Bug 139488 - support image format HEIC import
Summary: support image format HEIC import
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: graphics stack (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
6.4.6.2 release
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: Format-Filters Images
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Reported: 2021-01-07 21:52 UTC by Jérôme
Modified: 2025-09-24 00:41 UTC (History)
4 users (show)

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Description Jérôme 2021-01-07 21:52:32 UTC
Description:
I took a photo with the camera that is shipped with my phone (Samsung with Android 10).
This format has the advantage of a smaller file size.

Steps to Reproduce:
Open Writer or Impress. Next try to insert an image by selecting all types of files.

Actual Results:
I get an error message which tells the format is unknown (French localisation).

Expected Results:
Display the image into the document.


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: No



Additional Info:
I tested on GNU/Linux x86_64 with 6.4.6.2 version. However, the bugs appears with an older Lo version on Microsoft Windows.
Comment 1 V Stuart Foote 2021-01-08 00:24:17 UTC
There is currently no import support for HEIC image format. You'll need to convert external to LibreOffice.

I see filter import of HEIC "HEVC in HEIF" compressed image format as counterpoint to AVIF "AV1 in HEIF" of bug 138668

The AV1 is more appealing for license, but HEVC is probably more common.

If libs and license allow, probably both should be implemented.
Comment 2 Stefano 2025-09-23 13:16:15 UTC
I am a senior product manager at D2L responsible for the triaging of doc conversion issues related to how files render in our Brightspace learning platform. Are there plans to add HEIC as a support file type? 

We have a large number outstanding requests to add this file type support. One of the most critical use cases is during evaluations, learners who upload files from an iPhone cannot be viewed by the instructor. Asking our clients to ensure learners convert the image to a different file type is not a feasible work around. 


Stefano
Comment 3 V Stuart Foote 2025-09-23 15:07:05 UTC
@Tomaž, Xisco -- any thoughts on implementing import support for HEIC raster images? 

They're pretty common now from both the iOS and Android device user base.

Though IMHO, AVIF formatted image import (bug 138668) should take precedence over HEIC given its open source AV1 heritage. But user demand might slew priority toward HEIC.
Comment 4 Tomaz Vajngerl 2025-09-24 00:41:07 UTC
We can't universally support it even when we wanted to, because it's a heavily patented format. Supporting AVIF makes sense but that also is a different kind of a mess.  

What we could do is support something like WIC on Windows as a fallback and let that deal with the mess, but the first thing we would do with the image is convert it to a format we support (PNG, JPEG).