---
title: ".avif file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .avif file is an AV1 Image File Format. A royalty-free image format built on the AV1 video codec, smaller than JPEG or WebP. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/avif/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .avif files

**.avif file: AV1 Image File Format**

A royalty-free image format built on the AV1 video codec, smaller than JPEG or WebP.

## What opens a .avif file

- **Windows:** Any web browser, Photos (with AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store), GIMP, IrfanView
- **macOS:** Preview (built in, macOS 13+), Any web browser, GIMP
- **Linux:** Image Viewer / Loupe (built in), GIMP, Any web browser
- **In a browser:** Any web browser, Squoosh, CloudConvert

## What a .avif file is

AVIF was published by the Alliance for Open Media in 2019 and packs AV1-compressed images into the HEIF container. It beats JPEG and WebP on size at the same quality and supports transparency and HDR, which is why sites increasingly serve it. All current browsers display AVIF; on Windows the Photos app needs the free AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store first, and macOS has handled it in Preview since Ventura.

## Converting it

A .avif file is commonly converted to .jpg, .png, .webp, .heic or .pdf. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .avif
- **Full name:** AV1 Image File Format
- **Category:** Images
- **MIME type:** image/avif
- **Created by:** Alliance for Open Media
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .avif file?

On Windows use Any web browser; on macOS use Preview (built in, macOS 13+); on Linux use Image Viewer / Loupe (built in). A royalty-free image format built on the AV1 video codec, smaller than JPEG or WebP.

### What is a .avif file?

AV1 Image File Format. AVIF was published by the Alliance for Open Media in 2019 and packs AV1-compressed images into the HEIF container. It beats JPEG and WebP on size at the same quality and supports transparency and HDR, which is why sites increasingly serve it.

### Can I convert a .avif file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .jpg, .png, .webp, .heic or .pdf, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.jpg — JPEG Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/jpg/)
- [.png — Portable Network Graphics](https://atoneplace.net/file/png/)
- [.jpeg — JPEG Image (four-letter form)](https://atoneplace.net/file/jpeg/)
- [.heic — High Efficiency Image Container](https://atoneplace.net/file/heic/)
- [.webp — WebP Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/webp/)
- [.gif — Graphics Interchange Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/gif/)
- [.psd — Adobe Photoshop Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/psd/)
- [.svg — Scalable Vector Graphics](https://atoneplace.net/file/svg/)
- [.ai — Adobe Illustrator Artwork](https://atoneplace.net/file/ai/)
- [.tiff — Tagged Image File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/tiff/)
- [.raw — Camera Raw Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/raw/)
- [.ico — Windows Icon](https://atoneplace.net/file/ico/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)