WebP image

What is a WEBP file?

WebP is an image format Google released in 2010 to make websites load faster. It produces files roughly a quarter to a third smaller than JPG or PNG at similar quality, and supports both transparency and animation. That's why images saved from many websites now arrive as .webp files, which some older apps still refuse to open.

How to open a WEBP file

Windows: Windows 10 and 11 open WebP in the Photos app; any modern browser like Edge or Chrome opens it too.
Mac: Recent versions of macOS open WebP in Preview; you can also drag it into Safari or Chrome.
iPhone: iOS 14 and later can show WebP in Photos and Files, and Safari displays them normally.
Android: Android has supported WebP for years: Google Photos, Gallery apps and Chrome all open it.

Good for

Smaller files than JPG and PNG
Supports transparency and animation
Supported by every modern browser

Watch out for

Some older desktop apps and upload forms reject it
Less familiar to non-technical users
Editing support varies between apps

WEBP file questions

Why do images download as WebP?

Websites serve WebP because it loads faster. Your browser saves the file in the format the site delivered.

A form won't accept my WebP image. What can I do?

Convert it to JPG or PNG, or put it into a PDF, which almost every upload form accepts.

Does converting WebP lose quality?

Converting to PNG keeps every pixel. Converting to JPG uses light compression that is usually invisible.