Solving HEIC Image Display Problems in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

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Understanding the HEIC Image Format

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a modern image format derived from the HEIF standard. It uses H.265/HEVC compression to store photos at significantly smaller file sizes compared to JPEG, without sacrificing quality. This format is the default for photos taken on iPhones and newer Android devices. When you transfer such images to a computer, you need appropriate decoding software to view them.

Why Ubuntu 26.04 LTS No Longer Supports HEIC Out of the Box

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS intentionally removed the HEIC decoder library from its default installation. While earlier versions included libheif or similar packages, the 26.04 release altered dependency chains so that the decoder is no longer automatically pulled in. This change was made to reduce the system's preinstalled package count and to avoid potential licensing complexities around H.265 codecs. As a result, users who connect their smartphones to a Ubuntu 26.04 machine and attempt to open HEIC photos in the default Image Viewer will see a “Could not load image” error. This is not a bug but a deliberate design decision.

How to Fix HEIC Images Not Loading in Ubuntu 26.04

Fortunately, restoring HEIC support is straightforward. You only need to install the required decoder package. Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install libheif1 heif-gnome-thumbnailer heif-thumbnailer

After installation, restart the File Manager (or log out and back in) so that thumbnail generation works. The Image Viewer should now open HEIC files without error.

Alternative Methods for Viewing HEIC Files

If you prefer not to install additional system packages, you can also use dedicated image viewers like GIMP (with its HEIF plugin) or Photopea (a web-based editor). For batch conversion to JPEG, tools like heif-convert from the libheif-examples package work well.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Still getting errors after installation? Verify that the libheif1 package is correctly installed with dpkg -l | grep libheif.
• Thumbnails not appearing? Clear the thumbnail cache with rm -rf ~/.cache/thumbnails/*.
• Missing dependencies? Run sudo apt --fix-broken install to resolve any dependency issues.

Future Outlook for HEIC Support in Ubuntu

While the removal was intentional, community feedback may influence future releases. You can track developments via related bug reports and feature requests. For now, the manual installation method remains reliable and safe.

Conclusion

HEIC images are increasingly common, and Ubuntu 26.04 LTS's decision to drop default support is an inconvenience but not a dead end. By installing a single package, you can fully restore HEIC compatibility and continue viewing high-efficiency photos from your smartphone. The process is simple, takes only a few minutes, and ensures your system remains lean while still handling modern formats.

This article is a rewrite of a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.