What is a JFIF file?
JFIF stands for JPEG File Interchange Format. It was created by C-Cube Microsystems and first released in 1992. A JFIF file is an ordinary JPEG with a different extension. Windows started labelling saved web images .jfif after a registry change, which is why photo editors and upload forms sometimes refuse a file that is really a JPEG.
JPG and JPEG are the same format under another extension.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Colour | 24-bit colour, 16.7 million colours |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | opens in browsers, though some desktop apps do not recognise the extension |
| Common uses | images saved from web pages in Chrome and Edge on Windows |
| MIME type | image/jpeg |
Which format should you convert JFIF to?
- JFIF to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- JFIF to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- JFIF to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- JFIF to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
- JFIF to ICO to use as a website favicon.
JFIF is already lossy, so converting it to a lossless format makes the file bigger without improving it; pick a lossless target only if a program requires one.
How to open a JFIF file
Whether a JFIF file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If JFIF is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | JFIF opens in browsers, though some desktop apps do not recognise the extension. |
Want the technical details? See what a .jfif file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
JFIF compared with other image formats
How JFIF stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JFIF | Lossy | No | 1992 | images saved from web pages in Chrome and Edge on Windows |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
| GIF | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | short looping animations, reactions and simple graphics |
How to use the JFIF converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your JFIF files on the box, or press Choose JFIF files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Nothing is uploaded at any point.
Tips for converting JFIF files without losing quality
JFIF is lossy, so some detail was already discarded when the file was made. Converting it cannot bring that back. Converting to a lossless format preserves what is left exactly but makes the file larger; converting to another lossy format adds a small extra loss, which is invisible at sensible settings.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert JFIF files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common JFIF conversion, to JPG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.jfif output.jpgChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
JFIF converter FAQ
What is a JFIF file?
JFIF stands for JPEG File Interchange Format, an alternative extension for a image format created by C-Cube Microsystems in 1992. A JFIF file is an ordinary JPEG with a different extension. Windows started labelling saved web images .jfif after a registry change, which is why photo editors and upload forms sometimes refuse a file that is really a JPEG.
How do I open a JFIF file?
JFIF opens in browsers, though some desktop apps do not recognise the extension. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common JFIF conversion?
JFIF to JPG is the conversion people search for most. JFIF and JPG are the same format with different extensions, so nothing is re-encoded. The file is copied byte for byte and saved with a .jpg extension.
Does converting JFIF files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your JFIF files never leave your device.
Is the JFIF converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many JFIF files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert JFIF files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your JFIF files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several JFIF files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.