animated format

What is a .APNG file?

APNG is an animated PNG supporting full color and transparency, unlike GIF — great for crisp, smooth web animations.

Full name
Animated PNG
Developed by
Mozilla
Released
2008
Extension
.apng
MIME type
image/apng
Transparency
Yes

How to open a APNG file

APNG plays in modern browsers and recent image viewers.

What APNG files are used for

Reactions & memes

Short loops that autoplay anywhere.

Product demos

Quick how-to loops in docs and emails.

Stickers & chat

Lightweight animation in messengers.

Strengths & limitations

✔ Strengths✖ Limitations
Supports transparencyLess common outside its niche

Tools for this format

Convert, compress and edit — free, in your browser.

Need more than a conversion?

Remove the background from APNG images, upscale to 4K, or generate new visuals with SharkFoto AI.

Frequently asked questions

APNG is an animated PNG supporting full color and transparency, unlike GIF — great for crisp, smooth web animations.

APNG plays in modern browsers and recent image viewers.

APNG is optimised for its specific use rather than strictly lossless storage.

Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your APNG file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.

Yes — APNG supports transparent backgrounds.

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