To convert a PDF to JPG for free, upload it to Adobe's online PDF to JPG converter, choose JPG and download the images, one per page. On a Mac, open the PDF in Preview, choose File, Export and pick JPEG. On iPhone, Apple's Preview app can export a PDF as a JPEG and lets you set the resolution so text stays sharp.
You need this more often than you'd think: a flyer you want to post on Instagram, a page of a report to drop into a slide, or a certificate a website will only accept as an image. Each method below is free, and the right one depends on whether you need every page or just one.
Pick the right method
| Method | Pages | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe online converter | Every page, each as its own image | Multi-page PDFs on any device |
| Preview on Mac | The PDF you open in Preview | Quick single images with quality control |
| Preview on iPhone | Export with a resolution setting | Converting on the go |
| Rectangular Selection on Mac | Just part of a page | Grabbing one chart or logo |
Method 1: Adobe's free PDF to JPG converter
- Open Adobe's PDF to JPG page in any browser.
- Click Select a file, or drag your PDF into the drop zone.
- Choose the image format: JPG, PNG or TIFF.
- Convert, then download your images, or sign in to share them.
Adobe says each PDF page becomes its own image file, and you can download just the pages you need. It also says the conversion keeps your original formatting, including where text and images sit, and doesn't add a watermark. Files are deleted from Adobe's servers unless you sign in and save them.
JPG or PNG?
Adobe's own explanation is helpful here: PNG compression is lossless, so it's the higher-quality format, while JPG files are usually much smaller. For a page with lots of text or a logo, PNG stays crisper. For photos or anything going on social media, JPG is fine and lighter.
Method 2: Preview on a Mac
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Choose File, then Export.
- Click the Format pop-up menu and choose JPEG.
- Move the quality slider to suit where the image is going.
- Name the file, choose a location and click Save.
Apple says that if you can't see the format you want, hold down the Option key and click the Format menu to reveal more specialised and older formats.
Need only part of a page?
You don't have to convert the whole page. In Preview, choose Tools, then Rectangular Selection, drag over the chart, logo or photo you want, and choose Edit, then Copy. Then paste it into a new image or straight into your document.
Method 3: Preview on iPhone
- Open the Preview app on your iPhone.
- Open the PDF.
- Tap the menu next to the filename, then tap Export.
- Choose JPEG as the format.
- Set the size and resolution, then save.
This is the detail that makes the iPhone route better than it sounds. Apple says that when you export a PDF to an image format, you can enter a resolution in pixels per inch or per centimetre, and higher values give larger, more detailed images. If your converted image looks blurry when you zoom in, export it again with a higher resolution.
Getting sharp results
- Text-heavy pages: choose PNG or a high JPEG quality so letters don't go fuzzy.
- Social posts: JPG at medium quality is usually plenty and uploads faster.
- Printing: use the highest resolution you can, then shrink later if needed.
- Several pages: use Adobe's tool, which gives you one image per page without exporting each one by hand.
If what you need is to edit the PDF rather than turn it into a picture, a free PDF editor is the better tool. And if you just want to read and annotate it, a free PDF reader will do.
When a picture isn't the right format
Converting a PDF to JPG makes sense when a website, social platform or slide needs an image. It's the wrong choice when someone needs to search, copy or edit the text, because an image flattens everything into pixels. In that case, keep the PDF, or convert it to a Word or Google Doc instead.
It's also worth thinking about who will see the image. A JPG of a page with personal details is easy to forward and hard to control, so crop out anything private before you post or send it. On a Mac, Preview's Rectangular Selection is the quickest way to grab only the part of the page you mean to share, and on iPhone you can crop in Photos after exporting.
Common problems
The image is blurry
Raise the resolution on iPhone, move Preview's quality slider up on Mac, or switch to PNG in Adobe's tool.
The file is too big to upload
Export again at a lower JPEG quality. Most websites that ask for an image don't need print resolution.
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You need every page as an image
Use Adobe's converter, which turns each page into its own image and lets you choose which ones to download.
Photos in HEIC format need a step first, shown in our HEIC to JPG guide.
My verdict
For a multi-page PDF, Adobe's free converter is the least effort, because it turns every page into an image in one go. For a single page on a Mac, Preview's export is quicker and keeps everything on your computer. On iPhone, use Preview and push the resolution up, because that's what stops your text looking soft once it's an image.
Need to go the other way? Read our JPG to PDF guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a PDF to JPG for free?
Upload the PDF to Adobe's free online PDF to JPG converter, or open it in Preview on a Mac and choose File, Export, JPEG.
Can I convert just one page of a PDF to JPG?
Yes. Adobe says each page becomes its own image and you can download only the pages you need.
Is JPG or PNG better for a PDF page?
Adobe says PNG is lossless and higher quality, while JPG files are usually much smaller.
How do I convert a PDF to JPG on iPhone?
Open the PDF in the Preview app, tap the menu next to the filename, tap Export and choose JPEG. You can set the resolution too.
Does Adobe add a watermark to converted images?
No. Adobe says its free PDF to JPG tool doesn't add watermarks.
