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GreatBigClue
Participant
September 1, 2026
Question

Why is HEIC support so poor in Photoshop Elements?

  • September 1, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 20 views

iPhones have been saving photos in HEIC format by default for years, often as HDR photos using the “HEIC 10-bit” format. Photoshop Elements 2023 can’t open these, which seems incredibly lame, given that cheaper programs like GraphicConverter have no problem with them. I understand Adobe wanting you to pay more for full Photoshop to handle things like RAW format, but to not handle one of the default formats on the most popular smartphone on the market is terrible. I upgraded to 2023 in hopes that HEIC support had gotten better, but it has not. And since the latest version expires after 3 years, I may just go back to my older version once it does. (I was hoping for better AI performance out of the latest version, and things like object selection and smart erase tools don’t seem to have gotten any better than before).

    3 replies

    Glenn 8675309
    Glenn 8675309
    Legend
    September 1, 2026

    HEIC support is poor in Adobe Photoshop Elements because the consumer-level software relies heavily on operating system codecs rather than bundling native decoding libraries like full Photoshop does. [1]

    Why the Support is Limited

    • Missing Codecs on Windows: Photoshop Elements on Windows often fails to recognize HEIC files unless the user manually installs specific HEIF and HEVC video extensions from the Microsoft Store. [1, 2, 3]
    • Platform Discrepancies: macOS has built-in system-level support for HEIC, meaning Mac versions of Elements handle the format better than Windows versions do. [1]
    • Lack of Native Bundling: Unlike full Adobe Photoshop, which includes dedicated internal handling, Elements is a budget-friendly, stripped-down alternative that skips building robust proprietary decoders for efficiency and licensing cost reasons. [1]
    • Orientation and Glitches: Even when codecs are installed, users on the Adobe Community report that Elements struggles with correct image orientation, metadata handling, or causes the app to hang during basic tasks like rotation
    GreatBigClueAuthor
    Participant
    September 1, 2026

    Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned that I’m on a Mac Studio M2.

    Glenn 8675309
    Glenn 8675309
    Legend
    September 1, 2026

    While Photoshop and Lightroom natively handle HEIC on modern systems, older programs or specific software like Photoshop Elements 2025 lack full or direct native compatibility. 

    When PSE 2027 is released, which I’m guessing is in about a month, PSE 2025 will become “unsupported”- meaning zero updates to anything about it. 

    Difficulties with heic file support has been noted for years-   I really think Adobe should just take care of the issue with Photoshop Elements and be done with it once and for all.  Given the lack of a definitive response concerning this in the past-- I wouldn’t get your hopes up too much.

    It’s not so much the lack of handling, as it is in unwanted image rotation when dealing with the formation in auto creations or slideshows.

    What appears to be the main culprit in all this?  because of licensing and patent fees tied to the underlying media decoders.

     

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