How to Convert JPG to PNG (And Why It Won't Make the Background Transparent)

Converting a JPG to PNG is quick, but it is also one of the most misunderstood image conversions. Many people expect it to improve quality or to make the background transparent. It does neither of those things, but it is still very useful in the right situations.

This guide shows you how to convert JPG to PNG online, on Windows, on a Mac, and on an iPhone, and explains what the conversion can and cannot do.

Quick Answer: How to Convert JPG to PNG

1. Open our free JPG to PNG converter in any browser.
2. Drag and drop your JPG or JPEG images, or click Select Files.
3. Click Convert.
4. Click Download. Several images are downloaded together in a ZIP file.

When Should You Convert JPG to PNG?

PNG is a lossless format: it stores every pixel exactly, without any compression loss. That makes it the right choice when:

• You will edit the image several times. Every time a JPG is edited and saved again, it loses a bit more quality. A PNG doesn't, no matter how many times you save it.
• You want to remove the background later. PNG supports transparency, JPG doesn't. If you plan to cut out the background in an image editor, you need a PNG to save the result.
• An app or upload form requires PNG. Some design tools, websites, and forms only accept PNG files.
• The image is a logo, screenshot, or graphic with text. These keep sharper edges as PNG files.

For ordinary photos that you just want to share, keep the JPG. It is much smaller.

Method 1: Convert JPG to PNG Online (Any Device)

1. Open the tool. Go to the JPG to PNG page.
2. Add your images. Drag and drop your JPG or JPEG files, or click Select Files. You can convert up to 50 images at once, up to 200 MB each.
3. Rotate if needed. Turn any sideways image the right way up before converting.
4. Click Convert. Each JPG is saved as a lossless PNG with the same size and colors.
5. Download. Save your PNG file, or all of them in a single ZIP file.

It is free, with no sign-up and no watermark, and your files are deleted automatically after one hour.

Method 2: How to Convert JPG to PNG on Windows

Windows includes Paint, which can save any JPG as a PNG:

1. Right-click your JPG file and choose Open with > Paint.
2. Click File > Save as > PNG picture.
3. Choose a name and location, then click Save.

Paint handles one image at a time. To convert a whole folder, use the online converter in Edge or Chrome and download all the PNG files in one ZIP.

Method 3: How to Convert JPG to PNG on Mac

Using Preview

1. Open your JPG in Preview.
2. Click File > Export.
3. In the Format menu, choose PNG.
4. Click Save.

Using Finder Quick Actions (several files)

On macOS Monterey or later:

1. Select your JPG files in Finder.
2. Right-click and choose Quick Actions > Convert Image.
3. Choose PNG as the format.
4. Click Convert to PNG. The PNG files appear next to the originals.

Method 4: How to Convert JPG to PNG on iPhone

1. Open Safari and go to the JPG to PNG page.
2. Tap Select Files and pick your images from Photo Library or Browse.
3. Tap Convert, then Download.
4. Your PNG files are saved in the Files app, in the Downloads folder.

The same steps work on an iPad and on Android phones.

Can You Convert JPG to PNG with a Transparent Background?

No, and this is where most people get confused. A JPG has no transparency at all. Its background is made of real pixels, usually white or a color. When you convert it to PNG, those pixels are kept exactly as they are, so the background stays white (or whatever color it was).

What the conversion does give you is a file that can hold transparency. To actually get a transparent background:

1. Convert your JPG to PNG.
2. Open the PNG in an image editor that has a background removal or "magic eraser" feature.
3. Remove the background and save the image as PNG again.

The transparency is created in step 2, not by the conversion.

Does Converting JPG to PNG Improve Quality?

No. The conversion itself doesn't lose any quality: the PNG has exactly the same pixels as your JPG. But it can't add back detail that was already lost when the JPG was created. If your JPG looks blurry or blocky, the PNG will look exactly the same.

Why Is the PNG Bigger Than the JPG?

Because PNG stores every pixel without lossy compression, while JPG was designed to make photos as small as possible. A photo is often several times larger as a PNG. That's normal.

If the PNG is too big for an upload limit, you can reduce its size with our Compress Images tool, or keep the original JPG if the site accepts it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert JPG to PNG for free? Upload your images to our free JPG to PNG converter, click Convert, and download the PNG files. No sign-up or watermark. On Windows you can also use Paint, and on a Mac you can use Preview.

Does converting JPG to PNG lose quality? No. The PNG keeps exactly the same pixels as the JPG. It doesn't improve the quality either, though.

Can I convert JPG to PNG with a transparent background? Not directly. A JPG has no transparency, so the PNG keeps the same background. You need to remove the background afterward in an image editor and save it as PNG.

Is JPEG the same as JPG? Yes. JPG and JPEG are the same format with two spellings of the file extension. Our converter accepts both .jpg and .jpeg files.

Can I convert many JPG files to PNG at once? Yes. Upload up to 50 JPG images, convert them in one go, and download all the PNG files in a single ZIP file.

How do I convert PNG back to JPG? Use our PNG to JPG tool. It turns PNG images into smaller JPG files, which is handy for sharing and uploading.

Conclusion

Converting JPG to PNG is the right move when you need to edit an image, prepare it for a transparent background, or meet a PNG-only upload requirement. Paint and Preview work well for single images, and the free online JPG to PNG converter handles batches on any device. Just remember that the conversion won't make the background transparent or improve quality, and that PNG files are larger.