A .avif file is a modern image format that stores photos and graphics in a smaller file size than older formats like .jpg or .png, while keeping the same visual quality
The letters stand for AV1 Image File Format. AV1 is a video compression method developed by a group of tech companies (including Google, Apple, and Mozilla) to make video files smaller. Someone realized the same compression technique works on still images, and .avif was born. You are most likely to encounter .avif files on websites that serve images — they load faster because the files are smaller, which saves bandwidth for both the website and your internet connection.
The practical difference: a photo saved as .avif might be 50 to 80 percent smaller than the same photo saved as .jpg, with no visible loss of detail. That matters on slow connections and on mobile phones where data is metered. It matters less if you are downloading a handful of images on a fast home internet connection, but it matters a lot if you are a website serving millions of images per day.
Key Takeaways
- .avif is a newer image format that compresses photos more efficiently than .jpg or .png while maintaining visual quality.
- Websites use .avif to make pages load faster and to reduce the amount of data transferred, which saves money on bandwidth costs.
- Not all devices and browsers support .avif yet — older phones, older browsers, and some image editing software cannot open .avif files.
- You do not need to do anything differently as a user; websites that use .avif will automatically send you that format if your device supports it.
How .avif compares to .jpg, .png, and .webp
.jpg has been the standard for photographs since the 1990s. It compresses images by throwing away some detail that the human eye usually cannot see, which is why .jpg files are small. The trade-off is that if you compress a .jpg too much, you get visible blurriness or blocky artifacts. .png is better for graphics, logos, and images that need a transparent background, but .png files are much larger because they do not throw away any data.
.webp is another modern format that Google created a few years before .avif. It compresses better than .jpg and supports transparency like .png does. Many websites switched to .webp because it was a clear improvement. .avif compresses even more efficiently than .webp — sometimes 20 to 30 percent smaller for the same image — but it is newer and takes longer for devices and browsers to decode, which can slow down viewing on older hardware.
The practical result: websites are gradually adding .avif support alongside .jpg and .webp. A modern website will send you whichever format your browser supports best, starting with .avif if you can handle it, then .webp, then .jpg as a fallback. You will not see the difference — the image looks the same to you either way.
Which devices and browsers actually support .avif
Support is still patchy. Chrome and Edge on desktop and Android have supported .avif since 2021. Firefox added support in 2023. Safari on Mac and iPhone added it in 2023 as well. Internet Explorer does not support it, and older versions of all browsers do not either.
On phones, the situation is mixed. If you have an iPhone with iOS 16 or newer, or an Android phone with a recent version of Chrome, you can view .avif files. If you have an older phone or you use a less common browser, you might not be able to open them. This is why websites do not send .avif to everyone — they detect what your browser can handle and send the right format.
Image editing software is slower to add support. Photoshop added .avif support in 2023. GIMP (the free alternative) added it in version 2.10.32. Many older or simpler image editors still cannot open .avif files. If you read a .avif file and try to open it in software that does not support the format, you will get an error.
Why websites are switching to .avif
The main reason is speed and cost. A website that serves a million images per day saves enormous amounts of bandwidth by using .avif instead of .jpg. Smaller files mean faster page loads, which keeps visitors happy and reduces the server costs. For mobile users on metered data plans, smaller files mean lower bills.
There is also an environmental angle: smaller files mean less electricity used to transmit data across the internet. That is not the reason any single website switched, but it is part of the industry conversation about why formats like .avif matter.
The barrier is that .avif is still new enough that not every device supports it. A website that uses only .avif would break for users on older phones or browsers. That is why the transition is gradual — websites add .avif support while keeping .jpg as a backup, so everyone can still see the images.
What to do if you encounter a .avif file you cannot open
If you read a .avif file and your software will not open it, you have a few options. The simplest is to ask the website or person who sent it to you for a .jpg or .png version instead. Most websites that serve .avif also have the original image in another format.
If you need to convert a .avif file yourself, online conversion tools exist — search for "avif to jpg converter" and you will find several free options. Upload the .avif file, and the tool will convert it to .jpg or .png. The quality will be identical to the original because you are not compressing further; you are just changing the container format.
If you use Photoshop or a recent version of GIMP, you can open the .avif file directly and save it as .jpg or .png from there. This gives you more control over the conversion if you need it.
The future of .avif and image formats
.avif will probably become the standard for photographs on the web over the next few years, the way .jpg became standard in the 1990s. It is already the default format for new images on Google Photos, and other services are following. As older browsers and devices fade out of use, support will become nearly universal.
That does not mean .jpg will disappear. Formats stick around for decades after they stop being the best option, because so much software and so many files depend on them. You will probably still encounter .jpg files in 2035. But for new images and new websites, .avif is the direction the industry is moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tell the difference between a .avif and a .jpg just by looking at it?
No. If a website sends you a .avif file, it looks identical to a .jpg on your screen. The difference is in file size and how much data had to travel to get it to you. You would only notice the difference if you downloaded both versions and compared the file sizes on your computer.
Is .avif better than .webp?
.avif compresses more efficiently, so files are smaller. But .webp is older and more widely supported, and the difference in file size is not huge — usually 20 to 30 percent. For most users, the choice between them does not matter because the website handles it automatically.
Do I need to change how I save photos on my phone?
No. Your phone saves photos in whatever format it uses by default — usually .jpg on older phones and .heic on newer iPhones. You do not need to do anything. Websites that want to use .avif will convert images themselves.
What if a website only sends .avif and my browser does not support it?
This should not happen. Responsible websites check what your browser can handle and send a format you can view. If a website sends you only .avif and you cannot see the images, that is a bug on the website, not a problem with your device. Contact the website and let them know.
Can .avif files contain viruses?
.avif files are image files, not executable programs, so they cannot run code or install malware on their own. Like any file from the internet, you should read them only from sources you trust, but the format itself is not a security risk.