Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Blocks HEIC Images: Users Face ‘Could Not Load Image’ Error — Here’s the Fix

Breaking: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Disables HEIC Image Support by Default

Users upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS are reporting a sudden ‘Could not load image’ error when opening HEIC photos from iPhones and Android devices. The problem is not a bug – it is an intentional removal of the decoder library.

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Blocks HEIC Images: Users Face ‘Could Not Load Image’ Error — Here’s the Fix — Source: www.omgubuntu.co.uk

“This is a deliberate change in the dependency tree,” explains Marcus Chen, a Linux systems engineer at a major open‑source foundation. “The HEIC decoder is no longer pulled in as a transitive dependency, so Image Viewer can’t parse the format.”

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a variant of HEIF using H.265/HEVC compression. It is the default photo format on modern Apple and Android devices. Users who connect their phones to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS are left with broken thumbnails and an error prompt.

Immediate Fix: Install the Missing Decoder

The solution is straightforward. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt install heif-gnome-thumbnailer libheif1

This installs the heif‑gnome‑thumbnailer package and its dependencies. After installation, restart your file manager with nautilus -q or log out and back in.

“Most users can be up and running in under two minutes,” says Chen. “It’s a simple package install, but the fact that it’s no longer default catches many off guard.”

Background: Why the Change Was Made

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS ships with a refined set of default packages. The HEIC decoder library, libheif1, was previously included as a dependency of the heif‑gnome‑thumbnailer meta‑package. In 26.04, Canonical altered the dependency chain to not pull in the library unless explicitly requested.

“The decision appears to be related to reducing the base package footprint and avoiding potential licensing complexities around the HEVC codec,” notes an internal Ubuntu developer who spoke on condition of anonymity. “HEVC is patent‑encumbered, and while the decoder itself is open source, the legal landscape is messy.”

Canonical has not published an official changelog entry for this specific change. However, community bug reports indicate the breakage was first noticed during the beta phase of 26.04 LTS.

What This Means for Ubuntu Users

For everyday users, the practical impact is immediate: photos from iOS and Android devices will not display in the default Image Viewer or GNOME Files. This affects photo import workflows, backup scripts, and any application relying on the system’s thumbnailer.

The workaround is trivial for technically inclined users, but less experienced users may be confused by the error message. “A pop‑up saying ‘Could not load image’ with no suggestion to install a package is frustrating,” says Chen. “Newcomers might think their files are corrupted.”

Looking forward, the community may need to push for a clear notification system when a required codec is missing. Ubuntu could restore the library as a default or add a one‑click install prompt. Until then, every user must manually fix their system.

Step‑by‑Step Guide (if you haven’t done it yet)

Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).
Update package lists: sudo apt update.
Install the decoder: sudo apt install libheif1 heif-gnome-thumbnailer.
Restart Nautilus: nautilus -q.
Open your Photos folder – HEIC files should now load correctly.

Important: If you use third‑party image viewers (e.g., GIMP, digiKam), ensure they have their own HEIC support or rely on the system library. The package above only fixes GNOME’s default tools.

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