How to View HEVC, HEIF, HEIC, RAW, WebP, and AVIF Photos and Videos for Free on Windows

With new iPhones, Android smartphones and cameras come new video and photo formats that help improve issues such as image quality, data compression and file efficiency. Learn about the latest formats, what they are for and how to make your Windows PC recognize them:

HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)

Also called High Efficiency Video Coding, HEVC format can be used for still image compression. It is known as H.265 and is widely used in 4K and HDR videos due to its efficiency.

Benefits:

• More efficient compression compared to H.264.
• Support high quality videos including 4K and 8K.
• Smaller file size without losing noticeable quality.

Extension download link: Microsoft Store – HEVC Video Extension

HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format)

Also called High Efficiency Image Format, HEIF was developed by MPEG, designed to replace JPEG, with support for higher quality images and animations.

Advantages:

• Ideal for modern devices like smartphones.
• Higher compression and image quality compared to JPEG.
• Support for transparency, animation and layers.

Link to download: Microsoft Store – HEIF Image Extension

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Coding)

Also called High Efficiency Image Coding, that HEIC format is an container based on HEIF, primarily used by Apple to store photos on the iPhone. It is optimized for both single images and sequences.

Advantages:

• Compatible with Apple ecosystem and other modern systems.

• High quality images with reduced size.
• Support for advanced information such as depth and metadata.

Link to download: Microsoft Store – HEIF Image Extension (includes HEIC support)

RAW (Raw Image)

RAW or “Raw Image” is an image format used by DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It contains unprocessed data captured by the camera’s sensor, allowing for greater control in editing. For this reason, it is larger than normal.

Advantages:

• High quality and flexibility for editing.
• Maximum retention of details and colors.
• Ideal for professional photographers.

Link to download: Microsoft Store – RAW Image Support Extension

WebP (Web Picture)

WebP ou Web Image is an image format developed by Google that supports lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency and animation. It has been increasingly used by websites because it reduces file sizes.

Advantages:

• Smaller files than JPEG and PNG without significant loss of quality.
• Support for animations like GIFs.
• Compatible with modern browsers and web applications.

download link: Microsoft Store – WebP Image Support Extension.

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format)

The latest of the group, the AVIF-format or AV1 Image File Format is based on the AV1 codec. It offers highly efficient compression with support for high-quality images, HDR, and animations.

Advantages:

• Superior compression than JPEG, PNG, and WebP.
• Support for HDR and SDR images.
• Ability to store multiple images (animations) in the same file.
• Royalty-free, making it an economical choice for developers.

Link to download: Microsoft Store – AV1 Image Support Extension (includes AVIF support)

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