What Is an AVIF File?
AVIF is the next-generation image format taking over the web. Here's why your image downloads keep saving as .avif — and what to do about it.
Need to Convert an AVIF File?
Drop your AVIF file below — instant conversion to JPG or PNG. Free and private.
Converter component renders here
AVIF Explained in Simple Terms
AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format. It is a modern image format designed to produce much smaller files than JPG or PNG while maintaining the same visual quality. If you've ever right-clicked an image on a website and found it saved as a .avif file instead of .jpg, that's because the website uses AVIF to deliver images faster.
AVIF was developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), a consortium that includes Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, and Mozilla. Unlike some older formats, AVIF is royalty-free — anyone can use it without paying licensing fees.
The format is based on the AV1 video codec, which is why it achieves such impressive compression. AV1 was originally designed for streaming video, and its compression technology was adapted for still images to create AVIF.
How to Open AVIF Files
In Your Browser
Chrome (version 85+), Firefox (version 93+), and Safari (version 16+) all display AVIF images natively. If you can see an image on a website, your browser is already opening AVIF files. The issue arises when you save the image and try to use it outside the browser.
On Windows
Windows 10 and 11 can display AVIF files if you install the free AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store. This enables AVIF viewing in the Photos app and File Explorer thumbnails. For editing, most Windows applications don't yet support AVIF — you'll need to convert to JPG or PNG.
On Mac
macOS Ventura (13.0) and later support AVIF natively in Preview and other system applications. Older macOS versions require conversion. Photoshop 2023 and later can open AVIF files directly.
Online Converter
The fastest option for occasional use: drop your AVIF file into the converter at the top of this page. Instant conversion to JPG or PNG, right in your browser.
AVIF vs JPG vs PNG vs WebP — Format Comparison
How does AVIF stack up against the other major image formats?
| Feature | AVIF | JPG | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relative file size | Smallest | Large | Largest | Medium |
| Compression vs JPG | ~50% smaller | Baseline | 3-5x larger | ~30% smaller |
| Lossy compression | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Lossless compression | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| HDR support | Yes | No | No | No |
| Animation | Yes | No | No (APNG) | Yes |
| Color depth | Up to 12-bit | 8-bit | Up to 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Browser support | All modern (2022+) | All | All | All modern (2014+) |
| Software support | Limited but growing | Universal | Universal | Good |
| Encoding speed | Slow | Fast | Fast | Medium |
| Royalty-free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Developed by | AOMedia | JPEG Group | W3C |
AVIF is the best choice for web delivery when file size matters. For universal compatibility, convert to JPG (photos) or PNG (graphics with transparency). WebP is a good middle ground with broader software support than AVIF.
The Future of AVIF
AVIF adoption is accelerating. All major browsers now support it, and native OS support is expanding. Apple added AVIF support to Safari and macOS in 2022, which was the last major holdout.
The format is expected to gradually replace JPG as the default image format on the web over the next 3-5 years. For users, this means more .avif files appearing in your downloads. For developers, it means AVIF should be part of your image optimization strategy.
AVIF2, based on the AV2 codec currently in development, promises even better compression. However, AV2 is still years from standardization, so AVIF will remain the current-generation format for the foreseeable future.