Guide
AVIF File: What It Is and How to Open It
Got a .avif file that won't open or upload? Here's what an AVIF file is, why you keep getting them, and how to open or turn them into JPG in a few clicks.
Quick answer: An AVIF file is an image saved in the AV1 Image File Format, a modern format that stores photos at much smaller sizes than JPG at similar quality. Recent browsers and operating systems open it, but many older apps, forms and editors don't. When one refuses, convert it to JPG.
You right-click a picture, choose Save, and the file lands on your desktop as photo.avif. Then your email client shows a blank box, or the upload form says "unsupported file type". Nothing is wrong with the image. The format is just newer than the software you're trying to use it in. If you want the quick fix, the AVIF to JPG converter runs in your browser, so the file stays on your device. The rest of this guide explains what you're dealing with.
What is an AVIF file?
AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format. It was developed by the Alliance for Open Media and stores an image compressed with the AV1 video codec. In practice it is a still image that can be lossy or lossless, supports transparency and high dynamic range, and usually comes out smaller than the same picture saved as JPG.
Free online tool
Try our AVIF to JPG Converter
Free AVIF to JPG converter online—private in your browser, no upload.
Extension: .avif
Compression: lossy or lossless
Transparency: supported
Animation: supported
Main goal: smaller files at similar visual quality
What type of file is AVIF, and what does .avif mean?
AVIF is an image file type. The .avif extension tells your computer the file uses the AV1 Image File Format, which stores the picture inside a HEIF container. Its web content type is image/avif (MDN's image format guide lists the details). Despite the shared container, it is not the same as HEIC from iPhones, and a viewer that opens one may not open the other.
Why do I keep getting AVIF files?
Websites choose AVIF because it makes pages load faster. When you save an image from such a site, you get the AVIF version rather than a JPG. Some phones, cameras and design tools can also export AVIF directly. You didn't do anything wrong; the site simply served a format your browser understands but your other software may not.
How do I open an AVIF file?
The quickest test on any device: drag the file into a current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. All of them display AVIF. To open it in your usual apps, it depends on your system.
On Windows
Windows 11's Photos app can show AVIF once Microsoft's free AV1 Video Extension is installed. If Photos says it can't open the file, search the Microsoft Store for "AV1 Video Extension", install it, then double-click the file again.
On a Mac
macOS Ventura (13) and later open AVIF in Preview and show it in Finder's Quick Look. Older versions of macOS don't recognise the format, so use a browser or convert the file.
On iPhone and iPad
iOS and iPadOS 16 and later can open AVIF in the Files app and Photos. On older versions, open it in Safari or convert it to JPG first.
On Android
Android 12 and later can decode AVIF, and Chrome on Android opens it on any recent version. Some gallery apps still skip the format, so try Chrome if your gallery doesn't show it.
In Photoshop and other editors
Editor support is newer and uneven. Adobe added AVIF to Photoshop's File > Save a Copy in version 26.8 (2025), and older versions needed Camera Raw or a plug-in. If your editor won't open the file, update it or convert the image to JPG first.
How do I convert an AVIF file to JPG?
Open the AVIF to JPG converter.
Add your .avif file or files.
Convert and download the JPG.
Conversion happens in your browser, so the image isn't uploaded to a server. JPG is lossy, so each save discards a little detail, and any transparency is replaced with a solid background. Keep the original AVIF if you may need it later.
Worked example: a real AVIF from a website, converted to JPG
To see what conversion does to the file, we saved a real AVIF the way most people get one: from a web page. It was a blog cover image from this site, which our server sends as AVIF to browsers that support it. The file was 25.6 KB at 1200×670 pixels. We ran it through the AVIF to JPG converter at its default Balanced setting (80% quality).
Same size in pixels: the JPG kept the full 1200×670.
About three times bigger on disk: 25.6 KB became 79.2 KB. That is the trade: JPG opens everywhere, while AVIF is the more efficient format.
No upload: the conversion ran in the browser, and the result panel confirms nothing was uploaded.
If a form has a size limit, a JPG that grows like this may need one more step; see the last section below.
Should I convert AVIF to JPG or PNG?
Choose | When |
|---|---|
JPG | Photos, email attachments, forms and portals that ask for JPG |
PNG | Graphics, screenshots or logos that need transparency or sharp edges |
Our converter outputs JPG, which suits most photos. If the image has a transparent background you need to keep, export it as PNG from an editor that opens AVIF instead. Converting to JPG first and then to PNG won't bring the transparency back. PNG files from photos are also usually much larger than JPG.
Is AVIF better than JPG or WebP?
AVIF usually compresses better than both, but compatibility is the trade-off. JPG opens almost anywhere. WebP is widely supported and sits in the middle. If you run a website and are choosing a format, see the best image format for websites. If you only need to share a picture, JPG is the safest choice. And if a site rejects a WebP file instead, the same idea applies; our WebP to JPG converter handles that.
What if the JPG is still too big?
Some forms cap uploads at a size limit. After converting, run the JPG through the Image Compressor or make it smaller in pixels with the Image Resizer. Both lose some detail, so check the result before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
What program opens AVIF files?
Current browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari open AVIF. So do Windows 11 Photos with the AV1 Video Extension, Preview on macOS Ventura and later, and Files and Photos on iOS 16 and later. Older apps and editors may not, so converting to JPG is the reliable fallback.
Is AVIF a good image format?
Yes for file size and quality, especially on websites. Its weakness is uneven support in older software and some upload forms.
Is AVIF the same as WebP?
No. Both are modern formats, but AVIF is based on the AV1 codec and WebP on VP8. AVIF generally produces smaller files, while WebP is supported in more places.
Does converting AVIF to JPG reduce quality?
Slightly. JPG is lossy, so some detail is discarded, and transparency is flattened onto a solid background. The file also tends to get bigger, as the worked example above shows. Keep the original if quality matters.
Can I convert AVIF to PNG instead?
Yes, with an editor that opens AVIF. PNG keeps sharp edges and transparency, but photo files will be larger than JPG.
Next steps
Got a stubborn .avif file right now? Drop it into the AVIF to JPG converter and you'll have a file that opens anywhere, without uploading it.