WebP is one of those image formats that kinda sneaks in and confuses everyone when they stumble across it. It’s gaining popularity because it theoretically offers better compression without losing quality, but Windows isn’t exactly making it obvious how to open or edit these files without jumping through some hoops. If you’ve been scratching your head trying to figure out how to handle WebP images smoothly, this guide has a few simple methods. No fancy tools required in some cases, and it’s kinda satisfying when you find out Windows can do more than just JPG and PNG. By the end, you’ll know how to view, edit, or convert WebP images using built-in tools or lightweight software like GIMP. Bonus points if you want to just quickly view or change the format without fuss.
How to Open, View, and Convert WebP Files in Windows
Using Microsoft Paint – The Built-in Win Solution
This one is kind of weird, but Microsoft Paint actually supports WebP now, so you can open images directly without extra downloads. It’s handy if all you want is to peek at the image or save it as JPEG or PNG for easier future edits. Keep in mind, though, not all versions of Windows have this support fully baked in – Windows 10+ usually does, but earlier versions might throw a fit.
- Head over to File Explorer and locate that WebP image sitting there, wondering why it’s so stubborn. Right-click, then hover over “Open with” and pick Paint.
- If Paint opens the WebP file fine, then you’re good. You can fix it into something more common later by clicking File > Save as, choosing JPEG or PNG, and saving it somewhere you won’t forget.
On some setups, for some reason, Paint might not open WebP files directly at first try. If that happens, maybe check your Windows updates or try another method. It’s kinda flaky sometimes.
Viewing WebP in Your Browser – Faster, Easier
You can also just drag and drop WebP files into Chrome or Edge. I know, it’s not ideal for heavy editing, but to quickly peek at a WebP, it works like a charm. This method works because browsers natively handle WebP pretty well, no trickery.
- Open your favorite browser window. Find your WebP file in File Explorer. Drag that icon into your open browser tab. The cursor should change to “+ Copy” or something similar — just let go.
- The image loads right there on a new tab. It’s fast and painless, in most cases. Just don’t expect to do much editing unless you save it out as PNG or JPEG after.
Like I said, this is super quick if all you want is to see the image. On a few machines, this might be temperamental—sometimes just a browser restart helps, or try opening the file directly with the browser via File > Open options.
Using GIMP for Full Editing Power
If you need to do more than just view WebP images — say, crop, resize, add filters, or convert — GIMP is a free, open-source alternative to Photoshop that handles WebP like a champ. Not the fastest setup, but once it’s going, it’s pretty reliable.
- Get GIMP from the official GIMP site or the Microsoft Store. It’s pretty straightforward to install.
- Once installed, find your WebP file in File Explorer, right-click, then go to Open with > GIMP. If GIMP isn’t listed immediately, choose Choose another app and browse to it in the program list.
- GIMP will open the image, and you can do all your edits. When done, just go to File > Export As, pick your preferred format like JPG or PNG, and save it somewhere safe.
This method feels kinda heavy for quick viewings but is perfect if you need serious editing options or are used to GIMP’s workflow. Sometimes, on Windows machines, GIMP might crash or act temperamental, but generally it’s solid once set up.
Converting WebP Files to More-Friendly Formats — Quick Hack
If opening WebP feels more annoying than it’s worth, renaming the file to JPG or PNG is a surprisingly simple trick that works in most cases. Windows relies heavily on file extensions for default app choice, so this little hack can save some time.
- In File Explorer, turn on file extensions: go to the top menu View, then hover over Show and pick File name extensions. Now you’ll see the “.webp” part of your filename.
- Select your WebP image, then click the Rename button. Change “.webp” to “.jpg” or “.png”.
- If Windows asks if you’re sure, confirm. Just be aware that this isn’t converting the image properly—it’s just changing the extension. Sometimes, Windows might warn you about potential issues, so don’t rely on this for professional stuff.
- After renaming, try opening the image. If the format is compatible, it’ll display normally in your default viewer like Microsoft Photos.
For real conversion, dedicated tools or online converters like [CloudConvert](https://cloudconvert.com/webp-to-jpg) are better, but this quick rename trick works in a pinch.
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, but hey, that’s just how it is sometimes.