HEIC files not viewable in Messages

I’m on iOS 16.5 and having same issue. Just started today. Restarted phone, checked all above and nothing working for me. Oddly, my partners is receiving just fine. And I’ll add this is only happening to me in our family group chat and everyone has an iPhone. Perplexed.

So weird, I am having all of these issues and its so intermittent that it doesnt make sense. My husband and I are on the same plan, he has an iPhone 7, I have the 11 and he's having no issues.

Sometimes the pictures comes through, sometimes they don't. Sometimes I have to "send as a text message", other times it goes through.

Please try these steps:

1. Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
2. Please ensure that iCould Photos are turned on: Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support. 
3. I was asked to troubleshoot this issue on a relative’s iPhone. iCould Photos were turned on, but his iCould storage was full. So I used this Support Article to “make some space,” and the photos started showing correctly. 

Also…

1. Please turn off your iPhone. Leave it off for 5 mins. 
2. Please turn off iMessages in your settings.
3. Turn off iPhone. 
4. Leave for 1 min. 
5. Turn iPhone back on. 
6. Go to Settings, and turn iMessages back on (wait 1 min. after doing so)
7. Tap on JPEG files in your messages, and they will appear (some automatically)

Probably you have enabled Lockdown mode.

How Lockdown Mode protects your device

When Lockdown Mode is enabled, some apps and features will function differently, including:

• Messages - Most message attachment types are blocked, other than certain images, video, and audio. Some features, such as links and link previews, are unavailable. 
• Web browsing - Certain complex web technologies are blocked, which might cause some websites to load more slowly or not operate correctly. In addition, web fonts might not be displayed, and images might be replaced with a missing image icon.
• FaceTime - Incoming FaceTime calls are blocked unless you have previously called that person or contact.
• Apple services - Incoming invitations for Apple services, such as invitations to manage a home in the Home app, are blocked unless you have previously invited that person.
• Shared Albums - Shared albums are removed from the Photos app, and new Shared Album invitations are blocked. You can still view these shared albums on other devices that don’t have Lockdown Mode enabled. When you turn off Lockdown Mode, you need to turn Shared Albums on again in your device settings.
• Device connections - To connect your iPhone or iPad to an accessory or another computer, the device needs to be unlocked. To connect your Mac laptop with Apple silicon to an accessory, your Mac needs to be unlocked and explicit approval provided.
• Configuration profiles - Configuration profiles can’t be installed, and the device can’t be enrolled in Mobile Device Management or device supervision while in Lockdown Mode.

Phone calls and plain text messages continue to work while Lockdown Mode is enabled. Emergency features, such as SOS emergency calls, are not affected. 

Go to Settings and under Messages toggle on the Low Quality Image Mode. This will download the HEIC images in Messenger.

I upgraded my iCloud storage capacity and logged back onto iTunes account on my phone the photos appear again.

Are you in low-power mode? Switch to full power, if so.

… Use Low Power Mode to save battery life on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

MMS messaging is enabled? If not, enable MMS here:

… If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Signed out of your Apple ID, restarted, and signed back in?

Reset your network settings? Step 7 here:

… If your iPhone or iPad won't connect to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support

Thank for the suggestion. Didn't work. I was in the airport and on the plane on the tarmac when the pics suddenly wouldn't appear. I turned off the wifi, using just cellular, but no change. Anyway, the next day it worked fine at home when I checked again. So that was weird. Thanks for taking the time to provide me with an option!

I just updated my iphone to ios 16.5 and the photos are now accessible. double tap on the photo and it opens.

Yes, the same for me, I've tried everything listed here to no avail. Missing work photos and becoming super frustrated at I undo other things while trying to fix it. HELP APPLE. please get this sorted ASAP!!

Okay, I did sign out and back in of Apple ID and also restarted my phone and it seems to be working now (but it's done this before and then reverted back to not working) maybe try this as a stop-gap and hopefully a near future update will fix permanently. thanks

I am having the same issue and have checked all the things here. Using 16.4.1 This issue just started about a week ago. I CAN see the HEIC images on the desktop, just not the iphone. Any MORE suggestions that do not include wiping the phone?

LynnInBaltimore wrote:

I am having the same issue and have checked all the things here. Using 16.4.1 This issue just started about a week ago. I CAN see the HEIC images on the desktop, just not the iphone. Any MORE suggestions that do not include wiping the phone?

iOS 16.5 is current. See if either fixes from that resolve this, or the operation of installing that resolves this.

Was having the same problem and it was because there was an outstanding Terms & Conditions for iCloud I needed to agree to (perhaps from a new update?)

Go to:

Settings > Apple ID (click your name at the top once in Settings) > Should pop up if not > click Name, Phone Numbers, Email > or click iCloud.

Should pop up with a notification to agree to new Terms & Conditions, click agree and the photos should now work.

It may be that your iMessages have too many attachments and can no longer support additional incoming images to download. Try this: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > scroll down and choose Messages. Under Recommendations it allows you to Review Large Attachments. Choose Review Large Attachments, then delete as many as possible.