Getting iPhone HEIF into Photo Stream?

Question

Getting iPhone HEIF into Photo Stream?

For years I've been using my iPhone to shoot photos, and Photo Stream automatically uploads them, so that when I use my desktop it automatically imports them into Photos.

But now, since I got my new iPhone 11, iPhone randomly (or whatever) chooses JPG or HEIF as the shooting format, and HEIF photos don't upload to photo stream.

So I have to manually babysit my photos again, after years of not doing so. I figured out how to turn off high-efficiency shooting (Settings->Camera->Most-compatible) but I have yet to see if this ultimately solves the photo stream problem. Some photos that were shot in JPEG also didn't upload lately.

Does anyone know how to get iPhone to use this fancy new high-efficiency codec while also still supporting photo stream? It seems weird that the new, smaller-file photo format would be incompatible with Photo Stream?

iPhone 11, iOS 13

Posted on Sep 20, 2020 8:06 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Sep 20, 2020 10:19 PM in response to flick harrison

Does anyone know how to get iPhone to use this fancy new high-efficiency codec while also still supporting photo stream? It seems weird that the new, smaller-file photo format would be incompatible with Photo Stream?

Photo Stream does not support HEIC photos.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201317

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 2

Sep 20, 2020 10:22 PM in response to LACAllen

Wow. But why?!? Why invent a new better codec, with smaller file sizes, and then disallow it from their cloud service?

I mean, in my case alone, I'm shutting that codec off and filling up their servers with bigger files.

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Answer 3

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Sep 20, 2020 10:38 PM in response to flick harrison

flick harrison wrote:

It was rhetorical.

And we would know that how?

lso, why would I assume you DON'T know? You've got 37,000 apple points! Surely you know a few things the rest of us don't!

I am not Apple. I have no idea why they do what they do. In fact, discussing Apple Policy, aka "why", is not permitted here.

Even if I did know, and I don't, I would not be able to discuss it here. See above.

Please read the terms you agreed to when you signed in. This is a community for asking and answering technical support questions.

You asked one and I answered it. I also gave you you the link for providing your Feedback to Apple.

Felt that was clear.

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Answer 4

Sep 21, 2020 9:58 AM in response to LACAllen

This is all I see when I sign in:

“Find answers, ask questions, and connect with our community of Apple users from around the world.”

I don’t see anything about “why” questions being disallowed, and I certainly don’t think casual chatter are forbidden in support forums as a rule.

Certainly would crush any opportunity to “connect” if people get grumpy about any deviation from pure tech support. In fact the “learn more” link does advise you to “have fun.”

Are you on some kind of quota? Are you an employee or just enjoy spending time on the forums? I see there are rewards available...

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Answer 5

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Sep 21, 2020 10:25 AM in response to flick harrison

I don’t see anything about “why” questions being disallowed, and I certainly don’t think casual chatter are forbidden in support forums as a rule.

Seeing as how you did not realize you accepted these terms, I will remind you.

https://discussions.apple.com/terms

Are you on some kind of quota? Are you an employee or just enjoy spending time on the forums? I see there are rewards available...

Do you not respect the terms you agreed to? That you may not have read them is moot.

I have already informed you I am not Apple. Twice. Just looking to stir it up? Asking a question you have the answer to?

I have a long history of providing technical support answers when I know the answer. And pointing out the terms when it seems posters do not care.

I gave you an accurate answer to your technical support question. And now you are debating Apple Policy.

Search... you will not find an answer to a "why" question. Apple does not do this. They do not explain themselves.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 6

Sep 21, 2020 12:48 PM in response to LACAllen

From that page you linked:

"4. ... Constructive feedback about product features is also welcome."

But of course, nobody reads those things. Do they? ;-)

Also, you seem to think I would know in advance whether the answer to my question was technical or policy related.

Why would Photo Stream disallow lower file-sized images, in an Apple-created format? It makes no earthly sense. Maybe there's a technical reason for it?

In any case, in no way is this a question about Apple's "policies and procedures." It's a question about the functionality of a service I've been using for years, which has suddenly started misbehaving. My question about "WHY" they did it was to help me understand their design / update approach, and it fits WELL within the bounds of a support site.

The fact that you don't know the answer to this question perhaps means you should step back and let it go unanswered, instead of taking it as a personal demand for you to answer it. This is a public forum, and I'm not just asking YOU.

Feel free to back off and let someone else answer it who might be helpful on this (totally allowed) topic instead of shutting me down.

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