What is a WebP File?
WebP (pronounced "weppy") is a modern image file format developed by Google in 2010. It was specifically built to provide superior lossy and lossless compression for graphics used across the web.
By using advanced prediction-based encoding techniques, WebP allows websites to display rich images with much smaller file sizes than traditional formats like JPEG and PNG. On average, WebP files are:
- 26% smaller in size compared to PNGs (for lossless files with transparency).
- 25% to 34% smaller in size compared to JPEGs (for equivalent lossy photographic files).
Why WebP Can Be Frustrating
While web developers and speed-testing tools (like Google PageSpeed Insights) love WebP, everyday users often find it frustrating. When you right-click and save an image from a modern website, it downloads as a .webp file.
This creates problems because:
- Older photo editors (like older versions of Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro) cannot open WebP files natively.
- Some local file managers and operating systems fail to display visual thumbnail previews for WebP files.
- Content Management Systems (CMS) or web upload portals often restrict file uploads to standard JPG and PNG files.
How to Open a WebP Image
Almost all modern web browsers support WebP. If you cannot open a WebP photo on your desktop:
- Right-click the WebP file and select Open With.
- Choose a browser like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari.
- The browser will render the image immediately.
How to Convert WebP to JPG or PNG
To make your saved files compatible with all applications, you can convert them back to standard formats:
- Open our free WebP to JPG and PNG Converter.
- Drag your WebP file and drop it on the page.
- Select your desired output format: JPG (best for photographs) or PNG (best for screenshots and graphics with transparency).
- Click the download button to save the converted image locally.