WebP Image Won't Open? How to Convert WebP to PNG or JPG

Why images end up saved as WebP

Saving an image from a website and finding the extension is .webp is very common. WebP is an image format used widely to make web pages load faster, and many sites now serve their photos as WebP instead of JPEG. When you save an image straight from the browser, you get it in whatever format the site served.

In other words, the image isn't broken and the download didn't fail. The browser displays it fine; the trouble only starts when the app or service receiving it doesn't support WebP.

• An upload form or marketplace app says the file type isn't supported
• An older version of your office software won't let you insert it
• A photo printing site won't accept it
• A client replies that they can't open the file you sent
• Your image editor shows an error when you try to open it

Narrow down why it won't open

"It won't open" can mean different things, and the fix depends on where it gets stuck. Work through these checks in order and you'll quickly know whether you need to convert it.

1. 1

   Drag it into a browser

   Recent versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox can all display WebP. If the browser shows it, the file itself is fine, and the problem is the app you were trying to open it with.

2. 2

   Check whether it displays at all

   If even the browser can't display it, the download may have been cut short and the file damaged. Save it again and try once more.

3. 3

   Check which formats the destination accepts

   If an upload is being rejected, the service should list the formats it accepts. "JPEG only" or "PNG and JPEG only" are common, and converting to one of those fixes it.

4. 4

   Decide whether you need transparency

   If the image has a transparent background, convert to PNG. For a photo, JPEG is fine. Deciding this before converting saves you from redoing it.

Convert to PNG or JPG in your browser

There's nothing to install. The Image Format Converter does all the processing inside your browser, so your image is never sent to a server.

1. 1

   Load the WebP image

   Use the converter's file picker to choose the .webp file you saved. Once loaded, a preview of the original appears.

2. 2

   Choose the output format

   You can pick PNG, JPEG or WebP. Match whatever the destination asks for. If there's no requirement, JPEG is the safe choice for photos and PNG for diagrams and logos.

3. 3

   Adjust the quality

   JPEG and WebP have a quality slider. At the default of around 90%, you'll barely notice any loss. Only lower it if you need a smaller file.

4. 4

   Convert and download

   Check the converted preview and file size before saving. The file extension is set automatically to match the format you chose.

PNG or JPG: which should you convert to?

If you're unsure, decide based on whether you need a transparent background. Turning a photo that doesn't need transparency into a PNG just makes the file several times bigger. Turning a logo with transparent areas into a JPEG fills those areas with a solid color.

Tips for converting without losing quality

• Convert from the original WebP only once. Re-saving a JPEG as JPEG again adds more loss each time
• Keep the original WebP file. It's your source if you ever need to redo the conversion
• Start the quality slider at around 90%. The lower you go, the more noise appears around edges
• Use PNG for images with text or screenshots. JPEG tends to blur thin lines and lettering
• Always zoom in to check the result. Loss is hard to spot at a reduced size

Quality only drops when you re-save in a lossy format such as JPEG or WebP. Converting to PNG doesn't reduce quality itself. Bear in mind, though, that an image already degraded as a JPEG or WebP won't get its lost detail back by becoming a PNG.

Stop images saving as WebP in the first place

• Take a screenshot instead. You capture what's on screen, so it's saved as PNG or similar
• If the source offers a download link, use it. The original files are often provided as JPEG
• On a phone, saving to the photo library through the share menu may store the image in the camera roll's format
• For images you use regularly at work, convert them to JPEG or PNG as soon as you receive them and store them that way

That said, WebP is an excellent format that loads fast and keeps files small. There's no need to avoid it; the practical approach is to convert only when the destination doesn't support it. If you're putting images on your own website, converting them to WebP will actually make pages lighter. The strengths and weaknesses of each format are summarized in the differences between PNG, JPEG and WebP.

FAQ

Why won't my WebP image open?

In almost every case the file isn't damaged; the app or service you're using just doesn't support WebP. Major browsers can display it, so first try dragging it into a browser window. If it shows up there, converting it to the format the destination needs will solve the problem.

Can I just rename the extension to .jpg?

No. Renaming the file leaves the contents as WebP, so it will be rejected on upload or cause errors when opened. You need to actually re-save it as a JPEG with a tool such as an image format converter.

Should I convert to PNG or JPG?

Use PNG for images that need a transparent background, logos and screenshots with text, and JPEG for photos. Converting a transparent image to JPEG fills in the transparent areas, while converting a photo to PNG makes the file several times larger. If the destination specifies a format, follow that.

Will converting reduce the image quality?

Converting to PNG doesn't reduce quality. Converting to JPEG or WebP loses some depending on the quality setting, but at around 90% the difference is hard to see. Repeated conversions add up, though, so keep the original and convert from it just once.