Convert ICNS to AVIF on Mac
Select the ICNS files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose AVIF and press Return. FileFlip saves each AVIF next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert ICNS to AVIF with FileFlip
Select the ICNS files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from ICNS. Type “AVIF” to jump to it.
Choose AVIF and press Return
The AVIF files appear next to the originals. To make them smaller first, press ⇥ and lower the quality or size.
ICNS and AVIF
The icon format of macOS. One ICNS file holds the same icon at several sizes, up to 1024 × 1024 pixels. AVIF makes some of the smallest image files available, which is ideal for websites.
What changes when you convert
- AVIF can store the image either lossy or lossless.
| Property | ICNS | AVIF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Apple Icon Image | AV1 Image File Format |
| Made by | Apple | Alliance for Open Media |
| Compression | Usually PNG inside | Lossy or lossless (AV1) |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Mac app, folder and file icons | Small, high-quality images on the web |
| Opens in | macOS; rarely anything else | Current versions of Chrome, Firefox and Safari; macOS 13 and later; many apps can’t open it yet |
| File extension | .icns | .avif |
| In FileFlip | Opens and saves | Opens and saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format avif icon.icns \
--out icon.avifBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about ICNS and AVIF
Does converting ICNS to AVIF lose quality?
AVIF can store the image either lossy or lossless.
Can I convert many ICNS files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose AVIF. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where is the AVIF file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .avif extension. The ICNS file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert AVIF back to ICNS?
Yes, FileFlip converts AVIF to ICNS as well.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole folder of images at once
FileFlip also handles video, audio, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac