What Is a WEBP File and How Do You Convert It?
You right-click an image on a website, choose “Save image as”, and end up with a .webp file that your photo editor or upload form will not accept. This is now very common, because most large websites serve images as WEBP to load pages faster.
This guide explains what WEBP is, where it works, and how to turn it into a JPG or PNG in a few seconds.
What is WEBP?
WEBP is an image format created by Google in 2010. It can compress images in a lossy way like JPG or in a lossless way like PNG, and it supports transparency and animation.
Its main advantage is size. According to Google, lossy WEBP images are about 25–34% smaller than comparable JPGs, and lossless WEBP images are about 26% smaller than PNGs. Smaller images mean faster websites, which is why so many sites use it.
Where WEBP works and where it does not
- All modern browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, display WEBP.
- Recent versions of Windows and macOS can preview WEBP files in their built-in photo viewers.
- Older photo editors, office software, print shops and many upload forms still reject WEBP or show an error.
So the file is fine for viewing, but if you need to edit, print or upload it somewhere strict, JPG or PNG is the safer choice.
How to convert WEBP to JPG or PNG
- Open the PixShift WEBP to JPG converter (or WEBP to PNG if you need transparency).
- Drop your .webp files into the box, or click it to choose them. You can also paste a copied image with Ctrl+V.
- Download the converted files individually or all at once as a ZIP.
- Choose JPG for photos. It produces small files that open everywhere.
- Choose PNG for logos, screenshots or anything with a transparent background. JPG would fill transparent areas with white.
Should you use WEBP on your own website?
Usually, yes. Converting the photos on your site from JPG or PNG to WEBP typically cuts page weight noticeably without visible quality loss, which helps loading speed on mobile connections.
Keep the original JPG or PNG files as a backup, and use WEBP for the copies you publish. For email attachments and documents, stick with JPG or PNG for maximum compatibility.