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HEIF to AVIF Converter

Convert HEIF to AVIF online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

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How it works

Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

01

Upload your file

Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

02

Choose an output format

Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

03

Convert & download

Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

What is a HEIF file?

The High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) is a container format defined by MPEG-H Part 12 (ISO/IEC 23008-12) tailored for the storage of individual images and image sequences. It is based on the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) and separates the container structure from the image encoding, allowing support for various codecs including HEVC (H.265) and AVC (H.264). HEIF supports computational photography features such as auxiliary image items (depth maps, alpha planes), burst photography, and audio metadata.

How to open a HEIF file

HEIF files are natively supported by modern Apple ecosystems (macOS Mojave+, iOS 11+) and Windows 10/11 via specific system extensions. While identical in structure to HEIC, files explicitly using the .heif extension may contain data encoded with codecs other than HEVC. To view these files on unsupported platforms, cross-platform viewers like XnView MP or image manipulation software like Adobe Photoshop (2020 release and later) are recommended.

HEIF Technical Info

Full Name
High Efficiency Image File Format
Developed By
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)
Initial Release
2015
MIME Type
image/heif

What is an AVIF file?

The AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is an open, royalty-free raster image container specified by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) in ISO/IEC 23000-12. It encapsulates image sequences or still images compressed with the AV1 video codec within the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) container structure. AVIF supports high dynamic range (HDR) utilizing Perceptual Quantizer (PQ) or Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) transfer functions, wide color gamut (WCG), and 4:2:0, 4:2:2, or 4:4:4 chroma subsampling, offering superior compression efficiency over JPEG and WebP.

How to open an AVIF file

Native support for AVIF is available in modern web browsers including Google Chrome (v85+), Mozilla Firefox (v93+), and Safari (v16+). For local viewing, Windows 10 and 11 require the installation of the free 'AV1 Video Extension' from the Microsoft Store to enable support in the Photos app and File Explorer. macOS 13 (Ventura) and iOS 16 provide system-level support. Graphics editors like GIMP, Paint.NET, and Adobe Photoshop (via plugin) can also decode and edit these files.

AVIF Technical Info

Full Name
AV1 Image File Format
Developed By
Alliance for Open Media
Initial Release
2019
MIME Type
image/avif

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Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert HEIF to AVIF in seconds

Every HEIF to AVIF conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

Fast, cloud-powered

No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

Secure & private

Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

Free - no account needed

Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Developer API

Convert HEIF to AVIF via API

Automate HEIF to AVIF conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "heif-to-avif",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "avif"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.heif

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.