What is the AVIF file format?
Files with the .avif extension store raster graphics in AV1 Image File format. The format uses AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) compression and saves images in a HEIF - High Efficiency Image File Format - container, built on the ISO Base Media File Format (ISO-BMFF). The specification supports single still images as well as image sequences and animations. The AVIF 1.0.0 specification was published in 2019 by the Alliance for Open Media. Tests conducted by Netflix in 2020 confirmed that .avif files offer better compression ratios and perceptual quality than the popular JPEG format.
AVIF format capabilities
AVIF is a versatile image format with broad feature support. .avif files can carry:
- multiple color spaces, including HDR, SDR, ICC profiles and CICP,
- lossy and lossless compression,
- 8, 10 or 12 bits per channel color depth, as well as monochrome,
- alpha channel (transparency) as a separate auxiliary image,
- image sequences and animations (stored with the
avisbrand).
.avif files can conform to either the Baseline or Advanced profile as defined in the AVIF specification.
Platform and application support
AVIF is supported on all major platforms. Windows 10 (May 2019 update and later) provides API support along with built-in decoding in Photos and File Explorer. Android 12, macOS Ventura, and most current Linux distributions offer native AVIF decoding. All major web browsers - Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16+, and Edge 121+ - support the format natively. Dedicated tools such as GIMP, ImageMagick, XnView MP, and avifdec (from libavif) can open and convert .avif files to other formats such as PNG or WebP.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWAVIF is passive image data and low-risk in normal use. The realistic caveat is decoder security: AVIF relies on the AV1/libavif/libheif decoders, and image-decoder bugs have historically been an attack surface across formats - keep your browser/OS updated so the bundled decoder is patched. Otherwise no scripting or macros are involved. Prefer official tools (browsers, GIMP, Squoosh) over random 'AVIF converter' sites that may be adware-laden, though reputable online converters are fine for non-sensitive images.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open AVIF files
Windows5 apps
GIMP
Open-source File > Open the .avif to view/edit, and File > Export As to save it as JPG/PNG. Free. 
Windows Photos
Built-in Double-click to open in Photos. Windows 11 supports AVIF natively; on older Windows install the 'AV1 Video Extension' from the Microsoft Store if it shows blank. 
Web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
Free Drag the .avif into a browser tab, or right-click > Open with > your browser - all modern browsers render AVIF. 
macOS3 apps
Preview / Photos
Built-in Double-click to open in Preview on macOS Ventura or later (AVIF supported since 2022); export to JPEG/PNG via File > Export.
Web browser (Safari / Chrome / Firefox)
Built-in Open the .avif in Safari 16+ or any modern browser to view it. 
Linux3 apps
ImageMagick / libavif (avifdec)
Open-source Command line: magick in.avif out.png (or avifdec) to view/convert; ideal for batch jobs. 
Android1 app
Google Photos / modern gallery
Built-in Android 12+ displays AVIF system-wide; open in the gallery or Chrome.
Squoosh
Free Open an AVIF and re-export it to JPG/PNG/WebP entirely in the browser (no upload). Google's image tool. Technical details
deep spec| Container format | ISO Base Media File Format (ISO-BMFF), shared with HEIF/HEIC |
| Image codec | AV1 (AOMedia Video 1) |
| MIME type | image/avif |
| Magic bytes | "ftypavif" at byte offset 4 - ftyp box with major brand "avif" |
| Animated variant | Uses ISO-BMFF brand "avis"; each frame is an AV1-coded image item |
| Color depth | 8, 10, or 12 bits per channel |
| Chroma subsampling | YCbCr 4:2:0, 4:2:2, and 4:4:4; monochrome (4:0:0) also supported |
| HDR support | Wide-gamut and HDR via CICP or ICC profiles; PQ and HLG transfer functions supported |
| Compression modes | Both lossy and lossless, controlled by AV1 quantizer settings |
| Alpha transparency | Supported as a separate AV1-coded auxiliary image item |
| Maximum image size | Up to 65,536 × 65,536 pixels per item; larger images via AVIF grid (tiled) layout |
| Embedded metadata | Exif and XMP embedded as metadata items in the ISO-BMFF structure |
| Profiles | Baseline Profile (AV1 Main Profile subset) and Advanced Profile |
| Browser support | All major browsers: Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16+, Edge 121+ |
| Released | 2019 (AVIF 1.0.0 specification by the Alliance for Open Media) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | aomediacodec.github.io |
AVIF conversions
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