The WebP format: what it is and how to open .webp
Saved an image from the web and got a .webp file that won't open in your usual editor? Let's see what it is and what to do.
What WebP is
WebP is an image format by Google built for the web. It gives smaller files than JPG and PNG at comparable quality and supports transparency and animation. That's why sites increasingly serve images as WebP.
Why .webp won't open
Browsers display WebP fine, but many photo editors, messengers and older programs don't, because the format is too new for them. The file is fine — the program just lacks WebP support.
How to open: convert to JPG or PNG
- WebP → PNG — if you need transparency and a lossless format.
- WebP → JPG — if you need a universal format for sending and printing.
Conversion takes seconds with no installs. And the other way around: convert your PNG/JPG to WebP to speed up your own website.