# Install libheif with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper ISO/IEC 23008-12:2017 HEIF file format decoder and encoder. Version 1.23.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-26. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libheif ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libheif ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libheif ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: multimedia/libheif/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add heif-thumbnailer ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: heif-thumbnailer from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install heif-gdk-pixbuf ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: heif-gdk-pixbuf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libheif ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libheif from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#libheif ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libheif/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libheif ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libheif from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install gdk-pixbuf-loader-libheif ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gdk-pixbuf-loader-libheif from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libheif - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.23.1 - **Source summary:** ISO/IEC 23008-12:2017 HEIF file format decoder and encoder - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-26T12:52:58Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - heif-convert (cli) - heif-dec (cli) - heif-enc (cli) - heif-info (cli) - heif-thumbnailer (cli) - heif-convert (alias) - heif-dec (alias) - heif-enc (alias) - heif-info (alias) - heif-thumbnailer (alias) ## Dependencies - aom - jpeg-turbo - libde265 - libpng - libtiff - webp - x265 ## Build dependencies - cmake - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: Additional codecs can be enabled by `brew install libheif-plugins` - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.23.1 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-26 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/strukturag/libheif - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage libheif is a C/C++ library and set of command-line tools for HEIF-family still-image formats. Its package-manager value comes from sitting at the awkward but important boundary between container formats, patent-heavy video codecs, and desktop image tooling. The project is associated with Struktur AG and Dirk Farin, and the public repository describes it as an ISO/IEC 23008-12 HEIF and AVIF file-format decoder and encoder. ### Project history The v1.0.0 release in February 2018 was billed as the first still-image decoder release and already covered HEIF features such as tiled images, alpha channels, thumbnails, EXIF/XMP metadata, depth channels, multiple images, image transformations, and overlays. The v1.7.0 release in June 2020 added AVIF reading and writing through libaom and described a plugin architecture that let encoders reuse HEIF infrastructure while selecting AV1 compression. The v1.12.0 release in May 2021 added MIAF conformance handling, premultiplied-alpha signaling, AV1 sequence-header parsing for the av1C box, and AVIF pixi-box writing. The v1.22.0 release in May 2026 broadened the library toward generic image components and a reworked ISO/IEC 23001-17 lossless-image codec implementation. ### Adoption history libheif became a common Unix package because it gave image applications and shell workflows a reusable way to read HEIC files from Apple-oriented ecosystems and AVIF files from web-image ecosystems without each application implementing the container stack itself. Homebrew ships it with user-facing tools such as heif-convert, heif-enc, heif-dec, heif-info, and heif-thumbnailer, which made it useful both as a library dependency and as a command-line conversion utility. ### How it is used Typical package use is format conversion, image inspection, thumbnail generation, and linking higher-level image software against a shared HEIF/AVIF implementation. Codec details are delegated to companion libraries or plugins such as libaom for AV1 support. ### Why package nerds care libheif matters to packagers because the visible package is small, but its usefulness depends on codec policy, optional dependencies, plugin choices, and file-format brands. It is the sort of package where build options decide whether users get HEIC-only, AVIF-capable, or broader modern-image support. It also marks the shift from classic single-image formats toward containerized image formats that carry auxiliary images, metadata, sequences, depth, alpha, HDR, and codec-specific boxes. ### Timeline - 2018: v1.0.0 released as the first still-image decoder release. - 2020: v1.7.0 added AVIF reading and writing through libaom. - 2021: v1.12.0 added MIAF conformance and AVIF metadata refinements. - 2026: v1.22.0 expanded generic image components and ISO/IEC 23001-17 lossless-image support. ### Related projects - libde265 and x265 are closely related through HEVC/HEIC workflows. - libaom and other AV1 codec projects are related through AVIF encoding and decoding. - ImageMagick, GIMP, thumbnailers, and desktop file managers are typical downstream consumers of HEIF/AVIF libraries. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for libheif. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL. ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** libheif - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - heif-gdk-pixbuf - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: heif-gdk-pixbuf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - gdk-pixbuf loader | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - heif-thumbnailer - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: heif-thumbnailer from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - thumbnailer | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-dev - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - development files | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-examples - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-examples from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - examples | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-aomdec - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-aomdec from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - aomdec plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-aomenc - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-aomenc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - aomenc plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-dav1d - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-dav1d from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - dav1d plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-ffmpegdec - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-ffmpegdec from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - ffmpegdec plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-j2kdec - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-j2kdec from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - j2kdec plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-j2kenc - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-j2kenc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - j2kenc plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-jpegdec - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-jpegdec from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - jpegdec plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-jpegenc - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-jpegenc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - jpegenc plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-kvazaar - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-kvazaar from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - kvazaar plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-libde265 - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-libde265 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - libde265 plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-rav1e - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-rav1e from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - rav1e plugin | http://www.libheif.org - Debian apt - libheif-plugin-svtenc - 1.19.8-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libheif-plugin-svtenc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder - svtenc plugin | http://www.libheif.org ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [aom](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aom/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [jpeg-turbo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jpeg-turbo/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libpng](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libpng/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libtiff](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libtiff/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [webp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/webp/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [x265](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/x265/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [backgroundremover](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/backgroundremover/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [czkawka](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/czkawka/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gdal](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gdal/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [geeqie](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/geeqie/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [graphicsmagick](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/graphicsmagick/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [imagemagick](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/imagemagick/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [imagemagick-full](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/imagemagick-full/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [jasper](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jasper/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-codec, image-processing, library, media. - [libavif](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libavif/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: avif, cli, decoder, encoder, image-codec. - [babl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/babl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, library, media. - [djvulibre](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/djvulibre/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, decoder, encoder, library, media. - [exact-image](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/exact-image/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, library, media. - [gd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, library, media. - [gegl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gegl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-processing, library, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libheif.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libheif.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph