At the moment, Windows 10 does not provide support for AVIF files, but Insiders may be able to test Microsoft’s answer to the problem. It seems AVIF capabilities are coming to File Explorer and Paint on the 19H1 branch soon. If you are unfamiliar with AVIF, it is a new image format based on the AV1 video format developed by the Alliance for Open Media. Microsoft has already started testing AV1 support for Windows 10 and is now extending to AVIF. AOMediaCodec’s GitHub page says File Explorer and Paint now have AVIF image support on Windows 10 19H1 builds: “Windows File Explorer can show AVIF thumbnails, display Exif metadata and preview AVIF images,” the developers stated in the implementation document. “MSPaint.exe. The “Paint” app in Windows 10 can display AVIF images,” the document explains.
Recent File Explorer Changes
With the release of Windows 10 October 2018 Update, Microsoft made some major changes to File Explorer. Included in the update were the following features:
Drag and drop support. Better right-click menu support. Improved copy/paste system similar to legacy File Explorer. New cut option. Can set images as wallpaper directly from the app. UI buttons at the top instead of the bottom of the app.
For build 19H1, Microsoft is also working on a toggle that will allow users to switch Dark Mode on an off while in the explorer.
