What Is AVIF and Why Convert It?
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a modern image format based on the AV1 video codec, developed by the Alliance for Open Media. It delivers exceptional compression -- often 50% smaller files than JPEG at comparable visual quality -- and supports features like HDR, wide color gamut, and transparency.
So why would you ever want to convert AVIF to JPG? Compatibility. Despite AVIF's technical superiority, it is still not universally supported. Many applications, email clients, older browsers, image viewers, and operating system components cannot open AVIF files. If you download an AVIF image from a website and try to attach it to an email, insert it into a Word document, or open it on an older phone, you may get an error or a blank preview.
JPG (JPEG), on the other hand, is the most universally supported image format in existence. Every device, browser, application, and operating system on the planet can open a JPEG. Converting AVIF to JPG trades some compression efficiency for total compatibility.
When You Need AVIF-to-JPG Conversion
There are several common scenarios where converting AVIF to JPG is necessary:
- Email attachments -- Most email clients do not render AVIF inline; recipients see a broken image or must download and open it manually
- Social media uploads -- Some platforms still do not accept AVIF uploads and require JPEG or PNG
- Document embedding -- Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and most document editors do not support AVIF
- Print workflows -- Print shops expect JPEG, TIFF, or PDF files, not AVIF
- Sharing with others -- Recipients may not have software that opens AVIF
- Legacy system integration -- Older CMS platforms, DAM systems, and databases may reject AVIF files
- Photo editing -- While Photoshop 2024+ supports AVIF, many other editors do not
AVIF vs JPG: Format Comparison
Before converting, understand what you gain and lose in the process.
| Feature | AVIF | JPG (JPEG) |
|---|---|---|
| Compression efficiency | Excellent (50% smaller than JPEG) | Good (established baseline) |
| Lossy compression | Yes | Yes |
| Lossless compression | Yes | No |
| Transparency (alpha) | Yes | No |
| HDR support | Yes (10/12-bit) | No (8-bit only) |
| Wide color gamut | Yes | Limited (sRGB) |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Browser support | Chrome, Firefox, Safari 16+ | All browsers |
| OS native support | Partial (recent OS versions) | Universal |
| Email client support | Minimal | Universal |
| Encoding speed | Slow | Fast |
Key tradeoff: Converting AVIF to JPG increases file size (typically 2-3x larger) and discards any transparency or HDR data. However, you gain universal compatibility. For images where transparency matters, consider converting to PNG instead.
Method 1: Convert AVIF to JPG Online
The fastest method requires no software installation. Our online converter handles the conversion entirely in your browser.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open the ConvertIntoMP4 image converter
- Drag and drop your AVIF file into the upload area, or click to browse
- Select JPG as the output format
- Adjust quality if needed (80-90% is recommended for photos)
- Click Convert and download your JPG file
The conversion preserves the image dimensions, EXIF metadata (camera info, GPS data, date taken), and color profile. Files are processed securely and deleted after conversion.
For batch processing multiple AVIF files at once, you can upload several files simultaneously. Our guide on batch processing files covers advanced batch workflows in detail.
Choosing the Right Quality Setting
JPG quality settings range from 1 (lowest quality, smallest file) to 100 (highest quality, largest file). Here is how different quality levels affect the output:
| Quality | Typical File Size (vs AVIF) | Visual Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95-100 | 4-5x larger | Nearly lossless | Archiving, print, professional use |
| 85-94 | 2.5-4x larger | Excellent | Photography, high-quality sharing |
| 75-84 | 1.5-2.5x larger | Good | Web publishing, social media |
| 60-74 | 1-1.5x larger | Acceptable | Thumbnails, previews, email |
| Below 60 | Similar or smaller | Noticeable artifacts | Very small file requirements only |
Pro Tip: For photos converted from AVIF to JPG, quality 85-90 provides the best balance. The AVIF source was already compressed efficiently, so using a very high JPG quality (95+) produces unnecessarily large files without visually noticeable improvement over 90. Save the extra file size.
