APNG file (Animated Portable Network Graphics)
Animated PNG. Full colour animation with transparency.
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Convert APNG to JPG, free and without uploading it.
What is an APNG file?
In short: An APNG file (.apng) is an image file in the APNG format. APNG is a PNG with extra frames attached, and the first frame is a valid ordinary PNG. It can be converted to JPG, PNG or WEBP for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
Proposed by Mozilla in 2004 and, after years of resistance, supported by every major browser by 2017.
APNG is a PNG with extra frames attached, and the first frame is a valid ordinary PNG. Anything that does not understand the animation simply shows that first frame. It brings full colour and real alpha transparency to animation, which GIF never had.
What APNG is good at
- Millions of colours instead of 256
- Soft transparent edges, so no jagged fringe
- Falls back to a still image gracefully
Where APNG falls short
- Larger than an equivalent video for anything long
- Some older image editors ignore the animation
- Not accepted where a plain GIF would be
When to use APNG
Use APNG for short animation that needs transparency or accurate colour, such as a sticker or an interface flourish.
How to open an APNG file
Every current browser. Editor support is more mixed.
| Windows | Opens in any browser. Windows Photos shows only the first frame. |
|---|---|
| macOS | Preview shows the first frame; Safari animates it. |
| Linux | GIMP reads all frames. |
| Phone | Animates in the browser on both platforms. |
| In a browser | Every modern browser animates APNG, and falls back to the first frame if it cannot. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
Converting a single still image to APNG just gives you a PNG, because there is nothing to animate.
Not sure the file really is an APNG? Identify it by its contents, whatever its extension says.
Questions
What is an APNG file?
APNG stands for Animated Portable Network Graphics. Animated PNG. Full colour animation with transparency. Files use the .apng extension.
What does APNG stand for?
APNG stands for Animated Portable Network Graphics.
How do I open an APNG file?
On Windows: Opens in any browser. Windows Photos shows only the first frame. On a Mac: Preview shows the first frame; Safari animates it. On a phone: Animates in the browser on both platforms. Or convert an APNG here to a format that opens everywhere, free and without uploading it.
Can I convert APNG for free?
Yes. Every conversion here is free and unlimited, because your own device does the work rather than a server we have to pay for.
Is APNG lossless?
Yes. APNG stores every pixel exactly, at the cost of a larger file.