Images

What is a WebP file?

Updated Jul 2026

Definition

WebP is an image format built for websites, made to replace JPG and PNG with smaller files. It can compress photos like a JPG or keep a transparent background like a PNG, often at a noticeably smaller size. The catch is that some older software, printers, and editing tools still don't handle it well.

WebPWebP image

Extension: .webp
Type: Images
Typically: Modern web images
Compression: Lossy
Transparency: Supported

Why WebP exists

Google introduced WebP in 2010 as a format built specifically for the web, where smaller images mean faster page loads. It's now the default format many websites use to serve photos, banners, and graphics without you ever noticing.

WebP works two ways: it can compress an image the way a JPG does, throwing away detail you won't miss to shrink the file, or it can keep everything intact like a PNG. It also supports transparency, so a WebP logo can sit on any background without a visible box around it.

Most people run into WebP when they save an image from a website and it lands on their computer as a .webp file instead of the .jpg or .png they expected. That's fine for viewing it in a browser, but plenty of photo editors, older devices, and printing services still don't recognize it, so converting it becomes the quickest fix.

The trade-offs

Strengths

Smaller files than JPG or PNG at similar quality
Supports transparent backgrounds like PNG
Loads faster on websites, which is what it was built for

Watch-outs

Not supported by some older photo editors and printers
Some Windows and Mac apps still can't open it directly
Less familiar to most people than JPG or PNG

A note on privacy

A WebP file can carry EXIF metadata, though many websites strip it out before serving the image, so what's left depends on where the file came from. Uploading it to an online converter still sends the file to someone else's server to do the work. Converting it on your own computer keeps the image, and whatever data it holds, off the internet entirely.

Convert a WebP file

Questions

How do I open a WebP file?

Any modern web browser opens WebP directly. On a Mac or Windows PC, some built-in photo viewers support it too, but older editing software often needs the file converted to JPG or PNG first.

Is WebP better than JPG or PNG?

For file size, generally yes: WebP tends to produce smaller files at similar quality. For compatibility, JPG and PNG are still more universally supported by editing tools, printers, and older apps.

Why did the image I saved turn into a WebP file?

Many websites serve images in WebP by default to load faster. When you save one from your browser, you get the format the site actually used, not necessarily JPG or PNG.

Can I convert WebP without uploading it?

Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts WebP to JPG or PNG on your own computer, so the file never has to leave your machine.

Morphjet opens and converts WebP and 1,800+ other formats, all on your own computer. Launching this July.