Method 2: Convert AVIF to JPG on Desktop
Windows
Windows 11 (22H2 and later) supports AVIF natively in File Explorer and Photos. To convert:
- Open the AVIF file in the Photos app
- Click the three-dot menu and select Save as
- Change the file type to JPEG
- Choose a save location and click Save
For older Windows versions, install the AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store (free) to enable AVIF viewing, then use Paint or Photos to save as JPG.
macOS
macOS Ventura (13) and later support AVIF in Preview and Finder Quick Look:
- Open the AVIF file in Preview
- Go to File > Export
- Select JPEG from the format dropdown
- Adjust the quality slider
- Click Save
Linux
Use ImageMagick from the terminal:
magick input.avif output.jpg
For batch conversion of an entire folder:
for f in *.avif; do magick "$f" "${f%.avif}.jpg"; done
Method 3: Convert AVIF to JPG on Mobile
iPhone and iPad
iOS 16+ supports AVIF viewing. To convert to JPG:
- Open the AVIF image in the Photos app
- Tap Share and select Save to Files
- The system may automatically convert to a compatible format
- Alternatively, use the Shortcuts app to create a conversion shortcut
Android
Android 12+ has native AVIF support. Use Google Photos or a file converter app from the Play Store to save AVIF images as JPG.
Handling AVIF Features That JPG Cannot Preserve
Transparency
AVIF supports alpha transparency; JPG does not. When converting an AVIF with transparency to JPG, the transparent areas are replaced with a solid background color (usually white). If transparency is essential, convert to PNG instead using our image compressor with PNG output.
HDR and Wide Color Gamut
AVIF can store 10-bit or 12-bit HDR images in wide color gamuts like Display P3 or Rec. 2020. JPG is limited to 8-bit sRGB. During conversion, HDR content is tone-mapped to SDR, and wide gamut colors are compressed to sRGB. This may cause visible differences in images with highly saturated colors or extreme dynamic range.
For more on color spaces and their impact on image quality, read our comprehensive guide on image color spaces: sRGB vs Adobe RGB.
Animation
AVIF supports animated sequences (like animated GIFs but with better compression). JPG does not support animation. Converting an animated AVIF to JPG produces a single still frame (typically the first frame). For animated content, convert to GIF using our GIF maker or to MP4 for better quality.
Optimizing Your Converted JPG Files
After converting from AVIF to JPG, the resulting file may be larger than ideal for your use case. Here are optimization strategies:
For web publishing: Run the converted JPG through our JPEG compressor to reduce file size further. A well-optimized JPEG at quality 80 is typically 60-70% smaller than an unoptimized one.
For email attachments: Most email servers limit attachments to 10-25 MB. If your converted JPGs are too large, use our image compressor to bring them under the limit. Our guide on how to compress images without quality loss explains the techniques in detail.
For document embedding: When inserting converted JPGs into PDFs, Word documents, or presentations, consider the final document size. Resize images to the actual display dimensions before embedding. Our image resize tool handles this quickly.
For print: Keep the quality at 95+ and ensure the resolution is at least 300 DPI. Check our guide on image DPI and resolution for print-specific recommendations.
Batch Converting Multiple AVIF Files
If you have dozens or hundreds of AVIF files to convert, manual one-by-one conversion is impractical. Here are batch options:
Online batch conversion: Upload multiple AVIF files to our converter simultaneously. All files are processed in parallel and downloaded as a ZIP archive.
Command line (ImageMagick):
magick mogrify -format jpg -quality 90 *.avif
Command line (FFmpeg):
for f in *.avif; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -q:v 2 "${f%.avif}.jpg"; done
Pro Tip: When batch converting AVIF files from a website download, check if the files have meaningful names. Many web-sourced AVIF files have hash-based names like a7f3e2b1.avif. Rename them before or after conversion to keep your files organized. A simple script can prepend dates or sequential numbers.
AVIF Adoption and the Future
AVIF support is expanding rapidly. As of early 2026, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Android, and iOS all support AVIF in their latest versions. However, the long tail of older devices, enterprise software, and embedded systems means JPEG will remain essential for years to come.
The practical advice: use AVIF for web delivery where browser support is confirmed (via the <picture> element with JPEG fallback), and convert to JPG for everything else. As AVIF support becomes truly universal, the need for conversion will diminish -- but that day is still several years away.
For a detailed comparison of modern image formats, including AVIF, WebP, and JPEG XL, read our guide on AVIF vs WebP vs JPEG XL. And for understanding when to choose PNG over JPG for your converted files, see PNG vs JPG: when to use each.
