Information
Consul is a macOS-exclusive minimalist file automatic conversion artifact created by Maximilian Krause (compatible with macOS 15+, common to Apple Silicon and Intel).
Just simply rewrite the file extension (such as changing the IMG_0073.HEIC to .jpg), it will instantly complete the format conversion natively in the background, supporting a large number of common images (JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP, etc.), Video (MP4, MOV, etc.), audio (MP3, WAV, etc.) formats, intelligent detection of the true content of files instead of relying solely on extensions, all local hardware acceleration processing (most conversions take less than one second), complete privacy without cloud uploading, silent guarding of the permanent menu bar, dragging and dropping any folder (including external hard drives, NAS, Dropbox/iCloud, etc.) for monitoring, customization of conversion rules for each format pair (convert now, ask for confirmation or skip),
The original file can be safely moved to the trash basket for easy recovery, and is exclaimed by users as “a native function that Apple forgot to do”, providing a 14-day complete free trial, the single-device lifetime version is currently released with a 25% discount of only $14, and the three-device Pro version is currently available for $14 (buyout system, free of charge within one year, and then the version is permanently available or renewed to continue to update), completely bid farewell to online conversion websites, and greatly simplify the daily file format processing process of Mac.
Consul is a minimalist automatic file format conversion tool designed for macOS that instantly converts files to the target format (e.g., by listening to what you do when you rename a file extension) (e.g., by adding . HEIC is automatically converted to JPEG when changed to .jpg), completely local processing, no networking, no ads, no uploading, truly realizing the native experience of “changing the suffix and converting”, allowing you to say goodbye to cumbersome online conversion websites or professional software, especially suitable for users who often deal with images, videos, and audio formats.
Rename is automatic conversion : Simply modify the file extension in the Finder, and Consul will instantly detect and complete the format conversion, usually in less than a second, as smooth and natural as a native macOS feature.
Intelligent content detection : Don’t just look at the extension, but really check the internal data of the file, even if the original extension is wrong, it can be accurately identified and converted to the target format, avoiding file damage caused by misoperation.
Support mainstream audio and video image formats : Covers dozens of commonly used formats such as JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP, MP4, MOV, MP3, WAV, etc., and conversions all use macOS native APIs and hardware acceleration, with extremely fast speed and reliable quality.
Customize conversion rules : You can set individual policies for each format combination, with immediate conversion, confirmation per inquiry, or skip altogether, giving you full control over the conversion behavior.
The menu bar is always running silently : Small icons live in the menu bar, taking up almost no screen space, click to pause monitoring, manage rules or view conversion records, and forget the presence when you run out.
Any folder monitoring : Supports dragging and dropping to add any read/write directory such as desktop, download folder, external hard drive, NAS, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, etc., covering all commonly used file storage locations.
Consul Original document security protection : Before conversion, you can choose to move the original file to the Trash (convenient to restore at any time), and the source file will never be directly overwritten or deleted, making it more secure to use.
Consul Completely local 100% privacy : All conversion processes are done on your Mac, files never leave your computer, no cloud uploads, no data tracking, safe and reliable.
Consul 14-day full free trial : After downloading, you can experience all the features without any functional limitations and fully enjoy the convenience of “features that Apple forgot to implement”.
Consul One-time purchase without subscription : $14 for the single-device version (was $19) and $19 for the Pro three-device version (originally $29), and you can get a one-year update with the purchase, and then you can use the current version forever, or renew to get future new features.
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Notes:
The terminal runs after running the following command:
mkdir -p ~/Library/Application\ Support/Consul/;defaults write ~/Library/Application\ Support/Consul/settings.plist hasCompletedOnboarding -bool true
