What is a .avif file?
A .avif file is an AVIF image. Its registered MIME type is image/avif, which places it in the image family of formats.
AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format.
AVIF is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.
The same format is also saved with the extension .avifs.
AVIF file format details
| Extension | .avif |
|---|---|
| Format | AVIF image |
| MIME type | image/avif, image/avif-sequence |
| Category | Image |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| File signature | None fixed |
| Registered with IANA | Yes |
| Other extensions | .avifs |
How to open AVIF files
| Windows | The Photos app and every web browser display this format. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats. If it cannot, a dedicated image editor usually can. |
| iPhone and iPad | Photos and the Files app show common image types. Less common ones may need an app, or conversion to JPG or PNG. |
| Android | Google Photos and gallery apps show common images. Other formats may need a viewer app. |
Convert AVIF files
TapToConvert converts AVIF files in your browser, without uploading them. Open the AVIF converter, or go straight to a conversion:
AVIF file FAQ
What is a .avif file?
A .avif file is an AVIF image, with the MIME type image/avif.
How do I open a .avif file?
With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.
Is a .avif file safe to open?
AVIF 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 .avif?
image/avif, and it is also seen as image/avif-sequence. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is AVIF 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.