What is a .jfif file?
JPEG (JFIF) · Image · Joint Photographic Experts Group · 1992
A JFIF file is just a JPEG image under a different extension. JFIF is the standard that defines how a JPEG is stored, so a .jfif opens in every image viewer already. Windows sometimes saves web images this way, which is the only reason it looks unfamiliar.
What is a .jfif file used for?
JFIF (JPEG File Interchange Format) is the rulebook for how a plain JPEG is laid out in a file. In practice, .jfif and .jpg are the same image format, so anything that opens a JPG opens a JFIF.
People run into it because Windows, and some browsers, occasionally save an image from the web as .jfif instead of .jpg. It is a known quirk, not a different or broken file.
The fix is trivial: rename the file's extension from .jfif to .jpg and it behaves exactly as expected, or convert it if a particular app is fussy.
Everything else about it, quality, compression, no transparency, is identical to a normal JPG.
How to open a .jfif file
The .jfif format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- Photos
- Paint
- any browser
macOS
- Preview
- Photos
- any browser
Linux
- Image Viewer
- GIMP
- any browser
Web
- Every browser
How to convert a .jfif file
You can convert a .jfif file to JPG, PNG, WebP using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
Convert images free: ImageConvert
.jfif file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .jfif file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for JFIF. For a full breakdown, see the JFIF file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FF D8 FF E0 | 0 | JFIF-marked JPEG; a .jfif is just a JPEG |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .jfif file?
A JFIF file is just a JPEG image under a different extension. JFIF is the standard that defines how a JPEG is stored, so a .jfif opens in every image viewer already. Windows sometimes saves web images this way, which is the only reason it looks unfamiliar.
How do I convert JFIF to JPG?
You barely need to: they are the same format. Just rename the extension from .jfif to .jpg and it works. If an app still objects, open it and re-save or export as .jpg.
Why did I get a .jfif file instead of a .jpg?
Windows and some browsers occasionally save images from the web with the .jfif extension. It is a harmless quirk, the file is an ordinary JPEG, so rename it to .jpg if the extension bothers a program.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: