AVIF files use the AV1 codec to pack high quality into very small files, which is why more and more websites and phones produce them. The catch on Windows is that a freshly installed system often cannot open a .avif file at all. Here are the ways to view AVIF on Windows 10 and 11, from the official Microsoft route to the fastest option.

What is an AVIF file?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a modern image format based on the AV1 video codec. It produces smaller files than JPEG at the same quality, supports transparency and HDR, and handles both photos and graphics well. Browsers and phones increasingly save images as .avif, so you will run into them more often.

Option 1: Install the AV1 codec for the Photos app

The Windows Photos app can show AVIF once you add the AV1 Video Extension:

  1. Open the Microsoft Store.
  2. Search for AV1 Video Extension (published by Microsoft) and install it (free).
  3. Reopen the .avif file with the Photos app.

This works, but it is not perfect: the extension is aimed at video, some AVIF files still fail, and folder thumbnails can be slow or missing. If Photos keeps refusing the file, see Windows Photos won't open AVIF: how to fix it.

Option 2: Open AVIF in a viewer with built-in support

The simplest fix is to use an image viewer that decodes AVIF itself, so you do not depend on any Store codec. HawkView opens AVIF natively on Windows: double-click the file, or drag it into the window, and it appears instantly at full resolution in a clean dark gallery. The same goes for HEIC, JPEG XL, WebP and camera RAW, with nothing else to install.

Option 3: Convert AVIF to JPG or PNG

If you need to send the image to an app that cannot read AVIF, convert a copy:

  1. Open the .avif file in HawkView.
  2. Save or export a copy as JPG or PNG.
  3. Keep the original .avif for its smaller size, and share the copy.

Why Windows still struggles with AVIF

Windows ships without AVIF decoding to keep the base system small and to avoid bundling extra codecs. That decision pushes the job onto the Photos app's optional extension or onto third-party apps. Until that changes, the most reliable way to open AVIF is an app that brings its own decoder.

The bottom line

For a quick official fix, install the AV1 Video Extension and use Photos. For something that just works on every AVIF file, with no codec hunting, open them in a viewer with native support like HawkView. If you are curious how AVIF stacks up against the format it often replaces, read AVIF vs WebP.