How to open a .avif file
Quick, free ways to open AVIF on any system.
A .avif file is a AV1 Image File Format. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads AVIF yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .avif file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .avif. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Photos (with AV1 Video Extension) or Chrome and Edge.
- On Mac, use Preview (macOS 13+) or Safari 16+.
- On Linux, try GIMP or Firefox.
- Still stuck? Convert the .avif to PNG, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .avif files
Windows
- Photos (with AV1 Video Extension)
- Chrome and Edge
- GIMP 2.10+
macOS
- Preview (macOS 13+)
- Safari 16+
- GIMP
Linux
- GIMP
- Firefox
- ImageMagick (with libavif)
Web
- Most current browsers
!
Before you open it: Safe. AVIF is a still image format with no scripting. As always, use an up-to-date decoder.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .avif file?
Almost always because no installed app understands AVIF. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
Is AVIF smaller than WebP?
Usually yes, especially for photos at low to medium quality. The gap narrows for simple graphics, and AVIF takes longer to encode.
Why won't my photo editor open an AVIF?
Many editors added AVIF only recently. Update the app, or convert the file to PNG or JPG first.