You double-click a photo — maybe it came from a website, a WhatsApp forward, or a “Save Image As” — and instead of opening, you get an error, a broken-image icon, or nothing at all. Look at the file extension and it says .webp. That’s a WebP file, and the fact that it isn’t opening isn’t a sign anything is broken. It usually just means the program you’re using hasn’t been updated to recognize it, or you’re on an older version of Windows or macOS.
Here’s exactly what a WebP file is, why some software still can’t open one, and every reliable way to open it depending on what device and program you’re using.
The Short Answer
A .webp file is an image — a photo or graphic — saved in Google’s WebP format, which compresses images to noticeably smaller file sizes than JPEG or PNG at similar visual quality. It’s why so many websites serve WebP images by default now: smaller files mean faster-loading pages. If you’re seeing more .webp files land in your downloads folder than you used to, that’s the reason — it’s become the default output format on a large share of the modern web.
It’s not a new or unusual technology. It’s just newer than JPEG and PNG, which means support for it took longer to spread everywhere, and a handful of older programs never caught up.
Why Your WebP File Won’t Open (The Real Reason)
Every image format needs software that knows how to decode it. JPEG and PNG have been standard since the 1990s, so essentially everything supports them — image viewers, editors, even decades-old software. WebP was released in 2010 and only reached near-universal support around 2020, once Safari finally added it. That’s a long gap, and it means:
- Software written or last updated before roughly 2020 often has no idea what a
.webpfile is - Windows versions older than Windows 10 (and even some early Windows 10 builds) don’t recognize it out of the box
- Some older or lightweight image viewers, older versions of Photoshop, and legacy business software still don’t decode it
None of this means your file is corrupted. If the file opens fine in a web browser (see below), the file itself is fine — it’s purely a software support issue.
How to Open a WebP File, By Platform
In Any Web Browser (Works Almost Everywhere)
This is the fastest way to just look at a WebP file, no installation required:
- Open Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
- Drag the
.webpfile directly into a new browser tab, or use File → Open File. - It displays like any other image.
Every major browser has supported WebP since 2020 at the latest, so if nothing else on your computer will open the file, this always works.
On Windows 10 and 11
Both the built-in Photos app and Paint open WebP files natively — no extra download needed. Just double-click the file; if it’s not opening automatically, right-click → Open with → Photos.
On Older Windows (7 / 8 / early Windows 10 builds)
These don’t include native WebP support. Two options:
- Install the free Microsoft WebP Codec Pack or “WebP Image Extensions” from the Microsoft Store, which adds WebP support to the built-in Photos viewer
- Or skip installing anything and just open the file in a browser, as above
On Mac
Preview opens WebP files natively on macOS Ventura (13) and later. On older macOS versions, Preview may not recognize it — in that case, open it in Safari instead, or use a free tool like GIMP.
On iPhone and Android
Both platforms can display WebP images inside the Photos/Gallery app once saved to the camera roll, and both stock browsers render WebP inline without any extra steps. If a WebP image won’t open from a messaging app specifically, save it to your camera roll first, then open it from there.
In Photo Editing Software
- Photoshop — native WebP support since version 23.2 (2022). Older Photoshop versions need a free plugin
- GIMP — native support, no plugin needed
- Affinity Photo — native support
- Older or niche editors (older CorelDRAW versions, some legacy Windows software) — these are the most likely to still fail; converting the file (see below) is usually faster than hunting for a plugin
A Quick Way to Tell If a File Is Actually WebP
Sometimes a .webp extension gets mislabeled, or a file is renamed without actually being converted, which can look identical to a genuine compatibility problem. Two quick checks before assuming a program is at fault:
- Right-click → Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac) and confirm the file type listed matches
.webp— a mismatched file type here means the extension was changed manually rather than the file actually being encoded as WebP - Try the browser test above first. If a browser also fails to open it, that’s a stronger signal the file itself is damaged or incomplete (a failed download, for instance) rather than a simple compatibility gap
If You Just Need to View It Once, Skip Installing Anything
The browser method above is genuinely the fastest fix for a one-off file: drag it into any open browser tab. No download, no settings changes, works on any operating system.
Animated WebP Files Are a Slightly Different Story
WebP supports animation, similar to a GIF but with better compression. An animated WebP can behave differently from a static one:
- Browsers play animated WebP files automatically, same as a GIF
- Some apps that correctly display a static WebP image will only show the first frame of an animated one, or fail to play it at all — this is a narrower, less-supported feature than static WebP
If an animated WebP looks frozen somewhere, that’s usually why — try opening it in a browser to confirm it’s actually animated before assuming the file is broken.
If You Actually Need It in a Different Format
Sometimes viewing isn’t enough — you need the image as a JPG or PNG for a program, a print shop, or a platform that rejects WebP uploads entirely. The fastest free way is AllMediaTools Image Converter: upload the .webp file, choose JPG or PNG as the output, and download the converted image. No account or software install required. See our guide on convert images to WebP for free if you’re doing the reverse — turning JPGs or PNGs into WebP to shrink them for a website.
Is There Anything Wrong With WebP as a Format?
No — this is purely a compatibility gap, not a quality issue. WebP produces smaller files than JPEG or PNG at equivalent visual quality, which is exactly why it’s become the default on so many websites. If you want the deeper technical picture — how WebP’s compression actually works, exact file-size comparisons, and when it’s worth using over JPEG or PNG — see our full guide to the WebP format or WebP vs JPEG vs PNG comparison. This article is specifically about getting an existing .webp file open; those two cover the format itself in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won’t my WebP file open on my computer?
Almost always because the program you’re using was written or last updated before it added WebP support — WebP only reached near-universal support around 2020. The file itself is very likely fine; try opening it in any modern web browser to confirm.
What’s the easiest way to open a WebP file right now?
Drag it into a new tab in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Every major browser has supported WebP natively since at least 2020, and this requires no installation.
Does Windows open WebP files by default?
Windows 10 and 11 do, through the built-in Photos app and Paint. Older Windows versions need a free codec add-on from the Microsoft Store, or you can just open the file in a browser instead.
Can I convert a WebP file to JPG or PNG?
Yes — AllMediaTools Image Converter converts WebP to JPG or PNG for free, directly in your browser, in a couple of clicks.
Why do so many images I download from websites come as WebP now?
Because WebP files are meaningfully smaller than JPEG or PNG at the same visual quality, and most modern browsers support it — so websites increasingly serve it by default to load faster. It’s a deliberate optimization choice by site owners, not something specific to any one image.
Are animated WebP files the same as GIFs?
Functionally similar — both play a looping animation — but animated WebP files are usually smaller for the same content. Support for the animated version is slightly less universal than for static WebP images, so if one won’t play, try a browser first.