Update libhief1 in base Debian Bookworm image for NextCloud

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 135 views

Update libhief1 in base Debian Bookworm image for NextCloud

As a user of NextCloud on TrueNAS, you may have encountered issues viewing HEIC images uploaded from iOS 18.1+ devices. This issue is caused by the Memories app's reliance on ImageMagick, which in turn uses libhief to parse HEIC images. The version of libhief supplied in the base Debian Bookworm image does not support the latest HEIC format used by Apple. In this article, we will explore the possible resolution to this issue and provide a step-by-step guide on how to update libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image for NextCloud.

The Memories app is a popular application installed in NextCloud, allowing users to view and manage their photos and videos. However, with the current version of the NextCloud TrueNAS app, users are unable to view HEIC images (either inline or as thumbnails/previews) if those images were uploaded from an iOS 18.1+ device. This issue is not specific to the Memories app, but rather a limitation of the libhief version supplied in the base Debian Bookworm image.

The Memories app uses ImageMagick to generate previews/thumbnails of images, which in turn uses libhief to parse HEIC images. Apple has expanded their use of the HEIC format in iOS 18.1+, which the version of libhief supplied in the base Debian Bookworm image (1.15.1-1+deb12u1) does not support. This means that when an iOS 18.1+ device uploads a HEIC image to NextCloud, the Memories app is unable to parse the image, resulting in a blank or corrupted thumbnail.

libhief has added support for the latest HEIC format used by Apple in version >=1.18.0. From my very limited knowledge, this would also require the bundled ImageMagick to be built against it. This means that updating libhief1 to a version that supports the latest HEIC format would likely require rebuilding ImageMagick against the new libhief version.

The bookworm-backports repository provides libhief1 1.19.3-1~bpo12+1, which would address this issue. This version of libhief1 supports the latest HEIC format used by Apple, allowing users to view HEIC images uploaded from iOS 18.1+ devices.

To update libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Update the package list

Update the package list to include the latest packages from the bookworm-backports repository:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install the updated libhief1 package

Install the updated libhief1 package from the bookworm-backports repository:

sudo apt install -t bookworm-backports libheif1=1.19.3-1~bpo12+1

Step 3: Rebuild ImageMagick

Rebuild ImageMagick against the new libhief version:

sudo apt build-dep imagemagick
sudo apt install imagemagick

Step 4: Restart NextCloud

Restart NextCloud to apply the changes:

sudo service nextcloud restart

Updating libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image is a simple process that can be completed in a few steps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your NextCloud installation supports the latest HEIC format used by Apple, allowing users to view HEIC images uploaded from iOS 18.1+ devices.

The bookworm-backports repository provides a wide range of packages that are not included in the base Debian Bookworm image. These packages can be used to update and upgrade your NextCloud installation.
The apt build-dep command is used to install the dependencies required to build ImageMagick against the new libhief version.
The apt install command is used to install the updated libhief1 package and rebuild ImageMagick.
The service command is used to restart NextCloud and apply the changes.
Update libhief1 in base Debian Bookworm image for NextCloud: Q&A

In our previous article, we explored the issue of viewing HEIC images uploaded from iOS 18.1+ devices in NextCloud. We also discussed the possible resolution to this issue, which involves updating libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to updating libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image for NextCloud.

A: libhief1 is a library that is used by ImageMagick to parse HEIC images. HEIC is a file format used by Apple devices to store images and videos. The version of libhief1 supplied in the base Debian Bookworm image does not support the latest HEIC format used by Apple, which is why users are unable to view HEIC images uploaded from iOS 18.1+ devices.

A: To update libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image, you can follow the steps outlined in our previous article. This involves updating the package list, installing the updated libhief1 package from the bookworm-backports repository, rebuilding ImageMagick against the new libhief version, and restarting NextCloud.

A: Updating libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image allows users to view HEIC images uploaded from iOS 18.1+ devices in NextCloud. This is a significant improvement, as it enables users to access and view their HEIC images without any issues.

A: There are no known risks associated with updating libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image. However, it is always a good idea to back up your data before making any changes to your system.

A: Yes, you can update libhief1 in the base Debian Bookworm image manually by downloading the updated package from the bookworm-backports repository and installing it manually. However, this is not recommended, as it can be a complex and time-consuming process.

A: To verify that libhief1 has been updated successfully, you can check the version of libhief1 installed on your system using the dpkg -l command. You can also check the NextCloud logs to see if there are any errors related to libhief1.

A: Yes, you can roll back to the previous version of libhief1 if you encounter any issues. To do this, you can use the apt install command with the --reinstall option to reinstall the previous version of libhief1.