WebP files open easily on modern Windows. On Windows 11, just double-click the file and the Photos app shows it. On Windows 10, Paint or your browser does the same job. If neither works, a free extension or a free viewer fixes it in minutes. This guide covers five ways to open WebP files on Windows, plus what to do when a file will not open at all.
What Is a WebP File?
WebP is an image format created by Google. Websites use it because it keeps photos sharp at a much smaller file size than JPG or PNG. That is why so many images you save from the web arrive as .webp files instead of .jpg files.
A WebP file is an ordinary image. It is not a program, and it cannot harm your computer just by opening it. The only problem is that some older Windows apps do not recognise the format. Once you know which app to use, opening a WebP file is no harder than opening any other photo.
WebP also supports transparency like PNG and animation like GIF. A single WebP file can hold a still image or a short animated loop. Most modern apps handle both, but a few older viewers show only the first frame of an animated file.
Method 1: Open WebP in the Photos App (Windows 11)
This is the fastest option on Windows 11. The Photos app opens WebP files without any extra software.
- Find the WebP file in File Explorer.
- Double-click it. The Photos app opens and shows the image.
- Use the arrow keys to move through other images in the same folder.
If double-clicking opens a different app, right-click the file, choose Open with, then select Photos. Tick “Always use this app to open .webp files” so Windows remembers your choice next time.
Windows 11 also shows WebP thumbnails in File Explorer, so you can preview images without opening them. If thumbnails are missing, the Web Media Extensions codec may be absent from your system. The fix for that is in Method 4 below.
Method 2: Open WebP in Paint
Paint is built into every copy of Windows 10 and Windows 11, and it opens WebP files directly. This is the best choice if you also want to crop the image or save it in another format.
- Right-click the WebP file in File Explorer.
- Choose Open with, then Paint.
- The image opens in Paint. You can view it, crop it, or resize it.
- To save it as another format, click File, then Save as, and pick JPEG picture or PNG picture.
Paint works the same way on Windows 10 and Windows 11, which makes it a reliable fallback when the Photos app refuses to cooperate. If you need to turn the file into a JPG for another program, our guide on how to save WebP as JPG on Windows 11 walks through four easy ways to convert it.
Method 3: Drag the File Into Your Browser
Every modern browser opens WebP files. Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera all support the format natively. This method needs no installation and works on any version of Windows.
- Open Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- Drag the WebP file from File Explorer into the browser window and drop it on a tab.
- The image appears in the tab. You can zoom in with Ctrl and the plus key.
You can also press Ctrl+O in the browser, browse to the file, and open it that way. Browsers even play animated WebP files, so this is a good way to check whether a file is animated.
The browser method only views the image. You cannot edit it or save it in another format from the tab, but for a quick look it is the fastest option of all.
Method 4: Install the Free WebP Image Extensions (Windows 10)
Older builds of Windows 10 do not open WebP files in the Photos app. The fix is a free codec from the Microsoft Store, published by Google.
- Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
- Search for “WebP Image Extensions”.
- Click Get or Install. The download is small and takes under a minute.
- Once installed, double-click any WebP file. The Photos app opens it, and File Explorer shows thumbnails too.
This extension also adds WebP support to other apps that use the Windows Imaging Component, including the classic Windows Photo Viewer on systems where it is still enabled. If the Store version is called “Web Media Extensions” on your system, that is the same codec under a newer name. Install it and test a file again.
Note that fully updated Windows 10 (version 1809 and later) usually opens WebP files already. If yours does not, run Windows Update first, then try the extension.
Method 5: Use a Free Image Viewer or Editor
If you open WebP files often, or you want to edit them, a dedicated free program is worth installing. These three are safe, well known, and free for personal use.
IrfanView. A tiny, fast viewer that opens WebP and almost every other image format. It also converts whole folders at once through File, then Batch Conversion. Download it only from irfanview.com.
GIMP. A free, open-source image editor. It opens WebP, lets you edit layers and text, and exports to JPG, PNG or WebP again. Choose it if you need real editing power rather than just viewing.
XnView MP. A free viewer and organiser with thumbnail browsing and batch conversion. It handles animated WebP files well and shows file details at a glance.
Whichever you pick, download it from the official website or the Microsoft Store. Avoid third-party download sites, which often bundle unwanted software with free programs.
How to Make Windows Always Open WebP With Your Chosen App
Once you know which app you prefer, set it as the default so every WebP file opens in it with a double-click.
- Right-click any .webp file and choose Open with, then Choose another app.
- Pick your preferred app from the list.
- Tick “Always use this app to open .webp files”.
- Click OK.
You can also change it in Settings. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Default apps, and search for .webp. Pick the app you want from the list. This is the same process for any file type, so it is worth remembering.
Why Some WebP Files Will Not Open
If a WebP file still refuses to open in every app, the file itself is usually the problem. Try these checks in order.
The download is incomplete. A file that stopped downloading halfway has a broken header. Download it again and check the file size against the original.
The extension is wrong. Some sites save files with a .webp extension when the contents are actually a different format, or the reverse. Try renaming a copy of the file to .jpg and opening it. If it opens, the contents were a JPG all along.
The file is animated and the viewer is old. Very old viewers show a blank frame or an error for animated WebP files. Open the file in a browser instead, which handles animation properly.
The app needs an update. Update the Photos app from the Microsoft Store and install pending Windows updates. Codec support improves with each Windows release, and an old build may lack it.
As a last resort, convert the file to JPG or PNG. Paint can do this in seconds, and a converted copy opens in every image app ever made. The same trick works for other formats too: see our guide on how to convert HEIC to JPG without extra software if your iPhone photos arrive in a format Windows dislikes.
WebP vs JPG vs PNG: Which Format Should You Keep?
For viewing on your own computer, the format hardly matters. Any modern app opens all three. The differences matter more when you save or share files.
WebP gives the smallest file size for the same quality, which is why websites prefer it. JPG is the most compatible format and opens everywhere, including old software and printers. PNG is the best choice when you need a transparent background or crisp text in a screenshot.
If you run a website, file size affects loading speed, and loading speed affects your search rankings. Our Core Web Vitals explained for beginners guide shows how image size feeds into the speed scores Google measures.
FAQs
Can Windows 10 open WebP files?
Yes, on most updated systems. Windows 10 version 1809 and later opens WebP in the Photos app and in Paint. On older builds, install the free WebP Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, or open the file in your browser.
Can Windows 11 open WebP files?
Yes. Windows 11 opens WebP files natively in the Photos app, in Paint, and in File Explorer thumbnails. No extra software is needed. Just double-click the file.
How do I open a WebP file without installing anything?
Drag the file into Chrome, Edge or Firefox. The browser displays it at once. Paint also opens WebP files and is already installed on every Windows PC.
Why does my WebP file open as a blank image?
The file is usually incomplete or the viewer is too old for animated WebP. Download the file again, then try opening it in a browser. If it still shows blank, the source file is corrupt.
Is it safe to open a WebP file?
Yes. WebP is image data, not a program, so opening one cannot run code on your computer. As with any download, only open files from sources you trust, and keep Windows updated.
Conclusion
Opening a WebP file on Windows is simple once you use the right app. On Windows 11, double-click it and Photos handles the rest. On Windows 10, Paint or your browser does the same job with nothing to install. If the Photos app still refuses, the free WebP Image Extensions codec fixes it, and free tools like IrfanView or GIMP cover editing and batch conversion. Pick one method, set it as your default, and WebP files will stop interrupting your workflow.
