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iPhone 14 ios 18 videos no longer transfer with properties nor thumbnail

iPhone 14 ios 18 videos no longer transfer with properties nor thumbnail. We have hundreds of iPhone videos, all with properties and thumbnails. But starting around late Sept and early Oct. all videos transferred to our various computers W10/11, no longer have properties nor thumbnail images. They do all play however. We have hundreds of iPhone videos transferred to our computers over many years. All have properties and thumbnail images. Now, the videos have neither. Wondering if the last ios 18 updates did something to videos. See attached

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Oct 23, 2024 9:55 AM

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13 replies

Oct 24, 2024 5:40 AM in response to 305Pal

In the past I also used to transfer the files also via connecting with an USB cable. Meanwhile I used 2 diiferent apps: "Photo Transfer" and now "LocalSend". Both transfer via WLAN in the local network. They access either they media gallery or the app "Files". They have no direct access to the filesystem, like you have when connect via USB.

When I vconnect via USB, I can transfer the video files without a problem, including the extension .MOV. But I also se no properties/thumbnail. Checking my older videos, this behaviour started obviously with iOS18.

Oct 24, 2024 10:21 AM in response to mopperle

Thank you. Are you confirming that when you transfer your iPhone videos to your computer, they have the extension .mov, and that they will play? But they do not have the video properties, nor a thumbnail? And you believe this started with ios 18? Because that is what we are experiencing now as well. ..."When I connect via USB, I can transfer the video files without a problem, including the extension .MOV. But I also see no properties / thumbnail. Checking my older videos, this behavior started obviously with iOS18."

Have you found a solution or workaround? Has APPLE assisted or helped? I called them, and they were unable to help. Surprised no one else nor Apple has weighed in here. There has to be others experiencing this now.

Oct 23, 2024 11:47 AM in response to mopperle

Thank you, so your issue # one is the following? When did it start for you, and have you resolved it? >> "iPhone 14 ios 18 videos no longer transfer with properties nor thumbnail. We have hundreds of iPhone videos, all with properties and thumbnails. But starting around late Sept and early Oct. all videos transferred to our various computers W10/11, no longer have properties nor thumbnail images. They do all play however. We have hundreds of iPhone videos transferred to our computers over many years. All have properties and thumbnail images."

You say there is a second issue? Not sure I understand this issue. >>> "when you use as format HEVC (H.265), in the iphones file system, the file is named like "ABCD1234.mov", which is OK.

But in the photo app they are shown with the date and time the video was taken, e.g. "2024-10-22_13-15-45" instead of the original file name. This new "name" is also used when transferring the file to another device e.g. a PC, but without any suffix. means that I have to give those files manually an extension so that they can be played."

My videos are transferred over to my W10/11 computers just as I have done for years. Connect iPhone with data cord, go to the folders, and copy or move the photos and videos. The videos have a .mov. They all play, but as of Oct. they have no properties nor thumbnail. see attached of older videos and now the new transfers. Wondering if the ios 18 update did this? We have changed no setting from the ones prior to the issue, and post issue. Not even sure this is a windows issue. Notice the dates on the sample below.

Oct 23, 2024 10:11 AM in response to 305Pal

Seeing exactly the same issue. But there is also another problem: when you use as format HEVC (H.265), in the iphones file system, the file is named like "ABCD1234.mov", which is OK.

But in the photo app they are shown with the date and time the video was taken, e.g. "2024-10-22_13-15-45" instead of the original file name. This new "name" is also used when transferring the file to another device e.g. a PC, but without any suffix. means that I have to give those files manually an extension so that they can be played.


Nov 1, 2024 7:22 AM in response to 305Pal

Having exactly the same issue.


I transferred my photos and videos to Windows 11 using a USB cable.


In file explorer you can see thumbnails for everything before I installed IOS 18, but since updating there are now no thumbnails for videos. (Photos are fine)


I film content for work and this is causing so many issues. I now cannot see what any of the videos are without clicking into and watching them.

Nov 1, 2024 11:29 AM in response to nwds92

Not only is there no thumbnail image on videos now, there is also no data and no properties. It's as if the videos from ios 18 are all now orphans. But still no help or assistance from Apple. APPLE is not even weighing in on this conversation. Have you called support? I have, and it was a waste. They acted like they had no idea, and tried to blame Microsoft. Hey APPLE... where is your help?

Nov 1, 2024 12:51 PM in response to 305Pal

I am having the same issue. At first I thought it might be the new iPhone 16 Pro or maybe Windows 11 update, but after reading this thread, it makes more sense that it is the IOS 18 update. I have tried setting the video format to different options and can transfer via USB-C and play in every format to both a Windows 10 and Windows 11 machine, but get no thumbnails or properties on either PC regardless of the format being used on the phone. Quite annoying. Let's hope Apple gets this fixed soon.

Nov 19, 2024 10:49 AM in response to saarnet

Not sure what this is or how to use it. >> But yes. APPLE needs to fix this. But we hear nothing at all from APPLE. They have not even acknowledged the issue yet, and movies/videos are still transferring with NO properties and NO thumbnail. They do not seem to care about this issue.

What is this ? >>> It can be fixed with

ffmpeg.exe -i %SOURCE% -vcodec copy -acodec copy

%DEST1%,

Nov 23, 2024 11:08 AM in response to saarnet

saarnet wrote:
with this command you can transcode the MOV files with ffmpeg to get the thumbnails, e.g. ffmpeg.exe -i IMB_8022.MOV -vcodec copy -acodec copy IMB_8022_transcoded.MOV

A problem with that workaround is that it deletes movie metadata (date, location, device info etc) because ffmpeg v4-7 does not properly support movie metadata no matter what.


FWIW now when I tested this via VMware Fusion Windows 10, I noticed that iPadOS 18.1.1 Photos "Transfer to PC" "Automatic" now converts .heic to .jpg but does not yet convert H.265 to H.264.

iPhone 14 ios 18 videos no longer transfer with properties nor thumbnail

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