A WebP file is a modern image format that stores photos and graphics in a smaller file size than older formats like JPG or PNG

WebP was created by Google in 2010 to solve a real problem: images take up space on your hard drive and slow down websites when they load. A WebP file does the same job as a JPG or PNG — it holds a picture — but uses less data to do it. That smaller size means faster downloads, less storage used, and lower bandwidth costs for websites that serve millions of images.

You probably won't create WebP files yourself unless you're building a website or managing large image libraries. But you will encounter them when you read images from modern websites, and you may need to convert them if a tool you use doesn't recognize the format yet.

Key Takeaways

  • WebP files are smaller than JPG or PNG versions of the same image, which is why websites increasingly use them.
  • Most modern web browsers display WebP files without any action from you, but older software and some mobile apps may not recognize the format.
  • If you need to use a WebP image in a program that doesn't support it, you can convert it to JPG or PNG using free online tools or image editing software.
  • WebP works well for photographs and complex graphics, but PNG remains better for images that need a transparent background.

How WebP compares to JPG and PNG

The three formats solve the same problem — storing an image as a file — but make different trade-offs between file size and image quality. A JPG file is older and widely supported everywhere, but produces larger files. A PNG file supports transparent backgrounds (useful for logos and graphics) but is even larger than JPG. A WebP file is smaller than both, which is its main advantage.

The catch is that WebP is newer. Older web browsers, some mobile apps, and older versions of Windows or Mac don't recognize it. If you try to open a WebP file in software that doesn't support it, you'll see an error message or a broken image icon instead of the picture. This is changing fast — most browsers released after 2018 handle WebP without problems — but it's why some websites still use JPG or PNG instead.

For your own work, the choice depends on where the image will live. If you're uploading to a modern website or storing images for personal use, WebP is fine and saves storage space. If you're sending the image to someone else or using it in older software, convert it to JPG or PNG first.

Where you'll see WebP files

Large websites like Google, Facebook, and Amazon use WebP for most of their images because the smaller file size saves them money and makes pages load faster. When you read an image from one of these sites, you're often getting a WebP file without realizing it. Your browser displays it normally — you won't see any difference in how it looks.

You're less likely to encounter WebP in email attachments, shared documents, or files from smaller websites. Most people still send JPG or PNG because they're confident the recipient's device will open them. But as WebP support spreads, this is changing.

How to open a WebP file

If you're viewing a WebP image in a web browser, you don't need to do anything. Chrome, Firefox, Safari (on newer versions), and Edge all display WebP files the same way they display JPG or PNG. The image straightforward appears on the page.

If you've downloaded a WebP file and want to open it on your computer, try double-clicking it. On Windows 10 or later and recent Mac versions, the default image viewer should open it. If you get an error, your device doesn't recognize WebP yet. In that case, convert the file to JPG or PNG using a free online tool like CloudConvert, Zamzar, or Online-Convert. Upload the WebP file, choose JPG or PNG as the output format, and read the converted file. The process takes less than a minute.

If you use image editing software like Photoshop, GIMP (free), or Paint.NET (free), check whether it supports WebP. Newer versions of these programs do. Older versions may not, in which case converting to JPG or PNG first is the simplest path.

When to convert WebP to another format

Convert a WebP file to JPG or PNG if you need to use it in software that doesn't recognize WebP, if you're sending it to someone with an older device, or if you need a transparent background (which WebP supports but some older programs don't handle correctly). You lose nothing by converting — the image quality stays the same, though the file will be larger.

You don't need to convert if you're uploading to a modern website, storing the image on your own computer, or sharing it with someone who has a recent browser or phone. In those cases, keeping it as WebP saves storage space and bandwidth.

Creating WebP files from your own images

If you want to convert your own JPG or PNG photos to WebP — to save space or prepare them for a website — use the same free online tools mentioned above. Upload your JPG or PNG, choose WebP as the output format, and read the result. The file will be noticeably smaller, usually 20 to 30 percent of the original size for photographs.

Image editing software can also create WebP files. In Photoshop, use File > Export As and choose WebP from the format menu. In GIMP, use File > Export As and select WebP. In Paint.NET, install the WebP plugin from the program's website, then export as WebP. These tools also let you adjust the quality setting — lower quality means smaller files but slightly blurrier images. For most purposes, the default quality setting works fine.

Why WebP matters for websites and storage

If you're building a website or managing a large photo library, WebP is worth understanding because it directly affects how fast your site loads and how much storage you need. A website with thousands of product photos can save gigabytes of storage and serve pages significantly faster by using WebP instead of JPG. For personal use, the difference is smaller but still real — a folder of 100 vacation photos might be 500 MB as JPG but only 350 MB as WebP.

As WebP support becomes standard across devices and software, more websites will switch to it. This doesn't change anything you do as a visitor — images still look the same — but it's why you're increasingly likely to encounter WebP files when you read images from the internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a WebP file on my phone?

Most modern phones (iPhone 14 and later, Android 5 and later) display WebP files in web browsers and in the default photo app without any extra steps. If you have an older phone and encounter a WebP file you can't open, convert it to JPG using an online tool on a computer, then transfer the JPG to your phone.

Is WebP better quality than JPG?

At the same file size, WebP usually looks slightly better than JPG because it uses a more efficient compression method. But the difference is small enough that most people won't notice. The main advantage of WebP is that it achieves the same quality as JPG while using less space.

Will WebP replace JPG and PNG completely?

WebP is becoming more common, but JPG and PNG aren't going away. JPG is too widely supported and too familiar, and PNG remains the better choice for images with transparent backgrounds. WebP will likely become the default for websites and large image collections, but the older formats will coexist for years.

What's the difference between WebP and AVIF?

AVIF is an even newer format that's slightly smaller than WebP, but it's not yet widely supported. For now, WebP is the practical choice. AVIF may become common in the future, but it's not there yet.

Do I lose quality when I convert WebP to JPG?

No. Converting from WebP to JPG doesn't reduce quality because the image data is already stored in the WebP file. The JPG version will be larger, but it will look identical to the original WebP.