Picovert

How to Open WebP Files — View, Convert, and Edit WebP Images

By Picovert Team2026-04-244 min read

WebP is Google's modern image format, supported by all current web browsers since 2020. But .webp files are still a common source of confusion — double-clicking one on an older Windows or Mac system, or trying to open it in an older app like Photoshop CS6 or older Office versions, often results in an error or a blank preview. Here's how to handle WebP files on any platform.

Why WebP Files Won't Open in Some Apps

  • Windows Photo Viewer (older) — The classic Windows Photo Viewer doesn't support WebP. Windows 11's Photos app does. If you're on Windows 10 without the Photos app installed, you may need to convert.
  • Older Photoshop versions — Photoshop added native WebP support in version 23.2 (2022). Photoshop CS6, CC 2020, and earlier can't open WebP directly.
  • Microsoft Office (older versions) — Word, PowerPoint, and Excel before Microsoft 365 (2023 builds) can't insert WebP images. The file appears as an error when you try to insert it.
  • macOS Preview (older versions) — macOS added WebP support in macOS Ventura (13.0, 2022). Earlier macOS versions can't open WebP in Preview.
  • Mobile apps — iOS apps added WebP support in iOS 14. Android supports WebP natively. Older iOS versions may not display WebP in the Photos app.

How to Open WebP Files on Windows

  • Windows 11 — Photos app supports WebP. Right-click the file → Open with → Photos.
  • Windows 10 — Open in any web browser (Edge, Chrome, Firefox). Just drag the .webp file into the browser window.
  • Any Windows version — Install a free viewer like IrfanView or XnView, both of which support WebP.

How to Open WebP Files on Mac

  • macOS Ventura (13) or later — Preview supports WebP natively. Double-click the file.
  • Older macOS — Open in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox. Drag the .webp file into the browser.
  • For editing — GIMP (free), Photoshop 23.2+, or Affinity Photo 2+ support WebP on Mac.

Convert WebP to JPG — The Universal Solution

If you need to use the WebP image in an app that doesn't support it, converting to JPG is the most reliable approach:

  1. Open Picovert's WebP to JPG converter — free, no account required.
  2. Drop your WebP file. Multiple files supported for batch conversion.
  3. Download the JPG. Works in any app, any device.

JPG files open in Windows Photo Viewer, every version of Photoshop, all Office apps, every phone's gallery, and every email client — no compatibility concerns.

Convert WebP to PNG — When You Need Transparency

If your WebP image has a transparent background (logos, product shots, graphics with no background), convert to PNG instead of JPG to preserve the transparency:

  1. Open Picovert's WebP to PNG converter.
  2. Drop your WebP file and download the PNG.

PNG preserves the alpha channel that WebP carries. JPG doesn't support transparency — converting a transparent WebP to JPG fills the transparent areas with white.

Does WebP Support Transparency?

Yes — WebP supports full alpha transparency (partial/semi-transparent pixels), just like PNG. In fact, WebP with lossless compression is a direct replacement for PNG with 25–35% better compression. If you received a WebP with a transparent background, use the WebP to PNG conversion to preserve it.

Open WebP in Photoshop

For Photoshop:

  • Photoshop 23.2 (2022) or later: WebP opens natively. File → Open → select the .webp file.
  • Older Photoshop: Install the WebPShop plugin (free, from Google's GitHub) or convert the WebP to PNG/JPG first using Picovert.

Open WebP in GIMP

GIMP 2.10.22 and later supports WebP natively. Simply open the file: File → Open → select the .webp file. GIMP can also export as WebP, making it useful for editing and saving back to WebP format.

WebP vs. JPG: When to Convert and When to Keep WebP

  • Keep WebP: For web use (HTML, CSS background images) where you control the code. WebP is 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPG. All modern browsers display it.
  • Convert to JPG: For email attachments, inserting into documents, sharing through apps that don't support WebP, or uploading to platforms with JPEG-only upload forms.
  • Convert to PNG: When you need to preserve transparency for design work, or when inserting into tools that need lossless quality (e.g., further editing).