What Is a WEBP File?
WEBP is a modern image format from Google that makes files 25–80% smaller than JPG and PNG. Every browser opens it; some desktop apps don't — which is usually why you're here. Both problems have 10-second fixes.
The short version
WEBP (pronounced "weppy") is an image format Google released in 2010, designed specifically for the web. It compresses images significantly better than the older JPG and PNG formats and supports transparency and animation on top. Websites adopted it for speed — which is why images you save from the web increasingly arrive as .webp files.
Why your file won't open
Every modern browser has supported WEBP since 2020. Desktop software is patchier: older versions of Photoshop, some photo viewers, office suites and upload forms don't recognise it. Two quick fixes:
- To just view the image: drag the .webp file into any browser window.
- To use it in an app that rejects it: convert it — WEBP to JPG for photos, or WEBP to PNG if it has a transparent background.
Is WEBP better than JPG and PNG?
For delivering images on the web: yes, almost always. It makes photos roughly 25–35% smaller than JPG and graphics 50–80% smaller than PNG at the same visual quality, and it handles transparency, which JPG can't. That's why performance-conscious sites serve WEBP by default.
For everything else, "better" depends on the job. No camera shoots WEBP, print workflows don't want it, and maximum-compatibility sharing still favors JPG and PNG. Think of WEBP as the best delivery format, not necessarily the best storage format.
Converting to and from WEBP
Filembly converts in both directions, free and without signup: WEBP to JPG and WEBP to PNG when you need compatibility, JPG to WEBP and PNG to WEBP when you're optimizing a website. Files are processed in memory and never stored.