshots
mkdir -p jpg
setopt nullglob nocaseglob
for f in *.png; do
  sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 85 "$f" --out "jpg/${f%.*}.jpg"
done

• Replace ~/Desktop/screenshots with your folder, or type cd and drag the folder onto the Terminal window.
• formatOptions 85 sets the JPG quality to 85%. Lower it for smaller files.
• The JPGs go into a new jpg folder, named like the originals, and the PNGs stay untouched.

Method 4: Convert from the right-click menu with FinderBuddy

FinderBuddy adds Convert Image to Finder's right-click menu. Select one PNG or a few hundred, right-click, choose FinderBuddy → Convert Image, and pick JPG. The same tool converts between PNG, JPG, WebP, and HEIC, and you can compress or resize the batch right after.

It all runs on your Mac, so screenshots of documents or private photos never leave it. See pricing or read the setup guide.

What happens to transparent backgrounds?

JPG can't store transparency. When you convert a PNG with a transparent background, the empty areas are filled with a solid color, often white or black depending on the tool. A logo that looked fine on a colored page can end up in a box.

If you need a transparent background, keep the PNG, or convert to WebP, which supports transparency and is still smaller. Going the other way, from photos to smaller files in general, is covered in how to compress images on Mac.