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User profile for user: Michael King
Michael King Author
User level: Level 2
245 points

unable to export HEIC photo file - unhelpful error message

I'm trying to export a bunch of photos from Photos. Works fine for jpeg files; doesn't work for heic. The error message I get is a classic... "The operation couldn't be completed (Cocoa error-1)." What the heck am I supposed to do with that? If I had to I'd buy a heic->jpeg converter app, but I can't get them out of Photos, so that doesn't help.


I've tried live and not live (dead?) heic files, tried many different files, tried exporting unmodified original and plain export, exporting to desktop or a shared file, restarted computer (MBP 14")...NOTHING helps. Running on Monterey 12.2.1. I didn't realize. I have not changed my iPhone to create files in jpeg - heic isn't helping me at all.


What am I missing here?


Thanks!


MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 12.2

Posted on Jul 18, 2022 3:48 PM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
197,291 points

Posted on Jul 18, 2022 9:54 PM

Have you tried to export the images with "File > Export > Export unmodified Original" or with "File > Export > Export .. Photos" ? If you have not done so, try to export the unmodified originals, then you can convert the images outside photos.


If even "Export unmodified Original" does not work, the originals may be missing or your Photos Library is damaged. Have you done anything, that might have removed originals, for example run a program to to remove duplicates? That can cause such a damage. Or keeping the Photos library on an unsuitable external volume. The original image files may also be lost, if you have imported them without the "Copy photos into the Library" option and are referencing them in the original location.

Where is your Photos Library stored? If your photos Library is on an external volume, the external volume needs to be prepared like this: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support


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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
197,291 points

Jul 18, 2022 9:54 PM in response to Michael King

Have you tried to export the images with "File > Export > Export unmodified Original" or with "File > Export > Export .. Photos" ? If you have not done so, try to export the unmodified originals, then you can convert the images outside photos.


If even "Export unmodified Original" does not work, the originals may be missing or your Photos Library is damaged. Have you done anything, that might have removed originals, for example run a program to to remove duplicates? That can cause such a damage. Or keeping the Photos library on an unsuitable external volume. The original image files may also be lost, if you have imported them without the "Copy photos into the Library" option and are referencing them in the original location.

Where is your Photos Library stored? If your photos Library is on an external volume, the external volume needs to be prepared like this: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support


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unable to export HEIC photo file - unhelpful error message

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