diff --git a/src/api/heicConvert.ts b/src/api/heicConvert.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d3586465
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/api/heicConvert.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { ipcRenderer } from 'electron/renderer';
+import { isPlatformMac } from '../utils/main';
+
+export async function convertHEIC(fileData: Uint8Array, outputType: string) {
+    if (!isPlatformMac()) {
+        throw Error('native heic conversion only supported on mac');
+    }
+    const convertedFileData = await ipcRenderer.invoke(
+        'convert-heic',
+        fileData,
+        outputType
+    );
+    return convertedFileData;
+}
diff --git a/src/utils/ipcComms.ts b/src/utils/ipcComms.ts
index 6235e7e5c..432b28a9b 100644
--- a/src/utils/ipcComms.ts
+++ b/src/utils/ipcComms.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { logErrorSentry } from '../services/sentry';
 import chokidar from 'chokidar';
 import path from 'path';
 import { getDirFilePaths } from '../services/fs';
+import { convertHEIC } from '../services/heicConversion';
 
 export default function setupIpcComs(
     tray: Tray,
@@ -96,4 +97,8 @@ export default function setupIpcComs(
     ipcMain.handle('get-path', (_, message) => {
         return app.getPath(message);
     });
+
+    ipcMain.handle('convert-heic', (_, fileData, outputType) => {
+        return convertHEIC(fileData, outputType);
+    });
 }