AVIF file format: what it is and how to use it

AVIF wraps the AV1 video codec's still-image mode in a modern container: the best compression of any web image format, with HDR and alpha. Learn when to use it and what to choose instead.

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What is a AVIF file?

An .avif file is an image compressed with AV1, the open video codec from the Alliance for Open Media, stored as a single intra frame in an ISOBMFF container. It supports lossy and lossless modes, 10/12-bit HDR, wide gamut, alpha transparency and sequences, and typically beats JPEG by ~50% and WebP by ~20% at equal quality. Its bill is encoding time and, still, uneven support in older tools.

When should you use AVIF?

  • Smallest-possible web images: photographic content shrinks dramatically at the same visual quality.
  • HDR and wide-gamut delivery: 10-bit images fit in one standard file.
  • Modern pipelines: every current browser decodes it; CDNs serve it happily.

When is another format a better fit?

When encode speed or tooling maturity matters more than a few percent of bytes, WebP is the safe middle ground, faster to produce and supported for longer. For universal editing compatibility JPG and PNG remain. And JXL offers similar ambition with easier progressive decode, where support exists.

The short version: AVIF is the compression king of web images: use it for delivery, and keep a friendlier master for editing.

How to open a AVIF file

On Windows

Double-click the file, or open it with IrfanView.

On macOS

GIMP opens AVIF files on macOS.

In your browser

Open AVIF files right in a browser tab or with the dexrr viewer. No install, no upload.

Also opens in

  • Any web browser
  • GIMP
  • XnView
  • IrfanView

View or convert AVIF files

A quick preview or a new format. No install, no upload.

View AVIF files Preview and inspect AVIF files Convert to AVIF Turn files into AVIF AVIF to WEBP WebP image AVIF to JXL JPEG XL AVIF to HEIC High Efficiency Image Container (HEVC) AVIF to JPG JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

AVIF technical details

Full name
AV1 Image File Format
Extensions
.avif
MIME type
image/avif
Magic bytes
… 66 74 79 70 61 76 69 66 (ftyp avif)
Compression
Lossless or lossy
Developer
Alliance for Open Media
Specification
aomediacodec.github.io

AVIF questions, answered

How do I open an .avif file?

All current browsers display it natively; newer OS releases and editors follow. dexrr displays and converts avif files directly in your browser.

Can I convert AVIF files online?

Yes, dexrr converts avif locally in your browser: AVIF to PNG for lossless editing, AVIF to JPG for compatibility or AVIF to WebP for wider support.

Is AVIF better than WebP?

On compression, yes. It is roughly 20% smaller at equal quality, plus better HDR. WebP encodes faster and enjoys longer-established tooling support.

Why does my AVIF take so long to create?

AV1 encoding is computationally heavy: the small file is bought with encoder effort, especially at high quality. Speed presets trade a bit of size for much faster output.

Is the AVIF format outdated?

The opposite: it is the newest mainstream web image format, standardized in 2019 and still gaining support.