Converting HEIC to PDF on macOS

HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container) is the default image format for photos taken on newer iOS devices. While this format offers excellent compression and quality, you might need to convert these files to PDF for sharing or archiving purposes. This guide covers multiple methods to convert HEIC files to PDF on your Mac.

Method 1: Using Preview (Built-in)

macOS comes with Preview, a powerful built-in tool that can handle this conversion easily.

Step 1: Open the HEIC Image

1. Locate your HEIC file in Finder
2. Double-click to open it with Preview (the default app for images)

Step 2: Convert to PDF

1. Click on “File” in the menu bar
2. Select “Export…”
3. From the “Format” dropdown menu, select “PDF”
4. Choose your desired location to save the file
5. Click “Save”

Step 3: Convert Multiple HEIC Images to a Single PDF

1. Open the first HEIC image in Preview
2. In Finder, select all other HEIC images you want to include
3. Drag them into the thumbnail sidebar in Preview
4. Arrange them in your desired order by dragging the thumbnails
5. Go to “File” > “Export as PDF…”
6. Choose your save location and click “Save”

Method 2: Using Quick Actions in Finder

macOS Mojave and later versions include Quick Actions in Finder that make conversion simple.

Step 1: Select Your HEIC File(s)

1. In Finder, locate and select the HEIC file(s) you want to convert
2. You can select multiple files by holding the Command key while clicking

Step 2: Use Quick Actions

1. Right-click (or Control-click) on the selected file(s)
2. From the context menu, select “Quick Actions”
3. Click “Create PDF”
4. The PDF will be created in the same folder as the original image(s)

Method 3: Using the Print Dialog (System-wide)

This method works from any app that can display HEIC images.

Step 1: Open the HEIC Image

1. Open your HEIC file in Preview, Photos, or any app that can view it

Step 2: Print to PDF

1. Press Command+P or go to “File” > “Print”
2. In the print dialog, look for the “PDF” button in the lower-left corner
3. Click on it and select “Save as PDF”
4. Choose your save location and click “Save”

Method 4: Using Automator for Batch Conversion

For converting many HEIC files to PDFs at once, Automator is extremely helpful.

Step 1: Create an Automator Workflow

1. Open Automator from your Applications folder
2. Select “New Document” and choose “Workflow”

Step 2: Build the Conversion Workflow

1. In the Actions library, search for “Get Specified Finder Items” and drag it to the workflow
2. Click “Add…” and select the HEIC files you want to convert
3. Search for “New PDF from Images” and drag it to the workflow below the previous action
4. Set your preferred options for the PDF
5. Add the “Move Finder Items” action to save the PDF to a specific location (optional)

Step 3: Run the Workflow

1. Click the “Run” button in the top-right corner
2. Wait for the conversion to complete
3. Your PDFs will be saved to the location specified

Method 5: Using Third-Party Apps

Several third-party applications can also handle HEIC to PDF conversion:

Option 1: Adobe Acrobat (Paid)

1. Open Adobe Acrobat
2. Go to “Tools” > “Create PDF”
3. Select your HEIC file(s) and click “Create”

Option 2: ImageConverter (Free)

1. Download ImageConverter from the Mac App Store
2. Open the app and drop your HEIC files
3. Select “PDF” as the output format
4. Click “Convert”

Troubleshooting

Images Not Converting Properly

• Make sure you have the latest macOS updates installed
• Try opening the HEIC file in Preview first, then use the export option

PDF Quality Issues

• When exporting, check for quality options in the export dialog
• In Preview, you can adjust image quality in the export settings

Large File Size

• If the resulting PDF is too large, try adjusting the compression settings during export
• In Preview’s export dialog, look for the “Quartz Filter” option and select “Reduce File Size”

Conclusion

Converting HEIC to PDF on macOS is straightforward thanks to the built-in tools available. Preview offers the simplest solution for most users, while Automator provides powerful batch processing capabilities for multiple conversions. Choose the method that best suits your specific needs and frequency of conversions.