Image format
What is a .avif file?
AVIF is a modern image format based on the AV1 video codec. It produces very small files at good quality, and supports transparency, HDR and animation.
All current browsers display it. Older software often doesn’t, and encoding is slower than JPG or WebP.
fileclay opens AVIF but doesn’t write it
AVIF vs WebP vs JPG
| AVIF | WebP | JPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless | Lossy or lossless | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes | No |
| Color depth | Up to 12 bits | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Encoding speed | Slow | Fast | Very fast |
| Support | All modern browsers | All modern browsers | Everywhere |
| Best for | Lightest web images | Images on the web | Sharing anywhere |
When to use AVIF
Good for
- Images on a website where size matters most
- HDR and wide-color images
- Photos with transparency
Not a good fit
- Sending to people with older software
- Upload forms that only accept JPG or PNG
- Print work
How to open .avif files
| Platform | App | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Browsers | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge | Current versions |
| macOS | Preview | macOS 13 and later |
| iPhone, iPad | Photos, Files | iOS 16 and later |
| Editors | GIMP | Current versions |
Convert AVIF files
From AVIF
fileclay opens AVIF but doesn’t write it.
All 24 output formats: .png, .jpg, .webp, .bmp, .tif, .tiff, .gif, .tga, .jp2, .j2k, .j2c, .ico, .ppm, .pgm, .pbm, .pam, .qoi, .pcx, .exr, .sgi, .xbm, .jpeg, .pdf, .pptx
Conversions run in your browser. Files aren’t uploaded.
How to identify a .avif file
AVIF uses the same box structure as HEIC. From the fifth byte on, the file reads “ftypavif”.
It’s read here, in your browser. Only the first bytes.
Your file
What comes after
Questions about AVIF
Is AVIF better than WebP?
It usually produces smaller files at the same quality, but it takes longer to encode.
Is AVIF the same as HEIC?
No. Both use a HEIF-style container, but AVIF uses the royalty-free AV1 codec and HEIC uses HEVC.
Why can’t I open an AVIF file?
Older apps don’t know the format. A browser opens it, or you can convert it to JPG or PNG.
Does AVIF support transparency?
Yes. JPG doesn’t.