HEIC Files - Solved

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eddot98
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HEIC Files - Solved

Post by eddot98 »

A few of DW’s friends have sent her photos in the last week in Messages that are HEIC files. The senders have iPhones and so does DW and I. DW can’t open the HEIC files and I can’t figure out how to help her open them. I searched around the internet for a solution and the ones that I tried were unsuccessful. Enabling MMS messaging seemed to be the most promising, but it was already enabled on her iPhone 14.
From what I found out, HEIC files are a file that Apple invented to reduce the size of photos to make it easier to send them. We cannot make people stop taking photos on their iPhones in HEIC files, so we have to find a way to open them in Messages.
Here’s what Apple says about HEIC files:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022

Any suggestions?
Last edited by eddot98 on Sun May 28, 2023 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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BBQ Investor
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Re: HEIC Files

Post by BBQ Investor »

eddot98 wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 9:31 pm A few of DW’s friends have sent her photos in the last week in Messages that are HEIC files. The senders have iPhones and so does DW and I. DW can’t open the HEIC files and I can’t figure out how to help her open them. I searched around the internet for a solution and the ones that I tried were unsuccessful. Enabling MMS messaging seemed to be the most promising, but it was already enabled on her iPhone 14.
From what I found out, HEIC files are a file that Apple invented to reduce the size of photos to make it easier to send them. We cannot make people stop taking photos on their iPhones in HEIC files, so we have to find a way to open them in Messages.
Here’s what Apple says about HEIC files:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022

Any suggestions?
You found a great resource so far. Make sure your device iOS is fully updated to version 16.5. That will often resolve this issue. You could disable her MMS messages, restart her device, then re enable it. That will sometimes refresh the setting.

Also, test downloading/opening that file while the device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and you don't have a VPN setup. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management to see if one is installed.

You could also post this to the Apple Community forums: https://discussions.apple.com/welcome

Or, you may actually need to contact Apple Support directly since this doesn't seem to be working as expected. They will go through gathering details about your devices (like if your iOS is fully updated) and run through some troubleshooting. It could end up needing to be an issue they escalate up their tech chain.

Apple Support numbers: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232
Get Support - Apple: https://getsupport.apple.com

Good luck!

~ J
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yatesd
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Re: HEIC Files

Post by yatesd »

You have shared that your wife does not have an Apple phone, so I it is important to learn how to open these files in Android or Windows.

https://mobiletrans.wondershare.com/hei ... roid%20app.


https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 069617.cms#
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Re: HEIC Files

Post by BBQ Investor »

yatesd wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 10:19 pm You have shared that your wife does not have an Apple phone, so I it is important to learn how to open these files in Android or Windows.
Just a note, they did say "The senders have iPhones and so does DW and I."

But your links are helpful in case someone else needs to transfer files with non-Apple mobile devices. :beer

~ J
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eddot98
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Re: HEIC Files

Post by eddot98 »

BBQ Investor wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 10:31 pm
yatesd wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 10:19 pm You have shared that your wife does not have an Apple phone, so I it is important to learn how to open these files in Android or Windows.
Just a note, they did say "The senders have iPhones and so does DW and I."

But your links are helpful in case someone else needs to transfer files with non-Apple mobile devices. :beer

~ J
You are correct - DW, I, and her friends all have iPhones and both DW and I have the latest iOS version.
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22twain
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Re: HEIC Files

Post by 22twain »

eddot98 wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 11:04 pm DW, I, and her friends all have iPhones and both DW and I have the latest iOS version.
In that case, I'm puzzled about why you can't open HEIC files. They were introduced in iOS 11, way back in 2017.

Looking through my photo archives, HEIC files first appear in September 2019, which is when I replaced my old iPhone 5S with my current iPhone XR. I don't know why the 5S wasn't already producing HEIC files, because I'm sure I was using iOS 12 on that iPhone before the switch.
Meet my pet, Peeve, who loves to convert non-acronyms into acronyms: FED, ROTH, CASH, IVY, ...
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Re: HEIC Files

Post by BBQ Investor »

eddot98 wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 11:04 pm You are correct - DW, I, and her friends all have iPhones and both DW and I have the latest iOS version.
22twain wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 11:30 pm In that case, I'm puzzled about why you can't open HEIC files. They were introduced in iOS 11, way back in 2017.

Looking through my photo archives, HEIC files first appear in September 2019, which is when I replaced my old iPhone 5S with my current iPhone XR. I don't know why the 5S wasn't already producing HEIC files, because I'm sure I was using iOS 12 on that iPhone before the switch.
Right. This isn't working as expected. I'd say to do the additional few steps I recommended, then honestly I would call in to Apple Support (or chat in if you prefer) using the links I posted. They will take it from there after confirming all steps they have to suggest for this specific issue. :wink:

~ J
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eddot98
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Re: HEIC Files - Solved

Post by eddot98 »

eddot98 wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 9:31 pm A few of DW’s friends have sent her photos in the last week in Messages that are HEIC files. The senders have iPhones and so does DW and I. DW can’t open the HEIC files and I can’t figure out how to help her open them. I searched around the internet for a solution and the ones that I tried were unsuccessful. Enabling MMS messaging seemed to be the most promising, but it was already enabled on her iPhone 14.
From what I found out, HEIC files are a file that Apple invented to reduce the size of photos to make it easier to send them. We cannot make people stop taking photos on their iPhones in HEIC files, so we have to find a way to open them in Messages.
Here’s what Apple says about HEIC files:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022

Any suggestions?
Restarting the iPhone solved the problem. I stupidly thought that restarting was only a Windows thing. Thanks for the help.
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Re: HEIC Files - Solved

Post by BBQ Investor »

eddot98 wrote: Sun May 28, 2023 1:11 pm Restarting the iPhone solved the problem. I stupidly thought that restarting was only a Windows thing. Thanks for the help.
Excellent! Sometimes I overthink and jump right into troubleshoot mode. A good rule of thumb for tech issues is R.A.T.T.

Restart All The Things.
Works like a charm a good bit of the time. Glad to hear it's resolved! :sharebeer

~ J
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