What Is a WebP File (and How Do You Open or Convert It)?
You saved an image from a website and ended up with a .webp file that some
program refuses to open. WebP is everywhere now, so it’s worth a quick
explanation, and the fix is easy.
What WebP actually is
WebP is an image format made by Google. Its whole reason for existing is smaller files: a WebP is usually 25 to 35 percent smaller than the same image as a JPG or PNG, at the same visible quality. It handles both photos and graphics, and it supports transparency like PNG does. That mix of small size and flexibility is why so many websites serve images as WebP.
Why some apps won’t open it
Every modern web browser opens WebP without any trouble. The friction shows up in older or more specialized software: some photo editors, older versions of Office, certain printing services, and a few social platforms still expect a JPG or PNG. When that happens, you don’t need new software, you just need to convert the file.
How to open or convert a WebP
If you only need to view it, drag the file into any browser tab and it’ll display. To turn it into something other apps accept:
- For photos, convert WebP to JPG. JPG is the most widely accepted format anywhere.
- For logos, screenshots, or anything with transparency, convert WebP to PNG so the transparent areas are preserved.
Both run in your browser, so the image never gets uploaded.
Going the other direction
If you’re the one publishing images and want faster pages, convert the other way: PNG to WebP or JPG to WebP. You’ll get smaller files that still look the same, which helps your site load quicker.
Quick answers
Does converting WebP to JPG lose quality? JPG is lossy, so a tiny amount of quality is traded for compatibility. For most photos you won’t see a difference.
Should I convert WebP to PNG or JPG? PNG if the image has transparency or sharp edges (logos, screenshots), JPG for ordinary photos.