How to Open AVIF Files: Browser, Desktop, and Mobile
AVIF is quickly becoming the preferred image format for the web thanks to its excellent compression and quality. But if you downloaded an AVIF file from a website and your computer or phone cannot open it, you are not alone. AVIF support outside of web browsers is still catching up.
This guide covers which applications already support AVIF, how to open AVIF files on every platform, and what to do when your software cannot handle the format.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Try opening in a web browser
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari all display AVIF images natively. Drag the AVIF file into a browser tab or right-click and choose 'Open With' your browser.
- Convert for other applications
If your image editor or office app cannot open AVIF, go to imageconvert.co/avif-to-jpg and convert to JPG or PNG. The converted file works in every application.
- Set up file associations
On Windows 11, AVIF is supported by the Photos app. Right-click the AVIF file, choose 'Open With', select Photos, and check 'Always use this app'. On macOS, Preview supports AVIF in Ventura and later.
Native AVIF Support by Platform
Web browsers have the broadest AVIF support. Chrome added AVIF in version 85 (2020), Firefox in version 93 (2021), Edge followed Chrome, and Safari added support in version 16 (2022). If you can open a file in a browser, you can view AVIF.
On desktop operating systems, Windows 11 includes native AVIF support in the Photos app and File Explorer. Windows 10 may need the AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store. macOS added AVIF support in Ventura (13.0). On Linux, most recent desktop environments handle AVIF through libraries like libavif.
Image Editors With AVIF Support
Professional image editors have been adding AVIF support progressively. GIMP supports AVIF import and export since version 2.10.32. Photoshop added AVIF support in recent versions. Affinity Photo supports it in version 2. For free editors, Photopea (web-based) handles AVIF natively.
If your preferred editor does not support AVIF yet, the practical workaround is to convert to PNG before importing. This preserves maximum quality in a format that every image editor supports. After editing, you can convert back to AVIF or save in whatever format you need.
AVIF on Mobile Devices
On iOS, Safari and the Photos app support AVIF starting with iOS 16. On Android, Chrome supports AVIF natively, and recent Android versions (Android 12+) include system-level AVIF support. Older devices on either platform can open AVIF files by using imageconvert.co in the mobile browser to convert them to JPG.
The mobile browser conversion approach works on any phone with a modern browser, regardless of the operating system version, because the conversion runs in JavaScript and does not depend on system-level format support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What program opens AVIF files on Windows?
Windows 11 Photos app opens AVIF natively. On Windows 10, install the AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store. Any web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) can also display AVIF files.
Can I open AVIF in Photoshop?
Recent versions of Photoshop support AVIF. If your version does not, convert the AVIF to PNG using imageconvert.co and open the PNG instead.
Why are websites using AVIF instead of JPG?
AVIF produces files roughly 50% smaller than JPG at the same visual quality. Smaller images mean faster page loads, which improves user experience and search engine rankings.
Is AVIF better than WebP?
AVIF generally achieves better compression than WebP, especially at lower quality settings. However, WebP has broader software support outside of browsers. Both are excellent modern formats.