What JPG to PNG does
This converter decodes a JPG and saves the pixels as a PNG — a lossless format. Use it when a program, form or workflow insists on PNG, when you are about to edit an image repeatedly and want to stop JPEG loss from compounding, or when you need to add transparency later. The conversion runs in your browser through the Canvas API; the file is not uploaded.
What conversion can and cannot do
JPEG compression throws away detail permanently when the file is saved. Converting to PNG preserves exactly what is left — it does not recover what was lost. The PNG will be pixel-for-pixel identical to how the JPG displays, and typically 3–8 times larger, because PNG stores every pixel exactly instead of approximating.
| JPG | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes — but a converted JPG has none to start with |
| Best for | Photos | Graphics, text, screenshots, images to be edited |
| File size for a photo | Small | Large — usually several times the JPG |
| Generational loss on re-save | Yes | None |
When converting makes sense
- Repeated editing. Each JPG save adds artefacts. Convert once to PNG, edit as many times as you like, and export a final JPG at the end.
- Adding transparency. Removing a background needs an alpha channel; convert first, then cut out in an editor.
- Tool requirements. Icon builders, some game engines, LaTeX workflows and certain upload forms accept PNG only.
- Graphics saved as JPG by mistake. A logo or diagram exported as JPG has halos; converting does not remove them, but it stops them getting worse.
- Print pipelines that ask for lossless input.
When it does not
- To make a photo “higher quality” — it will look identical and be much larger.
- To reduce file size — PNG is the wrong direction; use the compressor or WebP.
- For web images — a photo as PNG slows a page for no visible gain.
Details of the conversion
- EXIF orientation is applied, so a photo that displayed upright stays upright. Other EXIF data (camera, GPS) is dropped.
- Colour is converted to sRGB; images with an embedded wide-gamut profile may shift slightly in saturated tones.
- Output is 8-bit RGB PNG (24-bit), the format every application reads.
- Dimensions are unchanged. Use the Image Resizer if you also need a different size.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the PNG so much bigger?
PNG stores every pixel exactly. Photographic content has little repetition for lossless compression to exploit, so files are several times larger than the JPG.
Does the converted PNG have a transparent background?
No. JPG has no transparency, so the PNG is fully opaque. Remove the background in an editor after converting.
Will the PNG look better than the JPG?
No — identical. The JPEG artefacts are already in the pixels.
Can I convert PNG back to JPG?
Yes, with the PNG to JPG tool, choosing a quality level. That re-introduces lossy compression.
How do I convert a batch of files?
One at a time here. For folders, macOS Preview (select all, Export), IrfanView's batch conversion or XnConvert handle many files at once.
Is the image uploaded?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser.