To convert AVIF to JPG or PNG on a Mac, use a native AVIF converter like Picmal. It works on your own computer, so nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. Drag your AVIF files in, pick JPG or PNG, and convert. It handles a whole folder at once, and it runs from Finder Quick Actions too. Below are three ways to do it, from built-in to batch.

What is an AVIF file, and why can’t I open it?

An AVIF image is a photo saved in the AVIF file format, a modern web format that makes small files. This file type is new, so older versions of macOS show a blank icon or an error when you double-click it. Sonoma (macOS 14) and later open it in Preview. If you just need to open an AVIF file and not convert it, Preview on a recent Mac is enough.

Newer websites serve AVIF because a single AVIF photo can be 50% smaller than the same JPEG at similar quality. Going the other way, the PNG to AVIF page shows how to make your own.

Most desktop software still doesn’t know what to do with an .avif file. Preview on older macOS versions won’t touch it. Photoshop only added support recently. Email clients pretend it doesn’t exist. If you download an AVIF from the web and need to actually use it somewhere, you need a JPG.

Method 1: Preview (macOS Sonoma and newer)

Starting with macOS 14 (Sonoma), Preview supports AVIF natively. If you’re on Sonoma or later:

  1. Double-click the AVIF file to open it in Preview
  2. File → Export
  3. Set Format to JPEG
  4. Adjust the quality slider
  5. Save

If you’re on an older macOS: Preview won’t open AVIF at all. You’ll see a generic file icon or an error. Use Picmal or the Terminal method instead.

Method 2: Terminal with ffmpeg

If you have ffmpeg installed:

brew install ffmpeg

Single file:

ffmpeg -i input.avif -q:v 2 output.jpg

The -q:v flag sets JPEG quality (1 = best, 31 = worst). 2 to 5 is a sensible range.

Entire folder:

for f in *.avif; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -q:v 2 "${f%.avif}.jpg"; done

ffmpeg is a lot of tool for simple image conversion, but if it’s already on your machine for video work, it handles AVIF fine.

Method 3: Picmal, an AVIF converter for Mac (easiest, handles batch)

Picmal supports AVIF as both an input and output format, which is rare among Mac apps. The AVIF to JPG and AVIF to PNG pages list the options, PNG to AVIF goes the other way, and the AVIF compressor shrinks files you keep as AVIF.

  1. Drag your AVIF files into Picmal
  2. Select JPG as the output format
  3. Set quality (80% is a solid default)
  4. Click Convert

Works with one file or a folder of hundreds. No internet connection needed. For more on running large jobs, see batch image conversion. Picmal lives in Finder as a Quick Action, so you can also right-click a selection and convert it without opening the app.

Use it when you’ve downloaded a batch of images from a modern website and need them as JPGs, or when a colleague sends AVIF files your tools can’t open.

What about online converters?

If your photos are private, a local app is the better pick, and the post on converting images without uploading explains why. Most online converters claim AVIF support now, but results are inconsistent. Some produce muddy output, others choke on specific encodings. Convertio and CloudConvert handle it reasonably well, but you’re uploading your images to their servers.

I built Picmal as a native Mac app, and you can read why I made it. For a format this new, a local tool like Picmal is more reliable than hoping the online converter gets your particular AVIF encoding right.

FAQ

What is AVIF?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is based on the AV1 video codec, developed by the Alliance for Open Media (Google, Apple, Mozilla, Netflix, and others). It compresses roughly 50% better than JPEG at the same visual quality. Browser support is at ~93% and growing.

Does converting AVIF to JPG lose quality?

Some, yes. AVIF images are already compressed, and converting to JPG means re-encoding with a different compression algorithm. At 80-90% JPG quality, the additional loss is minimal and invisible for most uses. If you need lossless preservation, convert to PNG instead.

Why can’t I open AVIF files on my Mac?

macOS added native AVIF support in Sonoma (macOS 14). If you’re on Monterey or Ventura, the system doesn’t recognize AVIF files. You’ll need a third-party app like Picmal to open and convert them.

Is AVIF better than WebP?

For compression, yes. AVIF typically achieves 20-30% smaller files than WebP at the same visual quality. But WebP has broader support (97% of browsers vs. 93% for AVIF) and faster encoding. Many sites serve WebP as the default and AVIF as a progressive enhancement. Going the other way, the PNG to AVIF page covers turning PNGs into AVIF.

Can I convert JPG to AVIF on a Mac?

Yes. Picmal supports AVIF as an output format, so you can turn JPG or PNG files into AVIF to make them smaller. The JPG to AVIF page lists the options.

Do I need an internet connection to convert AVIF files?

No. Picmal converts files locally on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded, so it works offline.

Where can I convert more than images?

Picmal also converts video, audio and PDFs. See the media converter page for every format.