What is a WebP file?
WebP is an image format Google introduced in 2010 to make websites load faster. It can compress photos lossily like JPG, or graphics losslessly like PNG - usually with 25-35% smaller files - and it supports transparency and animation too.
That's why so many images you save from websites, including Google Images, arrive as .webp files. Browsers love them; older software and many upload forms still don't.
How to open a WebP file
Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari display WebP directly - drag the file into a browser window. Windows 10/11 Photos and Paint and Mac Preview (Big Sur and later) open it as well. If an app or website rejects it, convert it to JPG or PNG.
- Extension
- .webp
- Compression
- Lossy or lossless
- Transparency
- Yes
- Best for
- Fast-loading website images