How to Upscale AVIF Photos Online

You saved an image from a website. Now your photo editor refuses to open it. The file ends in .avif, and half your apps act like it doesn't exist.

AVIF is showing up everywhere on the modern web. Here's what it is, why your tools struggle with it, and how to upscale an AVIF photo directly in your browser.

What is an AVIF file?

AVIF is a modern image format built on AV1 video technology. Its big trick is compression. An AVIF file is often about half the size of a JPEG that looks the same. MDN's image format guide has the full technical rundown.

That's why websites love it. Smaller images mean faster pages. Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all display AVIF without any trouble. So when you save an image from a modern site, there's a good chance you get an AVIF file.

AVIF also supports deeper color than JPEG. Files can store 10-bit or 12-bit color, which allows smoother gradients and HDR images. That's great for quality. It's also exactly the part that breaks many tools, as you'll see below.

The format is great for delivery. It's just not great for editing yet.

Where do AVIF files come from?

Here's the funny thing: you rarely create AVIF files yourself. They come to you.

Big websites convert their images to AVIF automatically to speed up loading. Image CDNs and WordPress optimization plugins do the same to every upload. The site owner uploads a JPG, and the server quietly serves you an AVIF. When you right-click and save, you get the AVIF version, not the original.

Stock photo sites and AI image tools increasingly hand out AVIF downloads too. So the file lands on your desktop through everyday browsing, and the surprise comes later when you try to open it.

Why won't your apps open AVIF images?

Browsers moved fast on AVIF. Desktop software moved slowly. Many photo editors, viewers, and upload forms still don't recognize the format. You can check exactly which software supports it on caniuse, where browser support is green across the board while everything else lags.

So you end up stuck. You have a perfectly good image that your own computer treats like a mystery file. Most online upscalers have the same problem. They accept JPG and PNG, then reject your AVIF at the door.

The usual workaround is annoying: find a converter, turn the AVIF into a JPG, then take that JPG to the next tool. Every extra step wastes time, and a sloppy conversion can cost quality.

How can you upscale an AVIF photo without converting it first?

UpscaleIMG accepts AVIF files directly. You upload the AVIF, and the decoding happens on our servers automatically. No converter needed, no extra tab open.

It also handles the hard cases. Those 10-bit and 12-bit AVIF files trip up even tools that claim AVIF support. UpscaleIMG decodes those too.

From there, the AI upscaler does its normal job. It enlarges your image 2x or 4x while rebuilding detail, so edges stay sharp instead of turning blurry. You can read exactly how that works in the complete guide to image upscaling.

How do you upscale an AVIF image step by step?

1. Upload the AVIF file. Drag it onto the page like any other image.
2. Choose your scale. Pick 2x or 4x, or enter a custom width if you need an exact size.
3. Pick an output format. Choose PNG, JPG, or WebP for the result.
4. Download. A few seconds later, your image is bigger, sharper, and saved in a format every app can open.

That last part is a hidden bonus. You started with a file your editor rejected. You end with one that works everywhere.