HEIC in Photoshop Elements 2024

[Drew22472634kqap]

Hi, I just purchased Photoshop Elements 2024 and I can't open HEIC files.  I have installed the HEIC and HEVC extensions and then cleared the media cache, following the instructions on this page,  which appears in PE's error message and in various threads in this community.

I encountered this problem first in Windows 11, then tried in Windows 10 and had the same experience.

Is there something I'm missing?  Any new information about this issue?

[Greg_S.]

Although Elements 2024 has some problems with the orientation of .heic files, there should be no issue importing them into the Organizer or editing them in the Editor in either Windows 10 or 11.  Can you be more specific about which program you are using and what workflow you are following.  How are you importing the files to the computer?  Please provide a copy of any error message you are getting.

[Drew22472634kqap]

Hey Greg, thank you for replying!  

I'm using Organizer 2024 and Photoshop Elements 2024.  I'm trying to bring several years worth of phone photos (many in .heic, stored in folders on a hard drive) into Organizer/PE as a centralized repository for my family's photos.  For the most part, the images were downloaded from Google Photos using Takeout.

The problem occurs in a couple ways.  In Photoshop Elements 2024, if I use File>Open to try and load a .heic, I see this error:

In Organizer 2024, if I try to import all the files in a certain folder that has .heic files in it, the .heic files fail and I see this type of error message:

Thanks so much for your help!

[akearneysf]

I'm having the exact same issues with Elements 2025. I had upgraded to 2025 version hoping that import of heic files would be seemless given reports the program had supported the format since 2023. I followed suggestions provided by adobe app to download and install heif file extension and bought and installed hevc app from MS store. Video imports ok, but heic files would not import into PSE 2025. I can view the heic files in MS Photos but not PSE 2025. Incredibly disappointing that I have to convert all the heic images to jpgs! PLEASE FIX ADOBE!

[wizrdofwoz]

or how about adobe just gettin' w/ the program and making apple format compatibility available in their products? what a concept, ey?

[Greg_S. · Accepted solution]

Try contacting Elements support. You can start a chat session by going to the Contact Adobe Support page  and clicking on the chat button in the lower right corner of the page. Make sure you are signed into your Adobe account and try typing Agent when the chat window opens.

[Drew22472634kqap]

Thanks!

[Drew22472634kqap]

In case it's helpful for anyone else searching on this issue in the future, here is the transcript of my chat with Adobe support:

Hi, I'm the Adobe Virtual Assistant. How can I help you?

agent

I want to make sure I understand clearly. How would you like to connect with an agent?

Request a phone call

Continue in chat

Continue in chat

To connect you with an agent who can best help you, please tell me what you need help with.

.heic files in Photoshop Elements on Windows

You need help using Photoshop Elements or troubleshooting an issue. Is that right?

Yes

No

Yes

Ok. Connecting you to an agent who can help.

We'll connect you with an agent as soon as possible. For a faster resolution, please tell us how we can help you today.

You are now connected to Abhinav, who is reviewing your account. If you need to share sensitive information, such as credit card number, please wait for your agent to give you steps to share it securely.

Abhinav

Hello, I'd be happy to help you today, let me first pull up your account information and access your details.

Thanks!

Abhinav

Hello Drew, as I understand you need assistance HEIC files in Photoshop Elements. May I know the version of Photoshop Elements you are working on?

Yes, 2024

Abhinav

Alright, May I know if you are working on a Windows or a MAC system?

windows

Abhinav

Thank you for the information. Can you please navigate to Settings> Apps> Installed Apps

Then on the search bar on the top, please search HEIC. Let me know if there are HEIC extensions installed in your system.

Not seeing any there

Abhinav

I understand. May I know the exact error you face when importing HEIC files?

Here's what I see when I try to open one in Photoshop Elements:

Here's what I see when I try to load a folder that has them into Organizer:

Pretty sure I have followed the instructions that are on the page they link to

but maybe I missed somethig?

Delivered 7:27 PM

Abhinav

Thank you for the screenshots. I believe you need to follow the article below and install HEVC and HEIF video extensions in your Windows system.

https://helpx.adobe.com/in/premiere-elements/using/hevc-decoding-on-windows.html

Yes, I followed the instructions in that article, but I'm still getting the error

Abhinav

I understand. May I know the device you used to capture these media files?

an iphone

Abhinav

May I know the model?

iPhone SE 2nd edition

Abhinav

I would recommend you use an open-source media conversion tool named Handbrake (handbrake.fr)

You can also Go to your iPhone's Settings. Go to the Photos app settings. At the very bottom, there should be a setting for Transfer to Mac or PC. You probably have it set to Keep Originals. Change this to Automatic. When you use the Organizer to import files, they will automatically be converted to jpegs.

OK I will do that for the future. However, I have thousands of .heic files stored in folders on a hard drive that I would like to import into Organizer. What's the best way to accomplish that?

Abhinav

The best workaround would be to download the media converter tool and convert the files by batch.

OK thank you

Abhinav

I understand that it will be lot of work but currently HEIC files are not supported in Photoshop Elements. The only way is to convert them to Jpeg or any other forrnat.

OK thank you for that info. Does Photoshop Elements on a Mac support .heic?

Abhinav

No it does not.

Will either version support .heic in the future?

Abhinav

I am not sure. Apple has their own formats and Adobe is working on incorporating them. When will it be supported on Photoshop Elements, we cannot say for sure.

HEIC is supported on Photoshop CC. Photoshop Elements is a lightweight version of Photoshop CC so it has some functionality removed for beginner users.

OK thanks. Is it possible to get a refund for my purchase of Elements? I had read in various places that it supports .heic; and that's a feature that I really do need.

Abhinav

Yes, you can get a refund for 30 days. Would you like me to connect you with the dedicated team for a refund?

yes please, thank you!

[Greg_S.]

@Drew22472634kqap, thanks for getting back to us with what you were told by Support. Unfortunately, they gave you some bad information.  I believe Elements for Mac has always supported .heic files - at least, since that OS has supported the format natively.  Elements for Windows has supported .heic files since at least Elements 2023, although as I said earlier, based on my experience, there has always been some issues with these files.

As far as I can tell, Windows 11 does not require (or support) the Microsoft extensions for HEIC or HEVC files, as supposedly the OS no longer requires them to view these files.  Strangely, my Win 10 to Win 11 upgraded computer still has the extensions installed but I cannot delete them or do a fresh install of the extensions.

But as Support suggested, I also recommend using the iPhone setting to transfer photos from your phone to the computer using the Automatic (not Keep Originals) setting on your phone.  This will allow you to transfer the files as jpegs.  (But you have to use another application to make the transfer - even the Windows Photos app.   The Organizer's Photo Downloader will keep the files as .heic. despite the setting.)  I realize this does not help you with the photos already downloaded to the computer.  But you can use a free converter like the iMazing Converter to batch convert them.

[Gemknight]

That's sad. Been about 2 years and releases where the iPhone formats have trouble on the windows install.