Camera RAW conversion
Convert ARW to WebP
Updated Jul 2026
ARW is the raw file format Sony Alpha cameras save straight off the sensor, and WebP is a compact image format most browsers and apps can open. To convert, open the ARW in a converter and export it as WebP. Doing this on your own computer means the raw photo, and the camera data inside it, never leave your machine.
- Extension
- .arw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Sony cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .webp
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Modern web images
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert ARW to WebP on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ARW to WebP
- Open Morphjet and drag in the ARW files you want to convert, or drop in a whole folder from a shoot.
- Choose WebP as the output format, and set a quality level if you want a smaller file.
- Convert. The WebP images are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
ARW vs WebP: what actually changes
| ARW | WebP | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, tens of megabytes per shot | Small, a fraction of the raw size |
| Quality | Lossless, full sensor data | Lossy, a small quality loss on export |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs Sony or raw-compatible software | Yes, on modern browsers and apps |
| Editability | Full control over exposure, white balance, and more | Limited, it's a finished image |
| Transparency | Not applicable | Supported, though rarely used for photos |
| Keeps camera metadata (EXIF) | Yes, in full | Partial, depends on export settings |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ARW to WebP when you want to share photos on a website, post them online, or hand off a lighter set of images to someone who doesn't need the full raw file.
Keep the ARW original if you plan to adjust exposure, white balance, or other camera settings later, since that flexibility only lives in the raw file and is gone once it's converted.
Why not just use an online converter?
ARW files from Sony cameras carry EXIF metadata, including camera settings and, if geotagging was on, the exact location a photo was taken. Sending a batch of raw photos to an online converter puts all of that on someone else's server along with the images themselves. Converting on your own computer keeps the raw files, and everything embedded in them, on your machine.
Questions
Does converting ARW to WebP lose quality?
Yes, some. ARW holds the camera's raw, uncompressed sensor data, and WebP is a compressed format, so there's a small loss on export. For sharing or web use it's rarely noticeable, but it's not something you want for archiving.
Can I still adjust exposure or white balance after converting?
No. That kind of editing depends on the raw sensor data in the ARW file. Once it's converted to WebP, you're working with a finished, rendered image.
Will the WebP keep my photo's camera metadata and location?
It depends on the export settings. Some metadata can carry over, but WebP exports commonly drop some of what the ARW originally held, so check before you rely on it.
Can I convert ARW to WebP without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the files on your own computer, so your raw photos never travel over the internet.
Morphjet converts ARW, WebP, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.