How to Convert JPG to PNG and PNG to JPG
By Tools Star Hub Editorial Team · Published
Quick answer: open the Image Converter and choose a JPG or PNG file. The tool picks the opposite direction for you: JPG → PNG for a JPG, or PNG → JPG for a PNG. When converting to JPG, pick a background colour for any transparent areas, white by default. Convert, check the output size, and download. The pixels and dimensions stay the same; only the file format changes.
Sites and apps often accept only one format. A form may demand a JPG, a design tool may want a PNG, and a print shop may ask for one or the other. Converting is quicker than reopening the picture in an editor, and knowing what each format does saves you from bloated files or lost transparency.
How do JPG and PNG store images differently?
JPG uses lossy compression. It throws away fine detail the eye is unlikely to miss, which makes photographs small. The cost shows up on sharp edges and flat colours, where you may see faint blotches or halos around text.
PNG uses lossless compression. Every pixel is kept exactly, and the format supports transparency. That makes it ideal for logos, icons, screenshots and diagrams, but photographs saved as PNG are usually much larger than the same photo as JPG.
| JPG | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Transparency | Not supported | Supported |
| Best for | Photos | Graphics, text, screenshots, logos |
| Typical size for a photo | Smaller | Larger |
What happens when I convert JPG to PNG?
The picture is decoded and saved again without further loss. That stops the image from degrading if you plan to edit and resave it many times. It does not restore detail the original JPG already discarded, and it does not add a transparent background; the white or coloured background in the photo is still there as ordinary pixels.
Expect the file to grow, often noticeably for photos. That is normal, because PNG records every pixel exactly. Convert to PNG when a tool or workflow needs PNG, not as a way to improve quality.
What happens when I convert PNG to JPG?
The image is re-encoded as a JPG at quality 90. Photos usually become much smaller with little visible change. Graphics with text or hard lines may show slight softening, so zoom into the preview before using the result.
Transparency is the important part. JPG has no transparent pixels, so every transparent or semi-transparent area is placed on top of a solid colour. The tool uses white unless you choose another colour with the picker or type a six-digit hex code such as #000000. Pick the colour of the page or slide where the image will appear, so the edges blend in.
When is it worth converting at all?
Convert PNG photos to JPG when you need smaller files for email, upload limits or web pages. Convert JPG to PNG when software insists on PNG, or before a series of edits so each save does not lose more detail.
If a site accepts both formats, keep whatever you have unless size or transparency is a problem. Converting back and forth repeatedly gains nothing, and each trip through JPG compression can lose a little more detail.
What files does the converter accept, and is it private?
It accepts JPG and PNG files up to 25 MB, with each side no larger than 8,192 pixels. WebP and other formats are rejected by this page. The conversion runs on a canvas inside your browser, so the image is not uploaded, and because the picture is redrawn, camera metadata is not carried over to the new file.
Which format keeps text and screenshots sharp?
PNG. Screenshots, charts, user interface mockups and scanned forms are full of hard edges and flat colours. JPG compression is designed for the gradual changes of a photograph, so around crisp letters it tends to create a faint fuzzy halo. At quality 90 the effect is small, but it can still be visible on small type.
If a site forces JPG for a screenshot, convert it and zoom into the preview to check that the important text is readable. Cropping away parts you do not need first will also make the file smaller without lowering quality.
Will converting change the colours?
Usually not in any noticeable way. The picture is decoded by your browser and drawn onto a canvas before being saved in the new format, so the colours you see in the preview are the colours in the output. Very fine gradients in a PNG may pick up slight banding or blockiness when saved as JPG, which is part of lossy compression.
Images prepared for professional printing sometimes use colour profiles or modes that browsers handle differently from design software. If exact colour matters for print, do the conversion in the software that created the file and check a proof.
How is the converted file named?
The download keeps your original name, adds “-converted” and switches the extension, so photo.png becomes photo-converted.jpg. Unusual characters in the name are replaced with hyphens. The original stays untouched on your device, so you can always go back to it.
Which format is better for a website?
