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4 Quick Ways to Open Webp Images on Windows 11
WebP is fast gaining prominence in the space
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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WebP or Web Picture is a modern image format developed by Google and has, of late, been extensively employed by the industry. These images are smaller than JPG, JPEG, or PNG files, thus increasing the page load speed and making them valuable from an SEO standpoint. But how do you open a WebP file in Windows 11?
Given it’s a relatively new image format, first announced in September 2010, compatibility was bound to be an issue. Several photo editing software still don’t support the file extension. But things are changing fast!
Does Windows 11 support WebP?
While the WebP image file wasn’t compatible with Windows 11 earlier, Microsoft introduced support for it in the built-in Photos app in version 2023.11050. 2013.0.
The update was first rolled out in the Dev and Canary channels and was soon available for everyone. We tested it on our PC, and the WebP image file format opened just fine in thePhotosapp.
How do I open a WebP file on Windows 11?
1. Go with the Photos app
The Photos app, the default image viewer in Windows 11, now supports WebP files. So, you can open WebP with Microsoft Photos without any modifications.
Besides, there are other options you can try if the Photos app doesn’t work as an option to open the WebP files type.
2. Change the file extension
3. Try a modern browser
Most modern webbrowsers support WebPfile types, especially the ones developed on the Chromium project. This includes Opera One, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. You can tryopening WebP in Safari with a few tweaks.
So, if you have either of these installed, simply open a new tab and drag and drop the WebP file into it, and the image will show up. You couldenable snap layoutsand open the two windows side-by-side to easily move files between them.
However, if you face any issues with compatibility onMicrosoft Edge, go to theMicrosoft Storeand download theWebP Image Extension(WebP codec for Windows).
4. Use a third-party photo viewer
When the other ways don’t work, there’s always the option to use athird-party image viewer softwareto open WebP pictures in Windows 11. Remember, not all support the new and popular image format.
But a quick search, and you should be able to find one. Besides, the need for it only arises when the default option, Microsoft Photos, doesn’t work and you can’t convert the file.
How do I convert WebP to JPG in Windows 11?
While you could manually change its file extension, it’s better to convert WebP to JPG, JPEG, or PNG images using the built-in Microsoft Paint to avoid issues.
Remember, WebP is still a relatively newer file format, and you may experience problems. But with time, more and more apps and operating systems are adding support for it. At least, you now shouldn’t face issues while opening WebP in Windows 11.
Also, if it’s not just mere conversion, but the file requires editing, you can always download areliable photo editor for Windows. And after the release of version 23.2, you can open WebP files in PhotoShop, a popular option, without any plug-ins, extensions or tweaks.
For any queries or to share how you prefer opening WebP files, drop a comment below.
More about the topics:file type,Windows 11
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
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