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AVIF2PNG
Tutorial & Fixes 8 min read •

How to Open, View, and Edit AVIF Images on Windows and Mac

Double-clicked a downloaded image only to be greeted by an error saying "We can't open this file"? Here are the quickest methods to enable native AVIF previews, configure editing software like Photoshop, or convert them immediately.

Step by step tutorial graphic showing how to open and view AVIF images on Windows and Mac computers
Enabling native AVIF codecs and viewer support on Windows 11/10 and macOS environments.

Why Can't Your Operating System Open AVIF Files?

The .avif format is derived from the modern AV1 video compression standard. While modern web browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) have built-in decoder engines, desktop operating systems and older image editing applications often lack the default system codec needed to decompress AV1 keyframes.

Depending on your computer and the programs you use, here is how to resolve the issue in under two minutes.

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Method 1: How to Open AVIF on Windows 11 & Windows 10

Step A: Install the Free Microsoft AV1 Extension

The official and safest way to enable AVIF support across the entire Windows OS (including File Explorer thumbnail previews and the default Windows Photos app) is via Microsoft's official codec:

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app on your PC.
  2. Search for "AV1 Video Extension" (published by Microsoft Corporation).
  3. Click Get / Install (it is 100% free).
  4. Restart your Photos app. All .avif files will now open natively.

Step B: Use Open-Source Image Viewers

If you prefer lightweight standalone photo viewers, the following free tools support AVIF out of the box without needing Windows Store add-ons:

  • ImageGlass: A modern, ultra-fast Windows photo viewer with full AVIF, WebP, and SVG rendering.
  • IrfanView: Install IrfanView along with its official Plugin Pack to view and batch-convert AVIF files.
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Method 2: How to Open AVIF on Apple Mac (macOS)

Native Support Check by macOS Version

Apple introduced native system-wide support for AVIF in macOS 13 Ventura and newer releases (including macOS Sonoma and macOS Sequoia).

macOS Ventura, Sonoma & newer: Simply double-click the file. Apple Preview, Quick Look (Spacebar), and Finder display AVIF automatically.
macOS Monterey, Big Sur or older: Apple Preview cannot decode AVIF. You must use a third-party viewer like XnView MP or convert the files.

Method 3: How to Edit AVIF in Adobe Photoshop & GIMP

Adobe Photoshop Setup

Adobe has not enabled native out-of-the-box AVIF import in standard Photoshop builds. To open AVIF in Photoshop:

  • Download the open-source AvifFormat plugin from GitHub.
  • Copy the .8bi plugin file into your Photoshop Plug-ins directory.
  • Alternatively: Batch convert your AVIF files to lossless PNG first (recommended to preserve original alpha channels and 100% layers).

GIMP & Figma

GIMP (v2.10.22 and newer) natively imports and exports AVIF without plugins. In Figma, you can import AVIF directly into your canvas if you are running the Figma web app on a modern browser.

⚡ The 5-Second Trick: Drag and Drop into Your Browser

If you just need to inspect an AVIF image immediately without downloading plugins: drag and drop the .avif file directly into a new tab in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. All modern browsers display AVIF images instantly.

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Quick Compatibility Checklist

Platform / App Native Support? Best Recommended Fix
Windows 11 / 10 Photos With Extension Install "AV1 Video Extension" from MS Store
macOS Ventura / Sonoma / Sequoia ✓ Yes Built-in (Preview & Finder)
Adobe Photoshop ✗ No Convert to PNG or install AvifFormat plugin
Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox ✓ Yes Drag & Drop into browser tab

Published by the AVIF2PNG Support & Tutorial Team

← Back to all guides • Read: What is an AVIF File?