For photos on a web page, JPG is usually the lighter option, which helps pages load faster on mobile connections. For logos, icons and interface graphics, PNG keeps edges clean and supports transparency. Many sites also use WebP, which can be smaller than both; this converter does not output WebP, but the Image Resizer can save a picture as WebP when you also want to change its size.
Whatever you choose, make sure the pixel dimensions match how large the image is displayed. An oversized PNG converted to JPG is smaller, but resizing it to the right width often saves far more.
How to convert an image between JPG and PNG
- Choose a JPG or PNG. Select the file. The tool shows its name, size and dimensions and selects the opposite format.
- Check the direction. Confirm JPG → PNG or PNG → JPG. You can switch the direction if needed.
- Set a background for JPG. When saving as JPG, choose the colour that will replace transparent pixels. White is the default.
- Convert and download. Run the conversion, compare the output size with the original, and download the file with “-converted” in its name.
Example
A transparent logo for a dark slide
A PNG logo with a transparent background must be a JPG. Choose PNG → JPG and set the background to the slide colour, for example #1a1a1a, so no white box appears around it.
A screenshot PNG that is too big to email
A 3 MB PNG screenshot of a photo-heavy web page is converted to JPG at quality 90 and becomes much smaller. Zoom in on small text in the preview to check it is still readable.
A JPG that an editor requires as PNG
A design app only imports PNG. Convert JPG → PNG. The picture looks the same, and the file is larger because PNG is lossless.
Tips and limitations
Dimensions do not change
The converter keeps the same width and height. Use the Image Resizer for a new size.
No removing backgrounds
Converting to PNG does not make a solid background transparent; that needs an editing tool.
Need a smaller JPG?
The converter uses a fixed quality. The Image Compressor lets you choose a lower quality for a smaller file.
FAQ
- Does converting JPG to PNG improve image quality?
- No. It stops further loss when you edit and resave, but detail already removed by JPG compression does not come back.
- Why is my PNG bigger than the JPG I started with?
- PNG stores every pixel exactly, while JPG discards detail to save space. Photos are usually larger as PNG.
- Can I choose a black background instead of white?
- Yes. When converting to JPG, use the colour picker or type a hex code such as #000000.
- Will converting to PNG remove the white background?
- No. The white background in a JPG is part of the picture and stays white in the PNG.
- Can I convert WebP files here?
- No. This converter accepts JPG and PNG only. The Image Resizer can read WebP and save it as JPG or PNG at a chosen size.
- What JPG quality is used?
- JPG output is saved at quality 90, which keeps photos visually clean.
- Does the image keep the same pixel size?
- Yes. The width and height of the converted image match the original.
- Is camera metadata kept?
- No. The image is redrawn, so EXIF details such as camera model and location are not copied.
- Can I convert many files at once?
- No. Convert one image at a time.
- What is the largest file I can convert?
- Up to 25 MB, with each side 8,192 pixels or smaller.
- When should I keep PNG instead of converting to JPG?
- Keep PNG for sharp UI graphics, screenshots with text, or images that need transparency.
- Does repeated JPG re-encoding hurt quality?
- Yes—each lossy save can add artifacts; convert from the best master you still have.
- Can I batch-rename outputs after conversion?
- Downloads keep clear names; rename in your file manager if you need a project convention.
- Why convert PNG screenshots to JPG for email?
- Photos and soft gradients shrink more as JPG; screenshots with text may look worse—preview first.
- Is WebP a better middle ground?
- Often for the web, but use JPG/PNG when a recipient or printer demands those formats.
- Do color profiles survive conversion?
- Behavior varies; for print-critical work, verify color in the destination app.
- Can animated PNGs convert cleanly to JPG?
- JPG is a still format—you will get a single frame, not animation.
- Should product photos on white use JPG or PNG?
- JPG is usually enough for soft photos; PNG helps if you need a truly flat transparent cutout later.
- How do I avoid muddy text after JPG conversion?
- Raise quality or stay on PNG when the frame is mostly text and hard edges.
- Does conversion change EXIF orientation flags?
- Viewers may normalize rotation; check the pixels if a phone photo looks sideways afterward.
Switch formats in seconds with the free Image Converter.
To shrink a JPG further, use the Image Compressor.
To turn images into a document, try Image to PDF.