JPG to PNG: what actually happens
A JPG is a photo compressed with a lossy algorithm — it looks good but has quietly thrown away data your eye
won't miss. A PNG is lossless: it stores every pixel exactly and supports transparency. Converting from
JPG to PNG decodes the JPG into raw pixels, then re-encodes those pixels as a PNG. This tool does that entirely
on a <canvas> in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere.
When you actually want JPG → PNG
- You need transparency later — PNG supports an alpha channel; JPG doesn't.
- A tool or upload form only accepts PNG — some apps and printers are picky.
- You want a lossless working copy — so repeated edits don't compound JPG artefacts.
When it's the wrong move
If your goal is a smaller file, JPG → PNG is the wrong direction — PNGs of photographs are usually several times bigger. To shrink a photo, use the image compressor or convert to WebP instead.
Frequently asked
Are my JPGs uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs on a canvas inside your browser tab. Nothing is sent to a server, and it keeps working with your Wi-Fi turned off after the page loads.
Will converting to PNG improve quality?
No. PNG is lossless, so it preserves exactly what's already in the JPG — including any JPEG artefacts. It can't restore detail the original JPG discarded.
Why is the PNG bigger than the JPG?
PNG stores every pixel losslessly; JPG throws data away. For photographs the PNG is usually several times larger. That's expected — convert to PNG for transparency or a lossless master, not to save space.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. It runs in mobile Safari, Chrome, and Firefox, and the conversion happens on the phone itself.