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APNG file: what it is and how to open it

Animated PNG image. Here is what a .apng file contains, how to open one on any device, and a viewer that opens it right in your browser.

Open a .apng file hereChoose fileRead in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

What the viewer shows

  • Whether the file matches the .apng signature
  • The first bytes as hex
  • A preview when your browser can display it

What is a .apng file?

A .apng file is an animated PNG image. Its registered MIME type is image/apng, which places it in the image family of formats.

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics.

Technically it is a specialised form of image/png (the .png format), so tools that understand that format can often read at least part of it.

APNG is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.

Files of this type usually begin with the bytes 89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A. That signature is how programs recognise the format even when the extension is wrong or missing.

The same format is also saved with the extension .png.

APNG file format details

Extension.apng
FormatAnimated PNG image
MIME typeimage/apng, image/vnd.mozilla.apng
CategoryImage
Text or binaryBinary
Based onimage/png
File signature89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A
Registered with IANAYes
Other extensions.png

How to open APNG files

WindowsThe Photos app handles common image formats; for this one you may need an image editor. GIMP is free and opens many formats.
MacPreview opens most image formats. If it cannot, a dedicated image editor usually can.
iPhone and iPadPhotos and the Files app show common image types. Less common ones may need an app, or conversion to JPG or PNG.
AndroidGoogle Photos and gallery apps show common images. Other formats may need a viewer app.

Can you convert a .apng file?

TapToConvert does not convert APNG files yet. If you can export the file from its program as a common image format, the image converter can turn it into anything else.

APNG file FAQ

What is a .apng file?

A .apng file is an animated PNG image, with the MIME type image/apng.

How do I open a .apng file?

With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.

Is a .apng file safe to open?

APNG files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.

What is the MIME type of .apng?

image/apng, and it is also seen as image/vnd.mozilla.apng. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.

Is APNG a text or binary format?

Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.

File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.

Similar file types

Try MP4 to MP3, HEIC, merge PDF or compress video.