What Is a .avif File? .avif Format, MIME & How to Open

Quick facts

Extension.avif

File typeAVIF Image

MIME typeimage/avif

CategoryImage

Charset—

CompressibleNo

Format familyavif

What is .avif

What is a .avif file?

A .avif file is a AVIF Image — AV1-based image format delivering high compression for photos.

In the mime-db registry it maps to image/avif, and it is marked as non-compressible. When serving .avif over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to image/avif — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .avif files

Use Chrome or GIMP to open and edit .avif files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: image/avif

Common software that reads/writes .avif:

ChromeGIMPPreview

Relation chain

.avifextension of

format

avifserved as

mime type

image/avifsent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

Common uses

Web graphics and photos
Design assets and icons
Print and photography

How to edit .avif files

Open the file with Chrome, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .avif files

Create a new file and save it with the .avif extension, or export this format from Chrome.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .avif files?

Common options include Chrome, GIMP, Preview. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .avif file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .avif extension.

What is the relationship between .avif and the image/avif MIME type?

image/avif is the media type identifier used for .avif files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

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