Can Photoshop Elements Open HEIC files on Windows 11?

Report · Nov 11, 2023

I have Windows 11 and have installed the HEIF and HEVC extensions to support HEIC files from Apple. I can open HEIC files in IrfanView and in the windows 'Photos' app. But I cannot open them in Photoshop Elements 2023. I've tried opening (importing) them in the organizer, but get a message that "the file is damaged or is in a format that cannot be included ...". I've tri'ed opening them with 'Open in Camera Raw', and get an error "the file cannot be opened as its an unsupported file type". I've tried opening them in the Photo Editor directly (File/Open) and this crashes the app completely.

Surely by 2023 we should be able to open HEIC files, especially since the native Windows Photos can, as well as IrfanView?

Report · Nov 11, 2023

Yes, it is possible to open .heic files using Elements 2023 on a Windows 11 computer. But I have unsolved issues playing .mov files containing HEVC (.h265 codec) video in the Organizer. These were working fine before I upgraded my computer from Win 10 to Win 11 and part of the problem seems to be a Microsoft issue and the way it has changed the HEVC file extension. As I understand it, Win 11 is supposed to provide native support for HEVC files. And there does not seem to be an add-on Microsoft Extension for Win 11. When I search the Microsoft Store, I come up with the following:

As you can see, the dialog is showing me that I already have the extension installed but it is only for a Win 10 device. I have been unable to uninstall the extension (to try to reinstall it) and have found no other solution. To be honest, I have not looked very hard because my solution is to convert the .mov files to h.264 MP4 files, using Handbrake which is a free utility (that can batch convert files).

Report · Nov 13, 2023

I have a new Win 11 computer (not an upgrade from win 10) and I installed that same HEVC video extension (cost me $0.99). It now shows as installed. I wouldn't worry too much about the 'win 10' marker; they probably never updated it to reflect win 11. I also installed the HEIF extension. Rebooted. Irfanview and Windows Photos both still open/display HEIC files from my iPhone, but PE 2023 still gives the same three different errors depending on what I do (see my OP). Very disappointing.