How to Convert RAW to JPEG on Mac, Windows, and More

Introduction

Looking for a quick way to convert RAW to JPEG on Mac, Windows, using a dedicated program, or online?

We’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll walk you through several easy, step-by-step processes for taking your RAW photos and turning them into beautiful JPEGs—no matter which RAW format you use or which computer you’re on.

Specifically, I’m going to share my favorite ways to:

• Convert a RAW to JPEG on a Mac (using Preview or Apple Photos)
• Convert a RAW to JPEG on Windows (using the Photos app or free Pixillion program)
• Convert a RAW to JPEG online (with two of the simplest RAW-to-JPEG converters around)
• Convert a RAW to JPEG with professional editing software, such as Luminar Neo, Lightroom, and Photoshop

Let’s dive right in.

How to Convert RAW to JPEG on Mac

Converting RAW files to JPEGs on a Mac takes seconds. macOS includes excellent built-in tools for this task.

Convert a Single Image with Preview

First, identify the RAW image you want to convert.

Open your image in Apple’s Preview program (right-click on the file and select Open With > Preview.)

Then, once the image has appeared, select File>Export.

A dialog box will pop up with the option to pick a new location for your RAW file. Feel free to select any location and even create a new folder—though you can always leave these options alone, and Preview will automatically save the JPEG alongside the original RAW file.

Next, select your preferred Format; here, you’ll need to hit JPEG.

You can leave the Depth on its default (which should be 8 Bits/Channel). If you want an extra-small JPEG, go ahead and drop the Quality slider.

(Personally, I generally export my JPEGs at the highest quality, unless I have a particular reason to crush the file size—e.g., I’m emailing the image or sending it over Messenger.)

Finally, hit Save. And check in your chosen location to see your new JPEG!

Convert a Batch of Images

You can also convert a whole batch of RAW images to JPEGs using Preview.

Simply select all the images, then right-click, hit Open With, and then Preview.

Then tap File>Export Selected Images.

At this point, you’ll need to choose the location where you’d like to save your JPEGs. So pick a folder, then head down to the Options button:

This will bring up your file format and sizing options. Under Format, pick JPEG. Leave the Depth alone, but drop the Quality if you’d like to reduce the file size.

Then, when you’re done, hit Choose.

And that’s it! You’ll have successfully batch-converted your RAWs to JPEGs on a Mac.

Alternative: Apple Photos

Apple Photos is another excellent option for Mac users, especially if you want to do some quick edits before converting. Import your RAW files into Photos, make any desired adjustments, then select your images and choose File > Export > Export [X] Photos. Select JPEG as the format and your preferred quality level.

Apple Photos also handles batch exports well and maintains good quality during conversion.

How to Convert RAW to JPEG on Windows

Windows 10 and Windows 11 have significantly improved their native RAW file support. However, for the most control over your conversions, a dedicated program like Pixillion offers more options.

Quick Method: Windows Photos App

Windows 11’s Photos app can open and convert many RAW formats. Simply open your RAW file in Photos, then use Save as or Save a copy to export as JPEG. While basic, this works well for quick, single-file conversions.

Note: You may need to install the Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store for full RAW format support (it’s free).

Advanced Method: Pixillion

For more control and batch processing, download Pixillion from the NCH software website:

Pixillion works on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and is free for non-commercial use.

Open the program. You’ll see an “Unlicensed” label across the top, but don’t let it worry you; NCH only requires that you pay if you plan to use the converter commercially.

Next, tap Add File(s):

And select the images you’d like to convert.

You can also just drag and drop images onto the Pixillion window.

Once you’ve added the RAWs for conversion, pick your output folder:

Though you can check the Output to same folder as source files box if you’re looking to save your JPEG to the original RAW file folder:

Select the JPEG Output Format:

And if you want to reduce the image size, go ahead and adjust the Compression Settings.

Finally, hit Convert. And your JPEGs will be saved as specified!

How to Convert RAW to JPEG Online

If you’re looking for a quick, no-download RAW image converter solution, online converters are your best bet. Here are two reliable options:

1. CloudConvert
2. ILoveIMG

They’re quick, intuitive, and (mostly) free.

Converting with CloudConvert

CloudConvert is a freemium online image converter; the free, no sign-up version allows you to convert up to 25 files per day. After that, however, you’ll need to pay for Conversion Minutes, explained in-depth on the Pricing page.

To convert from RAW to JPEG, simply select your RAW image. Just hit Select File:

Or do a quick drag-and-drop.

Note that you can add multiple files by tapping the Add More Files button (or by simply highlighting several images during the original selection process):

Select JPG from the Convert to dropdown:

Then open the Tools icon (shaped like a wrench):

Which lets you adjust the image size and quality:

Finally, hit Convert.

Depending on the size (and number) of RAW images, you may have to wait a few minutes. This is a primary drawback of online RAW-to-JPEG converters, by the way—compared to desktop programs, they’re really, really slow.

Once the conversion has finished, you’ll have the option to Download your photos to the desktop:

Or Preview the photos in the browser window:

Converting with ILoveIMG

ILoveIMG is another great online image converter; it even allows for unlimited conversions.

