You download a file with an unfamiliar .webp extension, and nothing opens it. WebP is not an exotic format, but depending on your software it can take one extra step.
What WebP is for
WebP is an image format developed by Google. Its main advantage is that it produces smaller files than JPEG or PNG at the same visual quality. Since that directly affects page load time, it is widely used on the web. It also supports transparency, so it can replace PNG.
Smaller files mean faster downloads and less data used. The benefit grows the more of your audience is on mobile.
Browsers display it without any setup
Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari all display WebP. Dragging the file into a browser window shows you the contents, so most "I cannot open it" situations are happening in software other than a browser.
Using it in Office
Desktop Microsoft 365 (Windows and macOS) supports inserting WebP from version 2402 onward. Insert > Pictures > This Device works as usual.
Older versions of Office cannot insert it, and support in Office on the web is limited. If you cannot change the version on a work machine, use one of these instead:
- Open the WebP in a browser, right-click and use "Save image as" to save it as PNG
- Open it in Paint on Windows and save it again as PNG or JPEG
- Open it in Preview on macOS and use Export to change the format
- Use an online converter (for work material, check your organisation's rules on uploading files to external services)
Can you print it?
Printing on your own printer is fine. Commercial print shops, however, may not accept WebP. Check the accepted formats before you submit, and convert to PNG or PDF if needed.
If you need transparency
WebP supports transparency, but some conversion routes fill transparent areas with white. If you need to keep transparency, convert to PNG and check the result. JPEG does not support transparency at all, so the background will always be filled in.
About Visual Hub assets
We publish assets as WebP because the smaller files make both downloads and page loads faster. If you need PNG, convert using one of the methods above — our terms permit editing and conversion.