AVIF Files Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1 What is AVIF full form?

AVIF in full form stands for AV1 Image File Format.

Programs that can open AVIF files include GIMP, Photoshop, Photos App, IrfanView, Windows Photo Viewer, Preview, Paint.NET, Affinity Photo, Ffmpeg, ImageMagick, Photopea, and AVIF Image Converter.

AVIF is a raster image format that stores images made up of pixels. Like other raster formats, AVIF has a fixed resolution. Scaling AVIF files up beyond their original resolution result in blurriness.

Yes. AVIF animation is possible because the format can encode multiple images in a single file. This allows for the animated AVIF series, which are identical to APNGs or GIFs. AVIF can be animated using tools such as Ffmpeg, libavif, ImageMagick, AVIF.js, Photoshop, or GIMP.

Yes. AVIF supports transparency through an alpha channel. This allows its images to have transparent areas, making the format ideal for overlays, graphics, and other applications that require transparency.

AVIF is both lossless and lossy, making it a versatile format, ideal for various applications depending on the desire for file size and quality.

AVIF and WebP are modern image formats that offer high-quality images and efficient compression. AVIF offers superior image quality and compression efficiency, particularly for high-quality images, while WebP provides broader browser support and faster performance. The choice between these formats depends on use cases, including compatibility with most systems and the need for speed and quality. View AVIF vs. WEBP comparison.

AVIF is not more vulnerable than other formats in terms of weaknesses. When improperly handled, it is prone to denial of service (DoS) attacks, which could cause infinite loops or crashes in apps that process AVIF images. AVIF is also vulnerable to buffer overflow when its image's metadata or pixel data are processed incorrectly. This allows attackers to corrupt memory and possibly gain control of the system.

Yes. You can open AVIF in Photoshop. Photoshop can read AVIF files, although it may depend on the specific version. Adobe Photoshop supports opening, editing, and viewing AVIF files. Older versions of Adobe Photoshop may require users to install additional plugins.

AVIF and PNG formats excel in different areas and serve various purposes. Whether AVIF is better than PNG depends on the users’ project needs. PNG is ideal for images that require limitless compatibility across most programs and browsers and support for transparency and lossless quality.


AVIF is ideal for mobile apps and modern web, which need high-quality images, smaller files, and support for HDR and animation capabilities. For a full comparison between AVIF and PNG, check our AVIF vs. PNG article.

AVIF and JPEG are common image formats, although AVIF has more advantages over JPEG in different situations. Each file format has strengths and is better suited to specific use cases. AVIF is a superior choice for web use, although JPEG remains relevant and highly useful because of its simplicity and broader support. Check out our AVIF vs. JPEG comparison.

Yes. You can remove an AVIF background image using any tool that supports transparency because AVIF images or files support transparent backgrounds. Examples of AVIF background removers include Adobe Photoshop and Remove.bg, PhotoScissors, Clipping Magic, InPixio Background Remover, Canva, and Fotor.

Yes. Safari supports AVIF files. The capability was introduced with Safari 16.0, which was rolled out with iOS 16.

No. AVIF is not supported by all browsers. Its browser support is mostly apparent in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, but not universally.

Yes. AVIF files are mostly deemed safe. Like any other file format, the safety of AVIF files depends on Malware, software support, and file source.

AVIF is good for SEO because it offers smaller, high-quality images, resulting in faster website loading speed and better online user experience. Such improved performance increases user engagement and reduces bounce rates, features that positively affect search engine rankings.