5 Essential Reasons Why You Need to Convert AVIF to JPG in 2025

1. Universal Browser and Device Compatibility Issues

The single most compelling reason to convert AVIF to JPG is compatibility. While AVIF support has grown significantly since its introduction, it's still far from universal across all platforms, browsers, devices, and operating systems that users rely on daily.

Browser Support Limitations in 2025

As of 2025, AVIF support remains inconsistent across different browsers and their versions. While modern browsers like Chrome (version 85+), Firefox (93+), and Opera have implemented AVIF support, significant gaps remain:

According to current browser usage statistics, approximately 70-75% of global web users can view AVIF images in their browsers. This means that 25-30% of your potential audience—millions of users—cannot see AVIF images without converting them first. In contrast, JPG enjoys virtually 100% support across all browsers, versions, and platforms ever created.

Operating System Native Support Challenges

Beyond browser compatibility, operating systems themselves present significant AVIF support challenges. Native image viewers and system-level image handling varies dramatically across platforms:

• Windows 10 and earlier: No native AVIF support in Windows Photo Viewer or File Explorer thumbnails
• Windows 11: Limited AVIF support requires codec installation from Microsoft Store
• macOS: Partial support in recent versions (macOS Ventura+), but Preview app support is inconsistent
• Linux Distributions: Varies widely; most require additional codec packages or third-party software
• Android: Support depends on OS version and manufacturer; many devices cannot display AVIF
• iOS/iPadOS: Highly inconsistent; newer versions have partial support but many devices lack it

This fragmented support landscape creates significant problems for professional workflows. Imagine sending project files to a client or colleague only to have them unable to open or preview the images. Converting to JPG eliminates this frustration entirely, ensuring that images open immediately on any device running any operating system—from a brand new MacBook to a decade-old Windows PC.

Mobile Device Compatibility Issues

Mobile devices present additional AVIF compatibility challenges that are often overlooked. With over 60% of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, mobile compatibility is crucial:

Many budget and mid-range Android smartphones running older operating system versions cannot decode AVIF images, even in supported browsers. The computational requirements for AVIF decoding can also cause performance issues on lower-powered devices, resulting in slow loading times or failed image rendering.

For photographers, designers, and businesses sharing visual content with diverse audiences, converting AVIF to JPG ensures that your images are viewable on every smartphone, tablet, and mobile device—from the latest flagship to budget models several years old.

2. Professional Software Editing Compatibility

Beyond viewing images, editing capabilities represent another critical reason for AVIF to JPG conversion. Professional and hobbyist image editing workflows often grind to a halt when software cannot properly handle AVIF files.

Limited Support in Professional Editing Software

As of 2025, AVIF support in image editing applications remains surprisingly limited, even among industry-leading professional software:

Even in applications that claim AVIF support, implementation is often buggy or limited compared to their robust handling of JPG files. You may encounter issues with:

• Layer preservation and editing capabilities
• Color space management and profile embedding
• Metadata (EXIF/IPTC) reading and writing
• Batch processing and automation features
• Export quality settings and customization options
• Integration with other software via plugins or scripts

Plugin and Extension Limitations

The vast ecosystem of plugins, filters, and extensions that photographers and designers rely on is built primarily for traditional formats like JPG and PNG. These tools may not function correctly—or at all—with AVIF files:

Popular plugin categories affected include noise reduction filters, sharpening tools, batch watermarking utilities, HDR merging software, panorama stitching applications, and color grading presets. Many of these tools are no longer actively developed and will likely never receive AVIF support.

Mobile Editing App Compatibility

Mobile photo editing has exploded in popularity, with apps like Snapseed, VSCO, Adobe Lightroom Mobile, and PicsArt used by millions. Unfortunately, mobile editing apps have even more limited AVIF support than desktop software:

Most mobile editing applications cannot import, edit, or export AVIF files as of 2025. This creates significant workflow obstacles for content creators who edit on-the-go using smartphones and tablets. Converting AVIF files to JPG before editing ensures compatibility with the entire mobile editing ecosystem.

For professional workflows requiring quick edits, client approvals, or social media posting from mobile devices, JPG remains the only practical format that works seamlessly across all mobile editing platforms.

3. Social Media Platform and CMS Requirements

In today's digital landscape, social media compatibility is non-negotiable for content creators, marketers, and businesses. Unfortunately, despite AVIF's technical advantages, social media platforms have been slow to adopt support for this modern format.

