How to Open AVIF Files on PC: Step-by-Step Guide

To learn how to open an AVIF file on a PC, the fastest solution is dragging the image directly into an updated web browser like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you want native desktop viewing and thumbnail previews in File Explorer, you must install the free AV1 codec from the Microsoft Store or convert the image using a browser-based AVIF to JPG converter.

Which method should you choose?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) was standardized in 2019 to deliver superior compression compared to legacy image formats. While modern web browsers render AVIF files effortlessly, desktop operating systems and creative applications have been slower to adopt full native support. Your best approach depends on whether you only need to view the file once or plan to edit and organize multiple images.

Goal	Recommended Method	Pros	Cons
Quick one-time view	Web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)	Zero installation required	No desktop thumbnail previews
Permanent Windows viewing	AV1 Video Extension	Enables Windows Photos and File Explorer previews	Requires Microsoft Store access
Editing in Photoshop or sharing	Convert to JPG	Works on any device or software	Increases file size
Batch managing collections	Third-party viewer (IrfanView)	Advanced management tools	Requires separate software setup

If you regularly work with modern web formats, comparing AVIF vs WebP shows why these formats are becoming dominant online. However, desktop compatibility gaps often mean conversion remains the most reliable path for everyday workflows.

Method 1: Convert AVIF to JPG in your browser

When you need to send an image to a colleague, import it into an older release of Adobe Photoshop, or print it, conversion is the most practical choice. Converting gives you an identical visual copy in a format that works across every operating system built in the last three decades.

1. Open a browser that supports AVIF decoding, such as Chrome (version 85 or newer) or Firefox (version 93 or newer).
2. Navigate to the AtomnyX AVIF to JPG converter.
3. Drag your .avif file onto the conversion area. Because the tool processes images directly in your browser, your files are never uploaded to a remote server.
4. Click convert and save the resulting JPG file to your local drive.

Keep in mind that AVIF achieves roughly 50% better compression than standard JPEG. Converting an AVIF file to a JPG at equivalent visual quality will typically increase the file size by 50% to 100%. For instance, a 200 KB AVIF saved at quality 80 will commonly produce a 400 KB to 450 KB JPG at quality 90. If file storage is a priority, keep your original AVIF files as your archival master and use the generated JPG solely for sharing or legacy applications.

Method 2: Open AVIF files on Windows 11

Windows 11 includes baseline support for AVIF in its modern Photos app, but you may still encounter blank icons or prompt errors if the underlying codec library is missing or out of date. Here is how to configure native viewing on Windows 11.

1. Locate your .avif file in File Explorer.
2. Right-click the file, select Open with, and choose Photos.
3. If the Photos app displays an error stating that an extension is required, click the link to open the Microsoft Store page.
4. Alternatively, open the Microsoft Store app directly and search for AV1 Video Extension published by Microsoft Corporation.
5. Click Install or Get. The package is completely free.
6. Return to File Explorer and double-click the image. It will open directly in Photos, and thumbnail previews will populate automatically.

Method 3: Add AVIF support to Windows 10

Windows 10 does not decode AVIF containers out of the box. Without a supplemental system codec, File Explorer shows a generic white document icon, and Windows Photo Viewer or legacy Photos will fail with an unsupported format message.

1. Open the Microsoft Store app from your Start menu.
2. Type AV1 Video Extension into the top search bar.
3. Select the official extension provided by Microsoft and click Get to install it.
4. Once the installation completes, restart File Explorer or sign out and back into your account.
5. Right-click your AVIF file, choose Open with, select Photos, and check the box labeled Always use this app to open .avif files.

If your Windows 10 machine belongs to a corporate network where the Microsoft Store is disabled by group policy, this installation route will not work. In that scenario, using an in-browser converter or a portable standalone viewer is your best workaround.

Method 4: View AVIF files using a web browser

Every major desktop web browser can decode AVIF files natively. If you simply need to verify the contents of an image downloaded from the web, you do not need to install extensions or new programs.

1. Open Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Brave.
2. Open File Explorer and locate your AVIF file.
3. Drag the file from File Explorer and drop it onto an empty tab in your browser window.
4. The browser will render the image instantly at full resolution. You can zoom in using standard mouse controls or keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl and +).

This trick works because web engines adopted AV1 image decoding early to optimize web performance. If you regularly handle downloaded assets in various next-generation formats, you may also find our guide on how to convert WebP to JPG on Windows helpful for similar compatibility roadblocks.

Method 5: Use a dedicated desktop image viewer

If you manage large batches of photography, neither Windows Photos nor a web browser provides fast navigation shortcuts. Traditional third-party viewers offer faster keyboard cycling and batch renaming capabilities.

1. Download a lightweight viewer such as IrfanView or XnView MP.
2. During installation, ensure the optional image format plugins package is selected. Modern releases of these tools bundle the open-source libavif library.
3. Right-click an AVIF file, select Properties, and click Change next to the "Opens with" line.
4. Select your new image viewer from the list and confirm.
5. You can now cycle through folders of AVIF, JPG, and PNG files using your arrow keys without conversion delays.

Troubleshooting common AVIF display errors on PC

Even with the correct extensions installed, you might run into unexpected behavior when handling AVIF files on Windows. Below are fixes for the most common issues.

File Explorer shows blank white thumbnails

If you installed the AV1 Video Extension but still see generic icons instead of image previews, the Windows thumbnail cache is likely stuck. Open the Start menu, search for Disk Cleanup, select your primary drive (usually C:), check Thumbnails, and click OK. Windows will wipe the old cache and generate fresh previews the next time you browse the folder.

"The file is corrupted or cannot be read"

AVIF files can encapsulate still photos, image sequences, and high dynamic range (HDR) color profiles. Some older software decoders only understand basic 8-bit SDR images and will throw an error if an AVIF contains 10-bit or 12-bit HDR color data. If Windows Photos crashes on a specific file, open it in Chrome or Edge. If the browser displays it correctly, the file is healthy; the desktop codec simply lacks HDR decoding support for that specific profile.

Browser displays a broken image icon

Older browser releases cannot decode the AVIF format. AVIF input decoding requires Chrome 85 or higher, Firefox 93 or higher, or Safari 16 or higher. Check your browser settings to verify you are on the current build. If an update is blocked by your system administrator, converting the file to standard JPG or compressing it with an image compressor resolves the viewing problem immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I open an AVIF file on my computer?

AVIF is a relatively new format standardized in 2019, and desktop software support is still catching up. Windows 10 requires a codec update via the Microsoft Store, older Photoshop versions do not support it natively, and most legacy image viewers do not recognize the file extension yet. Converting the image to JPG makes it immediately compatible with all software.

How do I open AVIF files on Windows 10 without the Microsoft Store?

If the Microsoft Store is disabled on your machine, drag the AVIF file into Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox. You can also install an open-source image viewer like XnView MP that bundles its own internal codecs, bypassing system-level Windows limitations.

Will converting an AVIF to a JPG ruin image quality?

A properly configured conversion preserves visually identical details, but the file size will grow. Because AVIF provides roughly 50% better compression than traditional JPEG, a resulting JPG file will typically end up 50% to 100% larger than the AVIF original when matched for visual parity.

Should I delete my original AVIF files after converting them?

Keep your original AVIF files if local disk space or web bandwidth matters to you. They are your smallest, most efficient copies. Use generated JPEG versions only when necessary for compatibility purposes, such as uploading to platforms that reject next-generation image formats.