an error occurred while loading a higher quality version of this photo

Is it the latest update? Or 14?

My problems started when I updated to 14 or 14.1 and then I updated to 14.2 and after the actual update when the phone switched on - everyone photo was loadable. No problems since.

Also, today I updated to 14.2.1 still no problems. Did you try updating or hard restart?

I was having this same issue and I finally figured out how to fix it! Close out the photos app, go to settings, Apple ID, iCloud, photos, and change “optimize iPhone storage” to “download and keep originals”. Make sure there is a check mark next to “download and keep originals”. Close out of all your apps and restart your phone. Once your phone is back on, turn on airplane mode for 10 seconds then turn it back off. Open photos and click on the photo or video that wasn’t loading and it should be downloaded now!

Hi, caden46.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. We’re glad you decided to reach out about the issue you’re experiencing with your photos. If we understand correctly, you’re not able to view the photos on your iPhone, and you see a blank image instead of the photo. 

If we’re on the same page, do you have iCloud Photos enabled? This is typically an error that you see when your iPhone connection isn’t able to load the photo from iCloud.

Are you still experiencing the issue? If you are, do you see the missing photos when you log into the iCloud website? These articles may help:

Get help with iCloud Photos - Apple Support

Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support

All our best.

In order to get this done all you need to do is:

Go t settings->icloud->photos->choose “Download and Keep Originals” instead of “Optimize iPhone Storage”

Wait a few seconds and all of your photos will be back.

Let me know if this was helpful.

I had this issue today on my iPhone 12 Pro Max.

I contacted the Apple Support.

I shared my screen to them and showed them the issue.

Whenever a photo was taken from 1x or 0.5x, I saw the message

"an error occurred while loading a higher quality version of this photo"

Apple Support told me to update my iPhone.

I was on iOS 14.4 and I received a software update for 14.4.1

After updating, this issue was resolved for me.

I had exactly the same problem on both my phone and iPad. Tried turn off iCloud Photos and Upload to My Photo Stream in Settings, rebooted, then enabled those 2 functions again - and it works! All photos downloaded perfectly, in hi res.

Good luck!

I had this issue too. What i did was that i turned off the iCloud Photos option turned it back on again(Settings > Photos > ICLOUD > iCloud Photos). It initially to a while to load back but soon I was able to view all the photos and the error stopped showing up.

I had this issue also, In icloud photos i changed from "optomize iphone storage" to "download and keep originals".

Went in and changed it back after all the pics downloaded.

this happened to my photos, too, when I transferred my iPhone X to the 12pro today. Once I clicked “back up now” under the iCloud, that was the final trick to getting the exclamation point to go away and get the good quality pics back. Hope that helps.

I saw this as well on videos that were taken using my new phone 12. I just did a force restart and this issue seemed to go away.

• iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
• iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold both the Top (or Side) button and the Volume Down buttons until you see the Apple logo.
• iPad with Home button, iPhone 6s or earlier, and iPod touch (6th generation) or earlier: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons until you see the Apple logo.

Hopefully that works for at least a few of you here. otherwise make sure to leave feedback to Apple.

This is a user to user forum and Apple does not monitor these threads.

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

So, I just updated to 14.2 iOS and it fixed my error. It is playing fine now. Can’t comment on the colour problem.

i came across this thread after my iPhone 12 showed sooo many blank photo da. Tried quite a few tips in the thread. The thing that worked for me. I went into settings, iCloud and clicked backup now. Once that was done, all of the photos re-appeared

I had the same problem and I turned my phone off and did a restart and my pictures and videos downloaded. And my phone quit asking me for my Apple ID for everything.

I fixed mine by Do I need to photos Clicked on cellular data I turn them both off and then turn them back on. Reboot my phone And the videos played without a problem. Make sure your iCloud isn’t full as well

I’m on14.2.1 having this issue with some videos (not exclusive to videos that have been edited). Turning off ‘View Full HDR’ under ‘Settings > Photos’ resolved the issue for me.