How to Convert PNG to AVIF on iPhone

PNG is the worst photo format your iPhone library can be stuck with. Every screenshot, every saved-from-web image, every "save image" you did from Safari sits there as an uncompressed-style file that's often 5-10x bigger than it needs to be.

The good news: PNG is also where AVIF conversion delivers its biggest single wins. Converting a 4 MB screenshot to AVIF often produces a 400 KB AVIF, with transparency intact and zero visible difference.

Where the PNGs Come From

PNG sneaks into your iPhone library through a few familiar paths:

• Screenshots. Every screenshot you take is a PNG by default.
• Saved images from Safari. Web image saves are usually PNG.
• Memes and reaction images from group chats.
• Logos, design references, infographics saved from anywhere.
• Anything you "Save to Photos" from non-iMessage apps.

A single 1290×2796 iPhone screenshot is often 1-2 MB. Hit screenshot a hundred times in a week (we all do) and you've added 100-200 MB of PNG to your library. Multiply over a year and you're looking at gigabytes of screenshots.

Why AVIF Wins So Hard Against PNG

PNG was designed in 1996 for lossless storage with transparency. It does that job well, but it's wildly inefficient at compressing the kinds of content most people actually save:

• Flat colors (UI backgrounds, app interfaces)
• Sharp text (chats, captions, tweets)
• Geometric shapes (icons, logos, charts)

AVIF was designed for exactly this kind of content (in addition to photos). The result: at the same visible quality, AVIF screenshots are typically 70-85% smaller than PNG.

For real-world iPhone PNGs:

If your iPhone has 500 screenshots averaging 1.5 MB each (750 MB), expect them to land around 130 MB after AVIF conversion. That's 620 MB back from screenshots alone.

Can iPhone Convert PNG to AVIF on Its Own?

No. iPhone has no built-in "Save as AVIF" option. PNGs sit in your library at their original size unless you convert them with a third-party tool.

The Easiest Way: HEVCut

HEVCut converts PNG to AVIF on your phone. The big advantage: it also keeps transparency intact, which is the one thing you usually want to preserve on logos and icons.

1. Open HEVCut and tap the Photos tab.
2. Tap the gear icon to open Compression Settings.
3. Set Output Format to AVIF.
4. Filter your library by PNG to target only the PNGs.
5. Tap Compress.

AVIF files replace the PNG originals. iCloud syncs the smaller copies. PNG originals stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days.

Will Transparency Survive?

Yes. AVIF supports transparency just like PNG. Logos with see-through backgrounds, app icons with rounded corners, isolated cutouts — all render the same after conversion.

This is actually a place AVIF beats most other modern formats. HEIC and JPG don't carry transparency at all; AVIF does.

Will Text Stay Sharp?

Yes. AVIF is exceptionally good at preserving text and hard edges. In side-by-side viewing on an iPhone screen, you cannot tell a converted screenshot apart from the PNG original. In fact, AVIF often handles text and UI more gracefully than older formats.

Pair With Bulk Screenshot Cleanup

If you have hundreds of screenshots and most of them are throwaways (one-time reference, expired info, old chats), convert the keepers to AVIF and delete the rest. See our bulk delete screenshots guide for a fast cleanup workflow.

A combined "delete junk + convert keepers" pass through your screenshots can easily reclaim 1-3 GB on a typical iPhone.

Common Questions

Should I convert PNG to AVIF or HEIC?

AVIF wins by a wide margin on PNGs. HEIC's compression advantage over PNG is real but smaller than AVIF's. For screenshots and graphics specifically, AVIF is the clear winner.

Will my converted screenshots still show in apps I send them to?

Yes. iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, and email all handle AVIF. If you're sharing to an older Windows or Android device, send an exported JPG instead.

What about animated PNGs (APNG)?

HEVCut converts the first frame to AVIF; animation is dropped. If you want to keep an animation, leave the APNG alone or use an animation-specific tool.

Does this work on PNG photos (not screenshots)?

Yes, and the savings are still big. PNG photos are unusual but they do exist (older imports, certain camera exports). AVIF compresses them as effectively as any other source.

Bottom Line

PNG is the lowest-hanging fruit in any iPhone library after JPG. Converting them to AVIF can reclaim 70-85% of the storage they use, with transparency and quality intact. With HEVCut, filter your library by PNG, tap Compress, and watch the storage come back. If you've been wondering where all your iPhone storage went, your Screenshots album is almost certainly part of the answer.