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AVIF files: what they are and how to open or convert them

AVIF is a next-generation image format derived from the AV1 video codec. It compresses better than WebP and JPG at the same visual quality, and browsers support it well, but many desktop programs, older phones, and upload forms still cannot open it.

What is an AVIF file?

AVIF is an image format derived from the AV1 video codec, published by the Alliance for Open Media in 2019. It compresses better than WebP and far better than JPG at the same visual quality, supports transparency, animation, HDR, and wide color, and is royalty-free. Browsers adopted it quickly, so images saved from modern websites are increasingly AVIF files.

How to open an AVIF file

Chrome, Firefox, Safari 16 and later, and Edge display AVIF. Windows 11 Photos opens it with the AV1 Video Extension installed; macOS Ventura and later handle it natively. Older versions of Photoshop, most email clients, and many upload forms do not. Converting to JPG for photos or PNG for graphics solves it in one step, and the conversion happens in your browser.

When to use AVIF

On websites, where it makes pages load faster than any other widely supported format. For everything else, the compatibility gap still favours JPG and PNG. Encoding AVIF is slow and needs specialised software, so most people only ever decode it.

Frequently asked questions

Is AVIF better than WebP?

For compression, yes, by around 20 percent at the same quality. WebP is supported by more software and encodes much faster.

Why can I not open AVIF in Windows?

Windows needs the AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store, and many programs never added support. Converting to JPG or PNG avoids the problem.

Convert or edit AVIF files

AVIF to JPG.avif → .jpgAVIF to PNG.avif → .pngCompress ImageReduce image file size in your browser without uploadingResize ImageResize JPG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC images to exact pixel dimensions or a percentage, right in your browserCrop ImageCrop photos to a square, 16:9, 9:16, 4:5, or exact pixel size in your browserRotate ImageRotate images by 90, 180, or 270 degrees and flip them horizontally or vertically in your browserAdd Watermark to ImageStamp a text watermark on photos in your browser: choose position, size, opacity, or tile it across the imageImage to Pixel ArtTurn any photo or drawing into pixel art in your browser: choose the pixel size, a limited palette (16 colors, Game Boy, PICO-8), and ditheringSprite Sheet MakerPack animation frames or the frames of a GIF into a sprite sheet grid with JSON coordinates, in your browserPNG to ICOConvert a PNG into a multi-size ICO file for favicons and Windows icons, in your browserResize to 8×8Resize any image to exactly 8×8 pixels in your browser, with smooth or crisp pixel-art scaling and transparent paddingResize to 16×16Resize any image to exactly 16×16 pixels in your browser, with smooth or crisp pixel-art scaling and transparent paddingResize to 32×32Resize any image to exactly 32×32 pixels in your browser, with smooth or crisp pixel-art scaling and transparent paddingResize to 64×64Resize any image to exactly 64×64 pixels in your browser, with smooth or crisp pixel-art scaling and transparent paddingResize to 128×128Resize any image to exactly 128×128 pixels in your browser, with smooth or crisp pixel-art scaling and transparent paddingResize to 256×256Resize any image to exactly 256×256 pixels in your browser, with smooth or crisp pixel-art scaling and transparent paddingPixel Art UpscalerScale pixel art, sprites, and game textures up 2x to 16x with crisp nearest-neighbour scaling, in your browserQR Code ReaderRead a QR code from a photo or screenshot in your browserImage to Text (OCR)Extract text from photos, screenshots, and scans in your browser with on-device OCREXIF ViewerInspect the metadata inside a photo: camera model, lens, settings, date taken, editing software, and GPS locationRemove EXIF DataStrip metadata, location, and camera details from JPG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC photos before sharingImages to GIFCombine JPG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC images into an animated GIF in your browserJPG to PDFConvert JPG photos into a PDF in your browser: one image per page, in order, with optional A4 or Letter pages and marginsPNG to PDFConvert PNG images into a PDF in your browser, one per page, with exact-size or A4/Letter pages