How to delete AVIF images from your website

If you need to delete AVIF images from your website, there are several options available. But first, it’s helpful to know how to locate your AVIF images.

Where are AVIF Images Located?

AVIF images are stored in the same folder as the original format of the images. For example, if the original image is located at wp-content/uploads/2020/02/image.jpg, its AVIF version will be at wp-content/uploads/2020/02/image.jpg.avif.

Delete AVIF Images by Restoring to Original

The easiest way to delete AVIF images is by restoring your images to their original versions using the Imagify plugin:

1. Go to your Media Library or Bulk Optimization in Imagify, and select the option to Restore Original Images. This will automatically delete the AVIF versions of those images.
2. If you want to prevent future AVIF images from being generated, go to the Imagify settings under the Next-Gen Formats section and toggle AVIF generation to “Off.”

Once the Next-Gen format is disabled, you can re-optimize your images without generating new AVIF versions.

Delete AVIF Images Using an FTP Program

You can delete AVIF versions of images by connecting to your website’s server using an FTP program. This will allow you to delete AVIF files individually or in groups.

1. Use your FTP program to search for .avif or *.avif to locate all the AVIF images on your site.
2. Be cautious as this search will return any file with .avif in its name or URL, so double-check before mass deleting.

Delete AVIF Images Using an SSH/Terminal Command

If you have SSH access to your server, you can use a command to quickly delete all WebP images. Be sure to back up your site before proceeding to avoid any accidental data loss.

Here’s the command to use:

find . -name “*.avif” -type f -delete