Just head over to the ILoveIMG website, and select Convert to JPG at the top:

Select your images (or do a drag-and-drop):

You can add additional images with the Add More Images dropdown on the right:

And then, when you’re ready, hit Convert to JPG.

Once the images are converted, you can click to Download your JPEGs:

If you try both CloudConvert and ILoveIMG, you’ll notice that CloudConvert offers more options, but ILoveIMG is faster, plus it’s easier to use (and it offers unlimited conversions). The program you choose depends on your needs, but both will get the job done.

How to Convert RAW to JPEG with Image Editors

Below, I explain how to use Lightroom, Luminar Neo, and Photoshop to convert RAWs to JPEGs.

The advantage to using a dedicated image editor—as opposed to a program such as Preview, Pixillion, or an online converter—is that you can first edit your RAW images, then export them. You also tend to get more conversion options; for instance, Lightroom lets you batch-rename files, adjust the image size, sharpen, and add watermarks, among other things.

How to Convert RAW to JPEG with Lightroom Classic

Start by selecting your RAW image(s) in Lightroom Classic.

(Feel free to extensively edit your shots in Lightroom, first; you might consider adjusting exposure, contrast, colors, and more.)

Head to the Library tab, then click Export:

The Export window will pop up, which will tell you the number of files you’ll be converting:

Choose your Export Location:

As well as your file names:

Pick the JPEG file setting and adjust the Quality:

You can also resize images in the Image Sizing panel (I often resize to 1500 pixels on the long end for web display).

Since you’re compressing a RAW to a JPEG, it’s often a good idea to add a bit of sharpening. So check the Sharpen For box and select Screen. You can experiment with different amounts, but Low is a good starting point.

Finally, select Export.

You can watch the Export progress in the upper-left corner of the Lightroom window.

How to Convert RAW to JPEG with Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo is Skylum’s current flagship photo editor, replacing the older Luminar 4 and Luminar AI products. It offers powerful AI-driven editing tools alongside straightforward RAW-to-JPEG conversion.

Single Image Export

To export a single image, open your RAW file in Luminar Neo and make any desired edits. When ready, click the Share icon in the top-right corner (or go to File > Export).

In the export dialog:

• Choose your save Location and File Name
• Set Format to JPEG
• Adjust Quality (80-100 is recommended for most uses)
• Add output Sharpening if desired (Low works well for screen viewing)
• Set any Resize options if needed

Click Export to save your JPEG.

Batch Export

Luminar Neo supports batch exports through its Catalog view. Select multiple images, right-click, and choose Export. You can apply the same settings to all selected images for efficient batch conversion.

One of Luminar Neo’s strengths is its AI-powered tools that can automatically enhance your RAW files before export—features like AI Structure, Enhance AI, and Sky AI can dramatically improve your images with just a few clicks.

How to Convert RAW to JPEG with Free Alternatives

If you’re looking for powerful RAW conversion without paying for software, several excellent free and open-source options are available:

darktable

darktable is a free, open-source photography workflow application and RAW developer. It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and offers professional-grade RAW processing capabilities.

To convert RAW to JPEG in darktable:

1. Import your RAW files into the lighttable
2. Select the image(s) you want to export
3. Open the Export module on the right panel
4. Set target storage to file on disk
5. Choose JPEG as the file format
6. Set your quality level (92-95 is a good balance)
7. Click Export

RawTherapee

RawTherapee is another excellent free RAW processor that supports virtually every camera format. It offers extensive control over the conversion process, including advanced color management and noise reduction.

Both darktable and RawTherapee have steeper learning curves than commercial software, but they’re incredibly capable once you get familiar with them—and they’re completely free.

How to Convert RAW to JPEG with Photoshop

Photoshop is an ultra-powerful program—so, as you might expect, it actually offers several ways of converting RAWs to JPEGs (with various levels of control and involvement).

The simplest method—and the one I use most often—is to open your photo, then select File>Save As (or File > Save a Copy in newer versions):

Rename your file, select your preferred location, and change the Save as type to JPEG:

Hit Save, and you’ll see the JPEG Options dialog box:

Here, you can select the image quality (I recommend leaving the Format Options to the default), then hit OK.

But if you want more control and resizing options, another Photoshop RAW-to-JPEG conversion method is via the File>Export As path:

Then select JPG under File Settings>Format:

You can adjust the image size, as well as the canvas size—and you can even see a preview of your image before exporting.

Once you’re done making adjustments, tap Export, then pick your download location.

Easy, right?

Converting RAW to JPEG: Final Words

Well, there you have it:

Several easy methods to convert from RAW to JPEG—using Preview on a Mac, using Pixillion or the built-in Photos app on Windows, using online converters, and using professional software like Lightroom, Photoshop, and Luminar Neo. We’ve also covered free alternatives like darktable and RawTherapee for those who want professional results without the cost.

In other words:

If you’ve read to the end, you should definitely know a few good ways to convert your RAWs to JPEGs (and to pretty much any other file format you can imagine!).

So go do your conversion.

And then spend some time admiring your newly-minted JPEGs!