AVIF Explained: What It Is and How to Convert It to JPG
AVIF is a modern image format that packs high quality pictures into very small files. You usually meet it when you save an image from a website and the file ends in .avif instead of .jpg. This guide explains what AVIF is, where it came from, which apps open it, and how to convert AVIF to JPG when something refuses to accept it.
What is an AVIF file?
AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format. It stores still images, and short animations, compressed with AV1, a royalty free video codec created by the Alliance for Open Media. That group was founded in 2015 by companies including Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix, Amazon, Intel and Cisco, and Apple joined later.
The idea behind AVIF is simple. Modern video codecs are very good at squeezing detail into few bytes, so a single frame of AV1 video makes an efficient photo. The AVIF specification reached version 1.0 in 2019, and because AV1 costs nothing to use, browser makers adopted it quickly.
Under the hood, AVIF uses the same container family as HEIF, the format behind iPhone HEIC photos. If you have read our guide what is a HEIC file, you will notice the two are close relatives: a similar wrapper with a different codec inside.
What AVIF can store
- Lossy and lossless compression, so it suits both photos and graphics.
- Transparency through an alpha channel, like PNG and WebP.
- High dynamic range and wide color, with 10 or 12 bit color depth instead of the 8 bits of a standard JPG.
- Animation, as a lighter alternative to animated GIF.
Why websites use AVIF
Smaller images load faster, especially on mobile data. Many websites therefore keep a JPG or PNG original and send an AVIF copy to browsers that can show it. You never notice while browsing, because the browser displays it like any other picture.
The surprise comes when you right click and save the image. The file lands in your Downloads folder as .avif, and then your photo editor, your office app or an upload form says it cannot read it.
At the same visual quality, AVIF files are often smaller than JPG and even WebP, mainly on photos with smooth areas such as skies and skin. The exact savings depend on the picture and the settings, so treat any single percentage you read online with care. For a wider look at the classic formats, see WebP vs PNG vs JPG.
AVIF compared with JPG, PNG and WebP
| Format | First released | Transparency | Animation | Where it opens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | 1992 | No | No | Everywhere |
| PNG | 1996 | Yes | Limited | Everywhere |
| WebP | 2010 | Yes | Yes | All modern browsers, most apps |
| AVIF | 2019 | Yes | Yes | Modern browsers, fewer apps |
The weak spot of AVIF is not quality. It is support outside the browser. Older photo viewers, many office programs, printers, some messaging apps and plenty of upload portals still expect JPG or PNG.
How to open AVIF files
In a web browser
Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari all display AVIF. Chrome added support in 2020, Firefox in 2021 and Safari in 2022. Dragging an .avif file onto a browser tab is the quickest way to view it on any computer.
On Windows
Windows 10 and 11 can show AVIF in the Photos app when the free AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store is installed. Many PCs already have it. If Photos still shows an error, look for that extension in the Store, or simply open the file in your browser.
On Mac, iPhone and iPad
Apple added AVIF support in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, both released in 2022. On those versions and newer, Photos, Preview and Safari open AVIF files directly. Older versions need a conversion.
On Android
Android 12 added AVIF decoding to the system, so many gallery apps on newer phones can show it. Support still depends on the app and the phone brand, so a file that opens in Chrome may not open in your gallery.
How to convert AVIF to JPG
When an app or a form will not take the file, converting AVIF to JPG solves it in seconds. JPG is the most widely accepted image format, so the converted picture will open almost anywhere.
- Open the AVIF to JPG converter on any device.
- Drop one or several .avif files onto the page, or tap to choose them.
- Move the quality slider if you like. The default is 92%, a good balance of detail and size.
- Download each JPG, or grab all of them together as a ZIP.
The conversion runs entirely in your browser. Your images are not uploaded to a server, there is no signup and no watermark. Each file can be up to 50 MB.
What to know before converting
- Transparency becomes white. JPG has no transparent pixels, so see through areas are filled with white. To keep transparency, use AVIF to PNG instead.
- Animated AVIF gives one frame. Only the first frame is turned into a still JPG.
- HDR may look flatter. JPG stores standard 8 bit color, so the extra brightness range of an HDR image cannot be kept in full.
- Location data is left out. Metadata such as GPS position is not copied to the new file, which is good for privacy.
Should you keep AVIF or switch to JPG?
Keep AVIF when the image lives on a website you control and file size matters. Your pages stay light and modern browsers show it perfectly.
Convert to JPG when you need to edit, print, email, attach the image to a document or upload it to a form that lists only JPG and PNG. If the JPG is then too big for an upload limit, run it through Compress Image, or read our guide to reducing an image to 20 KB or 50 KB.
If you run a website and want lighter images but worry about AVIF support in older software, WebP is a good middle ground. You can turn existing photos into WebP with JPG to WebP.
Common AVIF problems and fixes
The app says the format is not supported
The app is simply older than AVIF. Convert the file to JPG or PNG, or update the app if a newer version exists.
I renamed the file to .jpg and it still fails
Changing the extension does not change the data inside, which is still AVIF. You need a real conversion that decodes the image and saves it again as JPG.
Colors look a little different after converting
This mostly happens with HDR or wide color images, or when you compare the files on two different screens. Open both versions on the same device before you decide. For ordinary photos, a JPG at 92% quality should look the same as the original in normal viewing.
The website keeps giving me AVIF
Sites choose the format based on what your browser supports, so saving the same picture again will usually give the same .avif file. Converting after download is the reliable fix.
FAQ
What is an AVIF file?
An AVIF file is an image saved in the AV1 Image File Format. It uses compression from the AV1 video codec, made by the Alliance for Open Media, to keep good quality in small files. Websites often serve pictures as AVIF so pages load faster, which is why saved images sometimes end in .avif.
How do I convert AVIF to JPG for free?
Open the FileKiwi AVIF to JPG converter, drop your .avif files on the page and download the JPG results one by one or as a ZIP. It works in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, with no signup and no watermark, and the images never leave your device.
Is AVIF better than JPG?
AVIF usually gives smaller files at the same visual quality and supports transparency, animation and HDR, which JPG cannot. JPG is still far more compatible with apps, printers and upload forms. AVIF is great for websites, while JPG is the safer choice for sharing, printing and editing.
Can I just rename an AVIF file to JPG?
No. Changing the extension does not change the data inside, so most apps will still fail to open the file or show an error. A converter decodes the AVIF image and saves it again as a real JPG, which is what apps and upload forms expect.
