How to Open AVIF Files on Windows 10 and 11

You downloaded an image, and Windows won't open it. The file ends in .avif, Photos throws an error or shows nothing, and double-clicking gets you nowhere. This is one of the most common problems people run into with AVIF, and it has a few simple fixes. This guide covers all of them, from installing the missing Windows component to converting the file into a format that opens everywhere.

Why Windows won't open your AVIF file

AVIF is a modern image format built on the AV1 video codec. To display it, software needs an AV1 decoder — and on many Windows installs, that decoder is not present by default. Windows 11 ships closer to AVIF support than Windows 10, but on a clean system, Photos still often needs an extra component before it can render a .avif file. Until that component is installed, Windows simply does not know how to read the image.

The good news: your web browser almost certainly can open AVIF already, and adding support to Windows itself takes about a minute.

Option 1: Install the AV1 Video Extension (Windows 11)

The official fix is a free extension from the Microsoft Store.

1. Open the Microsoft Store app from the Start menu.
2. Search for "AV1 Video Extension."
3. Select the extension published by Microsoft and click Get (or Install).
4. Wait for the install to finish, then double-click your .avif file again.

Once the extension is installed, the Windows Photos app and File Explorer thumbnails will start displaying AVIF images normally. This is a one-time setup — future AVIF files will open without any extra steps.

Option 2: Add the HEIF extension too (Windows 10)

On Windows 10, the AV1 Video Extension sometimes needs a companion component to work reliably inside Photos.

1. Install the AV1 Video Extension using the steps above.
2. In the Microsoft Store, also search for and install the HEIF Image Extension (Microsoft's free version).
3. Restart the Photos app, then open your AVIF file.

If Photos still refuses the file after both extensions are installed, move on to one of the options below — they don't depend on any Windows component at all.

Option 3: Open the file in your browser

Every current major browser — Chrome, Edge, and Firefox — can display AVIF without any extra software. This is the fastest way to see the image right now.

1. Open your browser.
2. Press Ctrl + O (or drag the .avif file onto an open browser window).
3. Select the file. It will display in a new tab.

From there you can right-click to copy the image, but note that copying still leaves you with an AVIF — helpful for viewing, less helpful if another program needs a standard format.

Option 4: Convert the AVIF to PNG (works on any Windows version)

If you need to edit, upload, or share the image — or if the extensions above didn't help — the most reliable fix is to convert the file to PNG. PNG opens in every image viewer and editor on Windows, no extensions required.

You can do this without installing anything using our free AVIF to PNG converter. It runs entirely in your browser, so your files are never uploaded:

1. Open the converter in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
2. Drag your .avif file onto the drop zone, or click Choose files.
3. Wait a moment for the conversion to finish.
4. Click Download PNG — or Download All (ZIP) if you converted several files at once.

The result is a standard PNG that Windows Photos, Paint, and every other app will open instantly.

Which option should you pick?

• Just want to view it once? Open the file in your browser (Option 3).
• Want Windows to open AVIF from now on? Install the AV1 Video Extension (Options 1 and 2).
• Need to edit, upload, or send the image? Convert it to PNG (Option 4).

For most people, a mix works best: install the extension so casual AVIF files open on their own, and keep the converter bookmarked for the times you need a PNG a form or an older app will actually accept.

Frequently asked questions

Can Windows 11 open AVIF without any extension? Sometimes, depending on your build and updates — but installing the free AV1 Video Extension makes it reliable.

Is converting to PNG lossy? No. PNG encoding is lossless, so the PNG matches the decoded AVIF exactly. It can't recover detail the original AVIF already compressed away, but it won't add any further loss.

Do I have to upload my file to convert it? Not with our tool — conversion happens locally in your browser, and your images never leave your device.

Ready to get a usable file? Convert your AVIF to PNG now.