To convert a RAW photo to JPEG, export it from Lightroom or Photoshop, open it in Mac Preview and use File > Export, use the Windows Photos app with the free Raw extension, or drop the file into an online RAW converter. All of these turn a CR2, NEF, ARW, or DNG file into a JPG you can actually share. Here's how each method works, and what you give up in the trade.
What a RAW file actually is
A RAW file is the unprocessed data straight off your camera's sensor. Instead of a finished picture, it's the full record of everything the sensor captured, with far more color and brightness information than a JPG keeps. That's why photographers shoot RAW: it gives you room to rescue a blown-out sky, correct the white balance after the fact, and push edits hard without the image falling apart.
The downside is size and compatibility. A single RAW file can run 25MB to 60MB or more, and the format depends on the camera maker. Canon uses CR2 and CR3, Nikon uses NEF, Sony uses ARW, and DNG is Adobe's universal RAW format that some cameras and phones write directly. Most websites, messaging apps, and everyday photo viewers can't open any of them, which is the whole reason you end up needing a JPG.
Why convert RAW to JPG
JPG is the format the rest of the world speaks. It's small enough to email and upload, it opens on every phone and computer, and print labs and social platforms expect it. When a photo is done editing and needs to go somewhere, RAW to JPG is the last step. Just know what the conversion does: it locks in your edits and throws away the spare sensor data, so the JPG can't be re-edited with the same flexibility. Keep the RAW file as your master and treat the JPG as a copy for sharing.
Convert RAW to JPG with Lightroom or Photoshop
If you already edit in Adobe's apps, exporting is built in.
In Lightroom, select the photo (or several), then choose File > Export. Under File Settings, set the Image Format to JPEG and pick a quality level, then click Export. Lightroom applies all your edits to the JPG on the way out.
In Photoshop, opening a RAW file launches Camera Raw first. Make your adjustments, click Open, then use File > Save As or File > Export > Export As and choose JPEG.
Camera-maker software does the same job for free if you don't own Adobe apps: Canon's Digital Photo Professional, Nikon's NX Studio, and Sony's Imaging Edge all open their own RAW files and export JPEG.
Convert RAW to JPG on a Mac (Preview and Photos)
macOS understands a large list of RAW formats out of the box, so you often don't need extra software.
- Double-click the RAW file to open it in Preview. If it opens elsewhere, right-click and choose Open With > Preview.
- Go to File > Export.
- Set Format to JPEG and adjust the Quality slider.
- Click Save.
The Photos app can do it too: import the RAW file, then use File > Export and choose JPEG. To convert a batch, select the files in Finder, right-click, and pick Quick Actions > Convert Image, then JPEG.
Convert RAW to JPG on Windows (Photos app)
Windows needs one free add-on first. Install the Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store, which teaches the Photos app to read CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG, and more.
- Right-click the RAW file and choose Open with > Photos.
- Click the three-dot menu in the top corner.
- Choose Save as.
- Set the file type to JPG and click Save.
If a very new camera model isn't supported yet, the manufacturer's own software or an online converter will still handle it.
The quick option: an online RAW converter
When you just need a JPG fast, without opening editing software or installing extensions, a browser converter is the shortcut. The RAW to JPG converter accepts CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG, and other RAW formats, processes the file, and gives you a JPG to download in a few seconds. It's ideal for a quick share or a handful of files where you don't need to fine-tune the edit.
For everything else you might need to turn into a JPG, from iPhone HEIC photos to WebP images, the guide on how to convert any image to JPG covers each format in the same step-by-step way.