How to Open WebP Files on Mac

By Harran Ali

Senior Software Engineer & Web Application Architect • Updated: 2026-07-31

Introduction

Downloaded a .webp image on your Mac and not sure how to open it?

The good news is that modern versions of macOS support the WebP image format, and in most cases you don’t need to install any additional software.

This guide explains the easiest ways to open WebP files on your Mac and what to do if an application doesn’t support them.

Method 1: Open WebP with Preview

The easiest way to open a WebP image is with Preview, the built-in image viewer included with macOS.

1. Locate your .webp file in Finder.
2. Double-click the image.
3. If Preview is your default image viewer, the image opens immediately.

If another application opens instead:

1. Right-click the image.
2. Choose Open With.
3. Select Preview.

Method 2: Open WebP in Safari

Safari supports the WebP image format.

You can:

• Drag the image into a Safari window.
• Open the image directly from a website.
• Drag a local WebP file into a browser tab.

Safari will display the image normally.

Method 3: Open WebP in Chrome or Firefox

Modern browsers fully support WebP images.

You can use:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Opera

Simply drag the image into the browser window or open it directly from Finder.

Method 4: Use Another Image Editor

Many popular image editing applications support WebP.

Examples include:

• Adobe Photoshop (recent versions)
• GIMP
• Pixelmator Pro
• Affinity Photo

These applications allow you to edit, export, and convert WebP images into other formats.

Why Won’t My WebP File Open?

If your WebP image doesn’t open, one of these issues is usually responsible.

Your macOS Version Is Outdated

Older versions of macOS may not include native WebP support.

Updating macOS often resolves compatibility issues.

The Application Doesn’t Support WebP

Although macOS supports WebP, some third-party applications may not.

If necessary, open the file in Preview or convert it to JPG.

The File Is Corrupted

If the download was interrupted, the image file may be incomplete or damaged.

Try downloading it again.

How to Convert WebP to JPG on Mac

Some applications, websites, and printers only accept JPG images.

If that’s the case, converting your WebP image is usually the quickest solution.

Free WebP to JPG works directly in your browser, so you don’t need to install any software.

You can convert a single image or multiple WebP files at once.

Can I Save WebP Images as JPG?

Yes.

Once you’ve opened a WebP image in many editing applications, you can export or save it as JPG.

Alternatively, use an online converter if you simply need a quick conversion without editing the image.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does macOS support WebP?

Yes. Modern versions of macOS include native support for the WebP image format.

Can Preview open WebP files?

Yes. Preview can open WebP images on supported versions of macOS.

Can Safari display WebP images?

Yes. Safari fully supports WebP images and can display them directly.

Why can’t my application open WebP?

Some older applications haven’t added WebP support yet. In that case, convert the image to JPG or PNG for maximum compatibility.

Can I convert WebP to JPG on my Mac?

Yes. You can use Free WebP to JPG directly from Safari, Chrome, or any modern browser.

Related Articles

• What Is a WebP Image?
• WebP vs JPG: Which Image Format Should You Use?
• Why Do Images Download as WebP?
• How to Open WebP Files on Windows
• How to Convert WebP to JPG Without Losing Quality
• Free WebP to JPG

Written by

Harran Ali

Senior Software Engineer & Web Application Architect

12+ years of experience in software engineering and web application security

View full profile & experience →