Fastest method: use a browser
Drag a .webp file into a current Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari window, or use the browser’s Open File command. Browsers are often the most consistent WebP viewers across desktop systems.
Viewing a local file this way does not inherently upload it. The browser reads it from your device. A website can behave differently, so only select private files on services you trust.
Windows and macOS
Current Windows versions can display many WebP files in Photos and File Explorer when the relevant image extension support is installed. On current macOS versions, Preview and Quick Look commonly open WebP images.
If an older OS or application fails, opening the file in a modern browser is safer than installing an unknown codec pack. Convert a copy to JPG or PNG when the destination application still cannot read WebP.
Android and iPhone
Current Android and iOS browsers support WebP, and recent photo/file apps commonly display it. Use the Files app or open the image in a browser if a messaging or editing application does not recognize the extension.
Browser-based conversion can work on mobile without an app install, but very large camera-sized images may exceed the memory available to a mobile tab.
Choose JPG or PNG when converting
Choose JPG for an opaque photograph that needs broad compatibility. Choose PNG for transparency, text-heavy graphics, screenshots, or a lossless representation of the decoded pixels.
- Do not simply rename .webp to .jpg; that changes the filename, not the encoded format.
- Keep the original WebP until the converted copy has been checked.
- Animated WebP needs an animation-aware tool, not a still-image converter.