Major Social Media Platform Limitations

As of 2025, none of the major social media platforms accept AVIF uploads natively. Attempting to upload AVIF files typically results in error messages, failed uploads, or automatic (often poor-quality) conversion by the platform:

This universal lack of AVIF support among social platforms means that content creators, social media managers, and digital marketers must convert AVIF to JPG before uploading to any social network. JPG remains the universally accepted format across all platforms, with PNG as a secondary option when transparency is required.

Content Management System (CMS) Compatibility

Beyond social media, content management systems that power millions of websites also have limited AVIF support, creating additional conversion requirements:

• WordPress: While WordPress 6.5+ added experimental AVIF support, many themes, plugins, and hosting environments don't handle AVIF properly. Thumbnail generation, responsive images, and CDN integration often fail with AVIF files.
• Shopify: E-commerce platforms like Shopify don't support AVIF uploads for product images. Converting to JPG is required for product listings, galleries, and promotional materials.
• Wix, Squarespace, Weebly: Popular website builders either don't support AVIF or have such limited support that JPG remains the recommended format for reliability.
• Drupal, Joomla: These CMS platforms have minimal AVIF support, and most themes and modules aren't designed to handle the format.

For e-commerce businesses in particular, product image compatibility is critical. If your product images don't display correctly, you lose sales. JPG's universal CMS compatibility makes it the safe, reliable choice for product photography, hero images, blog post illustrations, and all website visual content.

Email Marketing Platform Requirements

Email marketing platforms represent another area where AVIF support is completely absent. Services like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, SendGrid, and Campaign Monitor require JPG or PNG formats for email images:

For marketers building email campaigns, newsletters, or promotional emails, converting images from AVIF to JPG is essential for ensuring visual content displays consistently across all email platforms and recipients' email clients.

4. Professional and Home Printing Requirements

If you need to print your images—whether through professional print services, photo labs, or home printers—converting from AVIF to JPG is almost always necessary due to widespread limitations in printing software and service provider requirements.

Professional Print Service Compatibility

Professional printing services, photo labs, and commercial printers have strict file format requirements, and AVIF is virtually never on the accepted formats list:

• Photo Printing Labs: Services like Shutterfly, Snapfish, Nations Photo Lab, and professional labs typically accept only JPG, TIFF, and sometimes PNG. AVIF files will be rejected.
• Commercial Offset Printing: Print shops producing brochures, posters, banners, and marketing materials universally require JPG or TIFF files with specific color profile requirements.
• Large Format Printing: Services printing posters, canvas prints, and wall art accept JPG as the standard format, with TIFF for highest quality jobs.
• Custom Merchandise: Companies printing on mugs, t-shirts, phone cases, and other products require JPG or PNG files for their production systems.

Home and Office Printer Software Limitations

Home and office printers present equally significant AVIF compatibility challenges. Even modern, high-end photo printers with advanced features cannot process AVIF files:

Printer drivers, print management software, and even the firmware in modern printers are designed to work with JPG, PNG, and TIFF files. When you attempt to print an AVIF file, you'll typically encounter error messages, failed print jobs, or your printer will simply display the file as unsupported.

Major printer manufacturers including Canon, Epson, HP, and Brother all rely on JPG as the standard photo printing format. Their proprietary photo printing software, photo paper optimization algorithms, and color management systems are calibrated for JPG files.

Document and Report Printing

Beyond photo printing, images embedded in documents and reports for printing present additional AVIF challenges:

• Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel have limited or no AVIF support for embedded images
• Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets cannot properly handle AVIF image inserts
• PDF creation software may fail to embed AVIF images correctly, causing blank spaces in final PDFs
• Professional publishing software like Adobe InDesign requires plugin support for AVIF

For business presentations, annual reports, marketing materials, educational documents, and any printed collateral that includes images, converting AVIF to JPG ensures compatibility with all document creation software and reliable printing results.

5. Email Attachments and File Sharing Compatibility

While AVIF typically produces smaller file sizes than JPG at equivalent quality levels, there are crucial email and file sharing scenarios where converting to JPG becomes necessary for ensuring recipients can actually view and use the images you send.

Email Client Preview and Compatibility Issues

When sending images via email as attachments or embedded content, recipient experience is paramount. Unfortunately, most email clients cannot preview or display AVIF images:

When you send AVIF attachments, recipients see generic file icons instead of image previews. They must download the files and open them in separate software—if they even have compatible software installed. This creates unnecessary friction, especially for non-technical recipients who may not understand why they can't view the images.

Converting to JPG ensures that email recipients can preview images directly in their email client, regardless of whether they use Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or any other email platform. This seamless experience is critical for professional communication, client presentations, and personal photo sharing.

