Convert GIF to AVIF on Mac.

Local file processing, by renaming the file in Finder. No converter window and no upload queue.

Finder rename

report.gifreport.avif

How the rename works

  1. 1

    Start with report.gif

    Put the GIF file in a folder RenameTo watches, such as Desktop or Downloads.

  2. 2

    Rename it to report.avif

    In Finder, change .gif to .avif, then press Return. The rename is the command.

  3. 3

    Find the AVIF beside it

    RenameTo produces the requested output and keeps a restorable backup of the original.

What happens under the hood

RenameTo reads the GIF with the appropriate local macOS media or document framework, then writes a new AVIF beside it. The file itself is not sent to a conversion server.

About the formats

GIF is a broadly supported image format that can contain animation. AVIF is a modern image format built for efficient compression.

Questions, answered

Does my file get uploaded anywhere?

No. File processing happens on your Mac. RenameTo does use the network for license validation, trial activation, and update checks, but your source files are not part of those requests.

What happens to the original GIF file?

RenameTo keeps a backup before processing. Undo restores the original alongside a format-changing output and does not delete that output. If the original name is already occupied, the restored copy gets “(restored)” in its name.

Can I convert a whole folder?

Yes. Rename multiple selected files in Finder and RenameTo queues each supported conversion, with a separate result and backup for every file.

Can I run the same conversion from a script?

Yes. The CLI command is: renameto avif *.gif

Related conversions

Convert GIF to BMP

report.gif → report.bmp

Convert GIF to HEIC

report.gif → report.heic

Convert GIF to ICNS

report.gif → report.icns

Convert GIF to ICO

report.gif → report.ico

Convert Sony ARW to AVIF

report.arw → report.avif

Convert BMP to AVIF

report.bmp → report.avif

Convert Canon CR2 to AVIF

report.cr2 → report.avif

Convert Canon CR3 to AVIF

report.cr3 → report.avif

Looking for another format? Browse every conversion.