Solved AVIF/HEIF Explorer support

Jose Hidalgo · Jun 7, 2024

Hi everybody,

I don't understand why the latest Win 11 doesn't seem to support natively AVIF/HEIF image formats in Explorer (no thumbnails for example).

The MS Store allows download for AV1 Video Extension and HEIF Image extension, which apparently should solve the issue. But I don't have a MS account and I don't want to be forced to use the MS Store.

Any thoughts on how I could do? Thanks in advance.

Ghot · Jun 7, 2024

Jose Hidalgo said:
Hi everybody,

I don't understand why the latest Win 11 doesn't seem to support natively AVIF/HEIF image formats in Explorer (no thumbnails for example).

The MS Store allows download for AV1 Video Extension and HEIF Image extension, which apparently should solve the issue. But I don't have a MS account and I don't want to be forced to use the MS Store.

Any thoughts on how I could do? Thanks in advance.

You can make an MS account and NOT attach it to your Windows install.
Then you can still use the MS Store, and keep your local account.

This is how I do it also.

NOTE: I don't have to sign in to my MS Account to use the MS Store.

For example... here I am in MS Store (using Firefox), but NOT signed into my Microsoft account...

Jose Hidalgo · Jun 7, 2024

I was hoping for a solution that wouldn't involve the MS Store at all

I have just found this :

Here we can download the AV1 Video Extension : Download AV1 Codec 1.2 - Latest & Fastest Downloads!
And here we can download the HEIF Image Extension : Download HEIF Image Extensions 1.1.861 - Latest & Fastest Downloads!

Since Free-Codecs is a reputable site, that should do it, right?

Ghot · Jun 7, 2024

Jose Hidalgo said:
I was hoping for a solution that wouldn't involve the MS Store at all

I have just found this :

Here we can download the AV1 Video Extension : Download AV1 Codec 1.2 - Latest & Fastest Downloads!

And here we can download the HEIF Image Extension : Download HEIF Image Extensions 1.1.861 - Latest & Fastest Downloads!

Since Free-Codecs is a reputable site, that should do it, right?

Microsoft changes things too much to use an outside source for something like image extensions.
I also think MS is evil, but I still use their Store for things like this.

Less software conflicts, and more compatibility.

On the other hand, I don't use Microsoft drivers. I get any drivers I need from the manufacturer.

Jose Hidalgo · Jun 7, 2024

As you can see from the links (just click on them), the downloads are taken directly from the MS Store. They're even in .AppxBundle format. And if there's a new version in the MS Store, the list is updated. So to me it's exactly the same, with no need to register.

Ghot · Jun 7, 2024

Jose Hidalgo said:
As you can see from the links (just click on them), the downloads are taken directly from the MS Store. They're even in .AppxBundle format. And if there's a new version in the MS Store, the list is updated. So to me it's exactly the same, with no need to register.

As I said above... you don't need to be logged into a Microsoft account to use the MS Store.

And... for me at least, Windows 11 came with the HEIF Extensions?
I did get the AV1 Extensions from the store though.

Here's the Windows Apps tab in REVO Uninstaller free...

I did an In-Place Upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Home RTM in October 2021.

Jose Hidalgo · Jun 7, 2024

Yes, weirdly it seems that you can indeed use the MS Store and download stuff without being actually logged with a MS account. I'm surprised.

Either way, I think the problem is solved. Thank you for your help and your explanations.

Bree · Jun 7, 2024

Jose Hidalgo said:
The MS Store allows download for AV1 Video Extension and HEIF Image extension, which apparently should solve the issue. But I don't have a MS account and I don't want to be forced to use the MS Store.

You don't need to sign in to the Store with a Microsoft account to install anything that's free to get. You only need to sign in if you want to buy an app.