What is a WebP file?
WebP stands for WebP image. It was created by Google and first released in 2010. WebP can be lossy or lossless and still keep transparency, and at the same visual quality it usually lands 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPG. It is the reason so many images saved from websites turn out not to be JPGs.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless |
| Colour | 24-bit colour plus an 8-bit alpha channel |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | Yes |
| In a browser | opens in all current browsers; older Photoshop and Windows Photo versions cannot open it |
| Common uses | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| MIME type | image/webp |
Which format should you convert WebP to?
- WebP to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- WebP to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- WebP to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
- WebP to ICO to use as a website favicon.
WebP is lossy or lossless depending on how it was saved, so check what a program needs before converting.
How to open a WebP file
Whether a WebP file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If WebP is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | WebP opens in all current browsers; older Photoshop and Windows Photo versions cannot open it. |
Want the technical details? See what a .webp file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
WebP compared with other image formats
How WebP stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
| GIF | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | short looping animations, reactions and simple graphics |
How to use the WebP converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your WebP files on the box, or press Choose WebP files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to AVIF, HEIC, PS, PSD uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting WebP files without losing quality
WebP can be lossy or lossless depending on how the file was saved. Either way, converting to a lossless format keeps exactly what is there, and converting to a lossy one trades a little detail for a much smaller file.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert WebP files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common WebP conversion, to PNG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.webp output.pngChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
WebP converter FAQ
What is a WebP file?
WebP stands for WebP image, an image format created by Google in 2010. WebP can be lossy or lossless and still keep transparency, and at the same visual quality it usually lands 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPG. It is the reason so many images saved from websites turn out not to be JPGs.
How do I open a WebP file?
WebP opens in all current browsers; older Photoshop and Windows Photo versions cannot open it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common WebP conversion?
WebP to PNG is the conversion people search for most. The image is decoded and written as a lossless 32-bit PNG.
Does converting WebP files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to AVIF, HEIC, PS, PSD uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the WebP converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert WebP files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your WebP files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several WebP files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.