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.
What opens 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
Open a .jfif file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .jfif. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Photos or Paint.
- On Mac, use Preview or Photos.
- On Linux, try Image Viewer or GIMP.
- Still stuck? Convert the .jfif to JPG, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .jfif file?
Almost always because no installed app understands JFIF. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .jfif at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
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
What is the .jfif file signature (magic bytes)?
A .jfif file starts with the hex bytes FF D8 FF E0. Programs identify JFIF by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for JFIF. For a full breakdown, see the JPEG file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | 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
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