File Sharing Platform Compatibility

Cloud storage and file sharing platforms have varying levels of AVIF support, creating potential issues when sharing images with collaborators, clients, or team members:

• Dropbox: Can store AVIF files but preview functionality is limited; recipients may not see thumbnails or be able to preview images in-browser
• Google Drive: AVIF preview support is inconsistent; some users can preview, others cannot depending on their browser and settings
• OneDrive: Microsoft's cloud storage has minimal AVIF preview support; recipients often must download files to view them
• iCloud: Apple's ecosystem has better AVIF support but only for users with recent OS versions

For professional file sharing where you need to ensure all recipients can easily view shared images without technical complications, JPG remains the most reliable format. This is especially important for client deliverables, team collaboration, and cross-organization file exchanges.

Cross-Platform and Cross-Generational Sharing

Perhaps the most overlooked reason for converting AVIF to JPG is cross-generational accessibility. When sharing family photos, personal images, or casual content with friends and relatives, you can't assume everyone has the latest devices or software:

Archival and Long-Term Storage Considerations

For long-term archival purposes, JPG's established format and decades of backward compatibility make it a safer choice than AVIF. While AVIF may offer better compression, JPG guarantees that your images will be viewable on any system, now and for decades to come.

Consider that JPG files from the 1990s can still be opened on any modern device. AVIF, being only a few years old, hasn't proven its longevity for archival storage. For important memories, legal documents with images, or any visual content you want to preserve for the long term, JPG's proven track record makes it the conservative, reliable choice.

How to Convert AVIF to JPG Effectively in 2025

Now that you understand the critical reasons for converting AVIF to JPG, let's explore the best methods and tools for performing high-quality conversions while minimizing quality loss.

Method 1: Browser-Based Online Converters (Recommended)

Online converters like AVIF2JPG.app offer the most convenient and accessible solution for converting AVIF to JPG. These modern tools process files entirely in your browser using WebAssembly technology, providing several key advantages:

Our AVIF to JPG converter specifically is designed for speed, quality, and ease of use. Simply drag and drop your AVIF files, adjust quality settings if desired, and download your converted JPG images in seconds. No technical knowledge required.

Method 2: Desktop Conversion Software

For users who prefer desktop applications or need advanced features like automated workflows, several software options can convert AVIF to JPG:

• XnConvert: Free, cross-platform batch image converter with extensive format support and advanced processing options
• IrfanView (Windows): Lightweight image viewer and converter; requires AVIF codec plugin installation
• GIMP: Free, open-source image editor; requires AVIF plugin for format support
• Adobe Photoshop 2024+: Professional image editor with basic AVIF support (expensive subscription required)

Desktop software is ideal for users who regularly perform batch conversions, need to integrate conversions into existing workflows, or require advanced color management features.

Method 3: Command-Line Tools for Developers

Advanced users and developers can use command-line tools for automated conversions, build process integration, or server-side batch processing:

• ImageMagick: Powerful image manipulation suite with comprehensive format support
• FFmpeg: Multimedia framework capable of AVIF to JPG conversion
• libavif: Official AVIF library with command-line tools for encoding/decoding
• Sharp (Node.js): High-performance image processing library for JavaScript applications

These tools are suitable for automation scripts, content management systems, automated image processing pipelines, and scenarios requiring programmatic control over conversion parameters.

Conversion Quality Best Practices

Regardless of which conversion method you choose, follow these best practices to maximize output quality:

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: When JPG's Compatibility Beats AVIF's Efficiency

While AVIF undeniably represents a significant technical advancement in image compression technology, offering superior compression ratios and image quality compared to traditional formats, the reality of 2025 is that universal compatibility remains king in most real-world scenarios.

The five reasons we've explored—browser and device compatibility, professional software editing workflows, social media and platform requirements, printing needs, and email sharing considerations—demonstrate that JPG's three decades of universal support make it the practical choice for ensuring your images work everywhere, every time, for everyone.

Converting AVIF to JPG isn't admitting defeat or rejecting technological progress; it's making a pragmatic decision prioritizing accessibility, compatibility, and user experience over marginal file size reductions. When your images need to work reliably across all devices, browsers, software applications, and platforms—JPG is still the gold standard in 2025.

As AVIF support continues to expand over the coming years, we may eventually reach a point where conversion becomes unnecessary. Until that day arrives, understanding when and why to convert AVIF to JPG—and how to do so while preserving maximum quality—is essential knowledge for photographers, designers, web developers, marketers, and anyone working with digital images.