Find out why a HEIC file will not open
This tool checks for the usual reasons a HEIC fails: truncation, a wrong extension, a broken container, an unsupported codec or malformed metadata. Then it tries a real decode.
Drop images here, or pick them from your device
Stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Processing on this device
How to use it
- Drop the file that will not open.
- Read the findings. Each has a plain explanation and a recommendation.
- Check the final result of the decode attempt.
- If it points to damage, continue to the repair tool.
What it keeps
- The file is only read and never modified.
- Nothing is uploaded.
What it removes or changes
- Nothing changes in your file. You get a diagnosis.
Limits
- It detects truncation when an item's data runs past the end of the file. It cannot know what was lost.
- Unsupported codecs, such as AV1 or JPEG inside HEIF, are reported but not converted.
- It diagnoses. To get an image back from a damaged file, use the repair tool.
Compatibility
Common real cases: a download that stopped early, an email or chat export that cut the file, a JPEG renamed to .heic, or a file from a camera using a codec other than HEVC. The recommendations match each cause, such as re-download, rename or use another source.
Privacy
The checks and the trial decode run in your browser. The file is not uploaded and is not kept after you leave.
Health check or repair?
Health check tells you what is wrong and what to do. Repair attempts to get something out of the file anyway, by decoding readable tiles or pulling a thumbnail, and it always produces a new file rather than fixing the original. Run the health check first. If the cause is a wrong extension or bad metadata, you may not need repair at all.
Troubleshooting
It reports truncation.
The file is incomplete. Get the original again from the phone or the cloud. If that is impossible, try the repair tool for a partial recovery.
It says the extension does not match.
The content is another format. Rename it correctly, and it will likely open.
It reports malformed EXIF but decodes fine.
The picture is fine. Some apps dislike the bad metadata. Remove the metadata to produce a clean copy.
Frequently asked questions
Does it fix the file?
No. It diagnoses and recommends. Repair is separate.
What does it test?
Truncation, extension, container validity, codec support and metadata, then a real decode.
Can it check other formats?
Yes. It accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF and BMP too.