---
title: ".jpg file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .jpg file is a JPEG Image. The lossy photo format that every camera, phone and website has used since the 1990s. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/jpg/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .jpg files

**.jpg file: JPEG Image**

The lossy photo format that every camera, phone and website has used since the 1990s.

## What opens a .jpg file

- **Windows:** Photos (built in), Paint (built in), IrfanView, Adobe Photoshop
- **macOS:** Preview (built in), Photos (built in), GIMP
- **Linux:** Image Viewer / Loupe (built in), GIMP, gThumb
- **In a browser:** Any web browser

## What a .jpg file is

JPEG was published by the Joint Photographic Experts Group in 1992 and is still the default for photographs everywhere. It throws away detail to make files small, and it does so again every time you re-save, so repeated editing slowly degrades the picture. Nothing needs installing to view one — every operating system and browser has read JPEG for decades.

## Converting it

A .jpg file is commonly converted to .png, .webp, .pdf, .tiff or .heic. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .jpg
- **Full name:** JPEG Image
- **Category:** Images
- **MIME type:** image/jpeg
- **Created by:** Joint Photographic Experts Group
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .jpg file?

On Windows use Photos (built in); on macOS use Preview (built in); on Linux use Image Viewer / Loupe (built in). The lossy photo format that every camera, phone and website has used since the 1990s.

### What is a .jpg file?

JPEG Image. JPEG was published by the Joint Photographic Experts Group in 1992 and is still the default for photographs everywhere. It throws away detail to make files small, and it does so again every time you re-save, so repeated editing slowly degrades the picture.

### Can I convert a .jpg file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .png, .webp, .pdf, .tiff or .heic, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.png — Portable Network Graphics](https://atoneplace.net/file/png/)
- [.jpeg — JPEG Image (four-letter form)](https://atoneplace.net/file/jpeg/)
- [.heic — High Efficiency Image Container](https://atoneplace.net/file/heic/)
- [.webp — WebP Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/webp/)
- [.gif — Graphics Interchange Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/gif/)
- [.psd — Adobe Photoshop Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/psd/)
- [.svg — Scalable Vector Graphics](https://atoneplace.net/file/svg/)
- [.ai — Adobe Illustrator Artwork](https://atoneplace.net/file/ai/)
- [.avif — AV1 Image File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/avif/)
- [.tiff — Tagged Image File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/tiff/)
- [.raw — Camera Raw Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/raw/)
- [.ico — Windows Icon](https://atoneplace.net/file/ico/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)