What is an AVIF file?
AVIF is the newest image format you're likely to meet on the web. It makes pictures remarkably small – and sometimes impossible to open. Here's what you need to know.
The short answer
AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format. It was published in 2019 by the Alliance for Open Media – a group that includes Google, Apple, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix and Amazon. It stores pictures using the compression of the AV1 video codec, inside the same kind of container as HEIC.
The result is one of the most efficient image formats available: at the same visual quality, an AVIF is often about half the size of a JPG and noticeably smaller than a WEBP.
What AVIF can do
- Very strong compression, especially for photos with smooth areas such as skies and skin.
- High colour depth of 10 or 12 bits and HDR, for brighter highlights on HDR screens.
- Transparency, like PNG and WEBP.
- Lossless mode, though it’s rarely used.
- Royalty-free use, so anyone can build support into their software.
AVIF vs WEBP vs JPG
| AVIF | WEBP | JPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2010 | 1992 |
| File size at the same quality | Smallest | Small | Largest |
| HDR and 10-bit colour | Yes | No | No |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes | No |
| Royalty-free | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Opens everywhere | Not yet | Mostly | Yes |
Where you’ll find AVIF
- Websites and online shops, whose image services send AVIF to browsers that support it.
- Apps and messengers that use AVIF to send pictures with less data.
- Design and export tools that offer AVIF as the smallest web format.
Which apps open AVIF?
- Browsers: Chrome (since 2020), Firefox (since 2021), Safari 16 and later, and Edge (since 2024).
- Windows 11: the Photos app, with the free AV1 Video Extension.
- Mac and iPhone: macOS 13 and iOS 16 or later.
- Android: Android 12 and later can display AVIF.
- Editors: support is growing – GIMP opens AVIF, while many older programs don’t.
When to convert
If an app, form or person can’t open an AVIF, convert it to JPG. The file gets bigger, but it will open anywhere. KeepPixels uses the AVIF decoder already built into your browser, so nothing needs to be downloaded or uploaded.
Got WEBP files too? See what a WEBP file is.
Convert AVIF to JPG here
Drop your AVIF photos here
or
You can also paste an image with Ctrl+V.
Converted on this device. Nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is AVIF better than WEBP?
In compression, usually yes – at the same quality an AVIF is often 20–30% smaller than a WEBP. WEBP is older and supported by slightly more software, and it's faster to encode.
Is AVIF free to use?
Yes. AVIF and the AV1 codec it's based on are royalty-free, unlike HEIC, whose HEVC compression is covered by patents.
How do I open AVIF on Windows?
Windows 11's Photos app opens AVIF once the free AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store is installed. Any current browser can display it too, or you can convert it to JPG.
Why does my AVIF look different after converting?
If the AVIF is an HDR image, the converted JPG is standard range, so very bright highlights look less intense. Ordinary AVIF images convert without visible changes.