How to open a .webp file
Quick, free ways to open WebP on any system.
A .webp file is a Web Picture format. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads WebP yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .webp file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .webp. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Photos or Edge and Chrome.
- On Mac, use Preview (macOS 11+) or Safari.
- On Linux, try GIMP or gThumb.
- Still stuck? Convert the .webp to PNG, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .webp files
Windows
- Photos
- Edge and Chrome
- IrfanView
- Paint.NET
macOS
- Preview (macOS 11+)
- Safari
- GIMP
Linux
- GIMP
- gThumb
- Firefox
- ImageMagick
Web
- Any modern browser
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Before you open it: Safe to open. WebP is a static or animated image and does not execute anything. Keep your image viewer updated as with any format.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .webp file?
Almost always because no installed app understands WebP. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
Why did I download a WebP instead of a JPG?
Many sites serve images as WebP to load faster. Your browser saved exactly what the site sent. Convert it to JPG or PNG if another app refuses it.
Is WebP better than PNG?
For most photos and graphics, lossless WebP is smaller than PNG at the same quality. PNG still wins on universal software support and simple pixel-perfect editing.