How-To Open HEIC Images
Has anyone ever sent you an image with an .heic file extension and you were unable to open it on your Linux system? If so, I will show you how you can open them without any problems. HEIC is Apple’s proprietary version of the HEIF or High-Efficiency Image File format. HEIC is an acronym for High-Efficiency Image Container.
My sister recently sent me a picture she took on her iPhone and I realized I couldn't open it with my default image viewer (Eye of MATE).
It's an easy task to perform. You only have to open your Terminal and install three commands. The commands are within the description below.
Description of files:
* heif-gdk-pixbuf is a HEIF file format decoder - gdk-pixbuf loader.
* heif-thumbnailer creates thumbnail images from HEIC/HEIF files that can be used for example
by Caja and other file managers in Linux.
* libheif-examples contains the heif-convert command that allows you to convert HEIC images
to other formats.
* heif-gdk-pixbuf is a HEIF file format decoder - gdk-pixbuf loader.
* heif-thumbnailer creates thumbnail images from HEIC/HEIF files that can be used for example
by Caja and other file managers in Linux.
* libheif-examples contains the heif-convert command that allows you to convert HEIC images
to other formats.
Open your Terminal and enter the following:
sudo apt install heif-gdk-pixbuf
sudo apt install heif-thumbnailer
sudo apt install libheif-examples
sudo apt install heif-gdk-pixbuf
sudo apt install heif-thumbnailer
sudo apt install libheif-examples
To remove them from your system open your Terminal and enter the following:
sudo apt remove heif-gdk-pixbuf
sudo apt remove heif-thumbnailer
sudo apt remove libheif-examples
sudo apt remove heif-gdk-pixbuf
sudo apt remove heif-thumbnailer
sudo apt remove libheif-examples
Below is a screenshot from one of my laptops without the heif-thumbnailer file installed. Notice, the file does not have a thumbnail of the image.
Below is a screenshot from my desktop with the heif-thumbnailer file installed. Notice, the file does have a thumbnail of the image.
Below is an image of my Eye of MATE image viewer with heif-gdk-pixbuf installed. I can click on the Image menu and click the Save As... option and save the file as a .jpg, .png, or other type of image file.
Gimp and XnViewMP are two programs in Linux that allow you to view .heic files. They also allow you to to convert .heic files to other formats by exporting them to a different format such as .png or .jpg files.
However, if you want to use your default image viewer and see the thumbnails in your file manager, then I highly recommend that you install heif-gdk-pixbuf, heif-thumbnailer, and libheif-examples on your system.
However, if you want to use your default image viewer and see the thumbnails in your file manager, then I highly recommend that you install heif-gdk-pixbuf, heif-thumbnailer, and libheif-examples on your system.
June 18, 2022