The short answer
- WebP is a RIFF-based binary image format that stores static or animated images with lossy VP8 or lossless VP8L encoding, while older readers may not support every variant.
- Open a WebP file directly in current Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, or Opera. If an older image reader cannot decode lossless, extended, or animated WebP, try a current browser or convert the file to PNG or JPEG. Google’s dwebp can decode WebP to PNG, BMP, TIFF, PAM, PPM, or PGM.
- WebP does not itself provide active content, but applications interpret its metadata and custom chunks. Malformed files can exploit decoder defects or exhaust memory, disk space, or processing time. Use an updated decoder with resource limits for untrusted files; the recorded CVE-2023-4863 heap-buffer overflow in older libwebp shows why parser updates matter.
WebP Image File: How to Open, Check, and Convert It
A WebP file begins with RIFF, a 32-bit little-endian chunk size, and the WEBP FourCC. It can contain a static image or animation, Alpha transparency, ICC color profiles, Exif or XMP metadata, and custom chunks. Its registered MIME type is image/webp and its extension is .webp.
Google’s cwebp can encode PNG, JPEG, or TIFF input as WebP, while dwebp can decode WebP into several raster formats. Lossy WebP discards image information; lossless WebP restores encoded pixels exactly. Re-encoding JPEG as lossy WebP adds another lossy generation, and lossless conversion cannot recover details already lost. Fully transparent pixels may need libwebp’s exact option to preserve invisible RGB values.
How to open it
Open a WebP file directly in current Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, or Opera. If an older image reader cannot decode lossless, extended, or animated WebP, try a current browser or convert the file to PNG or JPEG. Google’s dwebp can decode WebP to PNG, BMP, TIFF, PAM, PPM, or PGM.
Open a WebP file directly in current Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, or Opera. If an older image reader cannot decode lossless, extended, or animated WebP, try a current browser or convert the file to PNG or JPEG. Google’s dwebp can decode WebP to PNG, BMP, TIFF, PAM, PPM, or PGM.
Google’s cwebp can encode PNG, JPEG, or TIFF input as WebP, while dwebp can decode WebP into several raster formats. Lossy WebP discards image information; lossless WebP restores encoded pixels exactly. Re-encoding JPEG as lossy WebP adds another lossy generation, and lossless conversion cannot recover details already lost. Fully transparent pixels may need libwebp’s exact option to preserve invisible RGB values.
File safety
WebP does not itself provide active content, but applications interpret its metadata and custom chunks. Malformed files can exploit decoder defects or exhaust memory, disk space, or processing time. Use an updated decoder with resource limits for untrusted files; the recorded CVE-2023-4863 heap-buffer overflow in older libwebp shows why parser updates matter.
An unknown sender, a name ending in two extensions, or contents that do not match the extension — check before you open it.
Converting it
Google’s cwebp can encode PNG, JPEG, or TIFF input as WebP, while dwebp can decode WebP into several raster formats. Lossy WebP discards image information; lossless WebP restores encoded pixels exactly. Re-encoding JPEG as lossy WebP adds another lossy generation, and lossless conversion cannot recover details already lost. Fully transparent pixels may need libwebp’s exact option to preserve invisible RGB values.
Convert a copy, never the original, then compare quality, metadata, and layout against what you started with.
Common questions
What is a WebP image file used for?
WebP is a RIFF-based binary image format for static or animated images. It supports lossy VP8 or lossless VP8L image data and may include Alpha transparency, color profiles, metadata, and custom chunks.
How do I open a WebP image in Chrome?
Open the .webp file with a current Chrome browser. Current Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera also support WebP natively.
How do I open a WebP file on Windows 11?
Use a current Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Opera browser. If an older image reader rejects the file, use a current browser or convert it to PNG or JPEG.
How do I open a WebP file on a Mac with Safari?
Open the file in a current Safari browser. If an older reader does not handle its lossless, extended, or animated variant, use a current supported browser or convert it.
Why will my WebP file not open in an older image reader?
Older readers may lack support for lossless WebP, the extended container, or animation. Also verify that the file begins with the expected RIFF and WEBP identifiers; malformed or damaged data may still fail.
Should I use WebP or JPEG for an image?
WebP supports both lossy and lossless encoding, animation, and Alpha transparency. JPEG is already lossy input when converted; encoding it again as lossy WebP introduces another lossy generation.
Can I convert WebP to PNG without losing image quality?
Decoding a lossless WebP preserves its encoded pixels, while converting a lossy WebP to PNG only preserves the current decoded result and cannot restore discarded detail. Invisible RGB values in fully transparent pixels can require the exact option in libwebp.
Is a WebP file received by email safe to open?
Do not judge safety by the .webp extension alone. Malformed WebP content has exploited older decoders, including CVE-2023-4863; open untrusted files only with an updated, resource-limited decoder.
Does a WebP image support a transparent background?
Yes. WebP can contain Alpha transparency. It can also carry ICC color profiles and Exif or XMP metadata.
Does WebP animation work in a browser?
Current Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera natively support WebP. Older readers may not support animated or extended WebP, so conversion may be needed for older software.
Related formats
Sources
RFC 9649: WebP Image Format · IETF / RFC Editor
IANA Media Type Registration: image/webp · Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)
WebP Container Specification · Google WebP official documentation
An image format for the Web · Google WebP official documentation
Getting Started with WebP · Google WebP official documentation
NVD CVE-2023-4863 · U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
WebP Frequently Asked Questions · Google WebP official documentation