Breaking News: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS users are reporting a widespread 'Could not load image' error when trying to view HEIC photos in the default Image Viewer application. This is not a bug – it is an intentional change in the distribution's package dependencies.
HEIC files, a variant of the HEIF format using H.265/HEVC compression, are the default photo format on iPhones and many newer Android devices. When users connect their smartphones to a computer running Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, the system no longer includes a necessary decoder library, causing the error.
Background
The root cause lies in Ubuntu's decision to remove the HEIC decoder from its default installation. According to Canonical developer Maria Gonzalez, 'The dependency chain was intentionally adjusted to no longer pull in the libheif library. This was done to reduce package bloat, but it overlooked the fact that HEIC is now a common format.'
HEIC images use modern compression techniques that save storage space while preserving quality, but they require specific software support. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS previously included the decoder as part of the default image-viewing stack, but that is no longer the case.
What This Means
For everyday users: Connecting an iPhone or Android device via USB will result in HEIC photos failing to open. This affects anyone who relies on the built-in Image Viewer or GNOME Photos.
The fix is straightforward: Users can install the missing decoder by running sudo apt install libheif1 in the terminal. Alternatively, installing the heif-gdk-pixbuf package restores full support across most GNOME applications.
Canonical has acknowledged the issue in a recent bug report. 'We are evaluating whether to re-enable the dependency in a future point release,' said Gonzalez. 'For now, the workaround is simple and effective.'
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is a long-term support release, meaning this configuration will persist for years unless changed. Users are advised to apply the fix manually if they frequently transfer photos from modern smartphones.