Which image format is accepted everywhere
Published · Updated 2 min read
An online form, a messaging app or a page layout program do not all accept the same image formats. The "unsupported format" message often arrives at the last moment, when the file is ready. This guide says which formats are read almost everywhere, and which ones need a recent device or browser.
What browsers can read
According to the MDN reference documentation, JPEG and PNG are read by every version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera and Safari: they are the two safest formats. WebP is read by the current versions of these browsers, with a reservation for Safari, which requires version 14 and, on a Mac, macOS Big Sur or later. AVIF is newer still: it is read from Chrome 85, Edge 121, Opera 71, Firefox 93 and Safari 16.1. MDN therefore advises providing a fallback format when you publish an image in AVIF, in case the person's browser cannot read it.
Transparency
Some images have transparent areas, for example a logo placed on any background. JPEG cannot handle transparency. PNG, WebP and AVIF can. When you convert a transparent image to JPG with the tool, the transparent areas are placed on white. If your logo must stay transparent, do not convert it to JPG.
Choosing when the format is not stated
If the form does not say, JPG for a photograph and PNG for a screenshot or a logo are the two choices that almost always work. WebP suits cases where the destination is a recent site and you want light images.
Converting an iPhone photo
Photos from an iPhone are often saved as HEIC, a format that many sites and programs do not accept. According to the tool's Memo, a HEIC photo can be converted to JPG, and this format needs more memory than the others: on a modest device, convert the photos one by one rather than in a batch.
When the format matters
When uploading a photo to an administrative form, for a logo to put on an old site, for an attachment that will be opened on an unknown computer or phone: the safest format avoids the "unsupported file" message.
Check the result
- Open the converted image in the program or site that will receive it.
- Check the transparency if it matters.
- Keep the original.
To choose according to the content of the image, see Which image format to choose by use.
Frequently asked questions
- Which image format is accepted everywhere?
- JPG for a photograph and PNG for a screenshot or a logo, read by all common browsers.
- Is WebP accepted by all browsers?
- By the current versions of the main browsers. Safari requires version 14 and, on a Mac, macOS Big Sur or later.
- What happens to transparency in JPG?
- JPG does not handle transparency: the transparent areas are placed on white.
- How do you convert a HEIC photo from an iPhone?
- The tool converts a HEIC photo to JPG. This format needs more memory: on a modest device, convert the photos one by one.