What Is an AVIF File? How to Open and Convert AVIF Images - Colin Mackay

Everything you need to know about the AVIF image format: what it is, how to open AVIF files, and the best ways to convert them.

Last updated: 17 March 2026

What Is AVIF?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is an open, royalty-free image format based on the AV1 video codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media. It stores still images — and image sequences — inside an HEIF container, delivering significantly better compression than JPEG or PNG at equivalent visual quality.

The format was finalised in 2019 and has since gained support in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. It handles lossy compression, lossless compression, transparency, and HDR content in a single file.

How AVIF Compression Works

AVIF leverages the intra-frame coding tools of AV1. When you save a photo as AVIF, the encoder breaks the image into blocks, predicts pixel values from surrounding blocks, and stores only the residual differences. This is fundamentally similar to how JPEG works, but AV1's prediction tools are far more sophisticated — it supports block sizes from 4×4 up to 128×128 and includes dozens of directional prediction modes.

The result is smaller files at the same quality, or noticeably better quality at the same file size. For photographic content, typical savings over JPEG are 30–50 %. Compared to WebP, AVIF usually delivers an additional 10–20 % reduction.

Browser and Platform Support

Desktop Browsers

  • Chrome / Chromium: Full support since version 85 (August 2020)
  • Firefox: Full support since version 93 (October 2021)
  • Safari: Support since version 16.4 (March 2023)
  • Edge: Full support (Chromium-based)

Mobile

  • Android: Chrome and Firefox on Android support AVIF natively
  • iOS / iPadOS: Safari 16.4+ on iOS 16.4+ supports AVIF

Operating Systems

  • Windows 11: Native AVIF support in Photos and File Explorer thumbnails (via the AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store)
  • Windows 10: Requires the AV1 Video Extension
  • macOS: Supported since macOS Ventura (13.0) in Preview and Quick Look
  • Linux: Supported via libraries (libavif) and viewers like Eye of GNOME, gThumb, and GIMP 2.10.32+

How to Open AVIF Files

If your operating system does not open AVIF files natively, these applications handle the format well:

  • GIMP (2.10.32+) — Free, cross-platform. Open and edit AVIF directly.
  • IrfanView — Free image viewer for Windows. Requires the "Formats" plugin pack.
  • XnView MP — Free, cross-platform. Supports AVIF out of the box.
  • Paint.NET — Free for Windows. AVIF support via the "AvifFileType" plugin.
  • Adobe Photoshop — Native AVIF support since version 23.2 (February 2022).
  • Any modern web browser — Drag the file into Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to view it.

How to Convert AVIF Files

Online Tools

  • Squoosh (squoosh.app) — Google's open-source image compressor. Converts to and from AVIF in the browser with real-time quality previews.
  • CloudConvert — Supports batch conversion of AVIF to JPEG, PNG, WebP, and more.

Desktop Applications

  • GIMP: Open the AVIF file, then export as JPEG, PNG, or WebP via File → Export As.
  • ImageMagick: Command-line conversion is straightforward:
    magick input.avif output.jpg
  • FFmpeg: Can decode AVIF and write to many formats:
    ffmpeg -i input.avif output.png

Command-Line: libavif Tools

The reference library ships with avifdec (decoder) and avifenc (encoder):

# Decode AVIF to PNG
avifdec photo.avif photo.png

# Encode JPEG to AVIF at quality 30 (lower = better quality, range 0–63)
avifenc --min 20 --max 30 photo.jpg photo.avif

AVIF Compared to Other Formats

Feature AVIF WebP JPEG PNG
CompressionExcellentVery goodGoodLossless only
TransparencyYesYesNoYes
AnimationYesYesNoNo (APNG yes)
HDRYesNoNoNo
Browser support~92 %~97 %100 %100 %
Encode speedSlowModerateFastFast

When to Use AVIF

  • Web publishing where you serve via <picture> with a JPEG or WebP fallback
  • App assets when targeting platforms with confirmed AVIF support
  • Photo archives where storage savings compound over thousands of images

When Not to Use AVIF

  • When encoding speed matters and you cannot pre-encode at build time
  • When you need guaranteed universal support without fallback logic
  • For print workflows (use TIFF or high-quality JPEG)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AVIF the same as HEIF?

Not quite. Both use the HEIF container, but HEIF typically uses the H.265/HEVC codec (and is often called HEIC on Apple devices), while AVIF uses the AV1 codec. AVIF is royalty-free; HEVC is not.

Will AVIF replace JPEG?

Eventually, for most web use cases, yes. But JPEG will remain relevant for years due to its universal compatibility and the sheer volume of existing JPEG content.

Can I use AVIF in email?

No. Email clients have very limited image format support. Stick with JPEG or PNG for email.