Why Your AVIF File Won't Open (And How to Fix It Fast)

You downloaded a file. It ends in .avif. You double-click it and get: "Windows can't open this file," "Unsupported format," or just a blank screen. AVIF is a new image format that most software doesn't understand yet. Here's why it fails and how to fix it in under a minute.

Why AVIF Files Won't Open in Most Apps

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) became a web standard around 2020–2021. Browsers adopted it quickly because it's 20–50% smaller than JPG at the same quality. But desktop software moves slower:

• Windows Photo Viewer: Does not support AVIF at all
• Windows Photos app (older): Requires Windows Update + AV1 extension for support
• macOS Preview (pre-Ventura): Cannot open AVIF
• Android Gallery: Most versions don't support AVIF
• Most design apps: Illustrator, older Photoshop, Canva desktop — no native AVIF support
• Email clients: Outlook, Apple Mail won't preview AVIF attachments

The Fastest Fix: Convert to JPG in 30 Seconds

The fastest solution is converting the AVIF to JPG. JPG opens in every app ever made. Here's how:

1. Open Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — all of these can display AVIF natively
2. Go to the free AVIF to JPG converter on this page
3. Drop your AVIF file in
4. Hit Convert and download the JPG

The converted JPG opens in Windows Photo Viewer, macOS Preview, iOS Photos, every email client, every design app. Problem solved permanently.

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Platform-Specific Fixes Without Converting

If you'd rather open AVIF natively instead of converting:

Windows 10/11: Install "AV1 Video Extension" from the Microsoft Store (free). This adds AVIF codec support to the Windows Photos app. After installing, Windows Photos can display AVIF files.

macOS Ventura+: Double-click the AVIF — Preview should open it. If not, right-click > Open With > Preview.

macOS Monterey and older: Preview doesn't support AVIF. Use the browser converter.

Android: Google Photos has added AVIF support in recent versions. Try importing the file via Google Photos. If it fails, use Chrome to convert it.

Is the File Actually AVIF?

Sometimes a file is named .avif but isn't actually AVIF data — it might be a renamed JPG, PNG, or HEIC. Check by:

• Windows: Right-click > Properties > Details tab — look at "Type of file"
• Mac: Right-click > Get Info — look at "Kind"
• Any platform: Open the file in a hex editor or check the first few bytes — AVIF files start with the bytes "ftypavif" at offset 4

If the file is mislabeled, rename it to the correct extension and it should open in normal apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did I suddenly start getting AVIF files?

Modern browsers save screenshots as AVIF. Chrome and Edge have changed their default screenshot format. Web images also increasingly use AVIF. You'll see more of them going forward.

Can I change Chrome so it saves screenshots as JPG instead of AVIF?

Chrome and Edge don't offer a user-facing setting for screenshot format. Converting the AVIF after the fact is the practical solution for now.

Is there a way to open AVIF directly in Photoshop?

Photoshop 2022 and later support AVIF natively. Older versions need the Camera Raw plugin (version 14+). As a free workaround, convert to JPG first.