How to Set Up a One-Click Image Converter on Your Mac

In macOS, you can easily convert the format of images using a Quick Action in Finder or you can achieve the same thing via the Preview app, but if your daily workflow requires you to repeatedly convert images – for uploading to a blog, for example – then using a Folder Action can be a much faster way of getting the job done.

In this article, we’ll show you how to use the macOS Automator app to create a very simple Folder Action that will automatically convert images dropped into a specific folder, without you having to manually apply a Quick Action or open an image editing app. Keep reading to learn how it’s done on macOS.

How to Create an Image Converting Folder in Automator

To set up a Folder Action that automatically converts images, follow these steps:

1. Launch Automator from the Applications folder.

2. Click New Document.
3. Choose Folder Action as the type of your document.

4. At the top of the workflow area, click the dropdown next to Folder Action receives files and folders added to: then select Other….

5. Select the folder that you’d like to attribute the image conversion action to. In our example, we’re choosing the Downloads folder.
6. From the Library sidebar on the far left, select Photos.
7. From the Actions column, drag Change Type of Images (the one with the Preview icon) to the workflow area.

8. A dialog prompt will appear. If you want your action to convert copies of images placed in the folder and preserve the originals, select Add. If you want it to convert the original images, select Don’t Add
9. In the Change Type of Images action panel, choose the type of format that you want images to be converted to. We’re selecting JPG.

10. In the Automator menu bar, select File -> Save… or press Command-S, call your new file action “Convert Image,” then click Save.

That’s all it takes! The next time you need to convert an image to your preferred format, simply drag and drop it into the designated folder, and the process will run automatically.

If you want even more convenience, you can turn this Automator workflow into a standalone Application. This option is available in Automator’s document menu and allows you to create a self-running workflow that works like a “droplet.” Instead of moving images into a specific folder, you can add the application to your Dock and drop images onto it for instant conversion. This makes it even easier to convert images quickly, without opening additional apps.