Why a WebP image will not open, and how to get a JPG or PNG
A WebP image will not open or upload in some apps because those apps cannot read the WebP format, not because the file is damaged. Browsers and recent photo software usually handle it, while older programs, some upload forms and some office tools do not. Save a copy as JPG for photographs, or as PNG for graphics and transparency, and the file will open almost anywhere.
Convert imageNeed a JPG, have a PNGOpenWhat WebP is
WebP is an image format that Google announced in 2010. It stores photos and graphics in less space than JPG or PNG usually needs, which is why many websites send it to visitors. A WebP file can be lossy, like JPG, or lossless, like PNG, and it can keep transparent areas. Support is built into each program. A program with no WebP decoder cannot show the picture, whatever the file contains.
Why it fails in some places
Three causes account for most failures.
- The program lacks support. Older desktop viewers, some editing programs and some upload boxes list only JPG, PNG and sometimes GIF. The file is fine; the program refuses it.
- The browser saved it for you. Many websites send WebP to browsers that accept it. Choosing Save image as on such a page can download a .webp file even when you expected a JPG.
- The name does not match the content. Renaming photo.webp to photo.jpg does not change the data inside. Many programs read the content rather than the name, so the renamed file still fails, or it opens and then fails at upload.
Converting the file fixes all three, because the new copy is in a format that forms and programs know.
Find out which case you have
Open the file in a browser, for example by dragging it onto a tab.
- It shows. The file is a valid WebP, and the problem is the program or the form. Convert it, or check the form's list of accepted types.
- It does not show, and the browser reports an error. The file may be damaged, incomplete or not an image at all. A partial download can also fail to open, so download it again if its size is smaller than the sender's copy, or ask the sender what format it was saved as.
Convert it to JPG or PNG
Open the convert tool, drop the WebP file on the box and pick an output:
- JPG for photographs without transparency. JPG dates from the early 1990s and is accepted almost everywhere. The quality slider starts at 92, which suits a one-time conversion.
- PNG for logos, screenshots and anything with transparent areas. PNG is lossless, so nothing is lost, but a photo saved as PNG is much larger.
- Download the new file, or all of them as a ZIP if you converted several at once.
Converting does not reduce the file size by much on its own. It keeps the pixel size as well, so a 2000 × 1500 WebP becomes a 2000 × 1500 JPG or PNG. If the form also sets a size limit, make the file smaller after converting, and set Save as to JPG, because that tool offers JPG or WebP output rather than PNG.
Use this table to choose:
| Image | Save as | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph, no transparency | JPG | Small for photos and accepted by most forms |
| Logo, screenshot or cut-out | PNG | Lossless, and keeps transparent areas |
| Form that rejects both | The form's own list | Some forms accept only a few types |
What the upload form checks
Upload forms commonly check the file type, the file size and the pixel dimensions. A converted file can pass the first and fail the other two, so read the form's help text and check each one. File size is the usual problem for photos. Getting a photo under a size limit explains how to reach a limit without visible damage. Name the converted file with the extension that matches its real format, so the form and the operating system agree about what it is.
Edge cases
- Transparency. A transparent WebP saved as JPG gets a white background, because JPG has no transparency. Save as PNG if the transparent areas matter. The transparent PNG guide explains the other outcomes.
- Animation. An animated WebP becomes one still image in these tools, because JPG and PNG hold a single frame. Keep the original if the motion matters.
- Quality. Converting a lossy WebP to JPG is a second lossy save. Use a high quality setting, and keep the original so that any further conversion starts from it rather than from a converted copy.
- Form rules. Forms set their own limits for type and size, and those change over time. The help text beside the upload box is the final check, so test the converted file with the form before you rely on it.
