Dealing with WebP images on Windows 11 can be a little frustrating, especially since not all apps or viewers support this newer format by default. Sometimes, you download a bunch of images from the web, notice they’re in WebP, and realize your usual photo viewer doesn’t open them. That’s kind of annoying because WebP is faster and more compressed, but Windows isn’t exactly seamless when it comes to handling it. So, here are some practical ways people have managed to open WebP images without losing their minds — different methods, depending on your setup and what you want to do.
1. Open a WebP Image on Windows 11 via the Photos App
This method is handy if you want to just quickly glance at WebP images without converting. But, because Windows tends to hide file extensions by default, you might need to tweak that first — otherwise, Windows might not recognize WebP as an image it can open natively.
To do this, you need to modify File Explorer options, so you can see and change file extensions directly:
- Open File Explorer Options from the Windows Search bar (type ‘File Explorer Options’ actually).
- Switch to the View tab.
- Scroll down to find Hide extensions for known file types and uncheck it. Yeah, this makes the filename extensions visible so you can rename them if needed.
- Click Apply then OK.
Now, locate the WebP file you want to view. Right-click, select Properties, and change the file extension at the end of the filename from .webp to .jpg or .png. Once you hit OK, Windows will ask for confirmation — click Yes — and then right-click again and choose Open With > Photos. Boom, the image should pop up in the Photos app. Weird, but works on some setups — on others, Windows might still ignore it or crash, so your mileage may vary.
2. Open WebP Images on Microsoft Paint
Surprisingly, Microsoft Paint (and even Paint 3D) handle WebP files pretty well. No extra plugins needed — just open Paint, then go to File > Open and select your WebP image. It’s straightforward, and on Windows 11, Paint’s support for WebP isn’t bad anymore—kind of weird that it natively supports WebP now, but hey, no complaints.
For the quickest access, just type Paint in the search bar, launch it, and you’re good to go. Expect the image to load almost immediately after selecting it; no conversions needed, unlike with other apps.
3. Open WebP Images with a Web Browser
Everyone already has a browser, right? So this is the lazy person’s method. Just right-click the WebP file, pick Open With > Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Both browsers support WebP out of the box, so they’re perfect for quick viewing. If you want to be fancy, you can even drag the WebP image into an open browser window, and it’ll display it right away. No fuss, no worries.
This is super handy if you don’t want to install extra software or mess around with file extensions. Plus, if you wanna screenshot or crop, you can do that directly in the browser, then save a more familiar format later.
4. Convert WebP to JPG
Sometimes, the best way is to just convert WebP to a format your apps like — JPEG or PNG. Online converters are everywhere, and most are free. A popular one is CloudConvert. Not sure why it works, but Google Chrome or Firefox makes it pretty quick to drop files, choose format, and convert. Easy enough to do without installing anything.
Just upload the WebP, pick JPG or PNG as the output, hit convert, and then download. The converted file will open anywhere without fuss.
Pro tip: If you’re doing this a lot, scripts or dedicated converter apps might be more efficient — but for a few images, the website method is fine.
5. Use a third-party photo viewer for WebP files
If none of the above methods sit well or seem too clunky, installing a third-party photo viewer might be the best move. There are several apps out there that handle WebP seamlessly, like IrfanView, XnView, or FastStone. These programs are usually lightweight and open WebP without making you do extra steps.
Most of these viewers support batch viewing and even editing WebP images, so it’s a win if you’re working with a lot of them. I’ve honestly used IrfanView for ages and it just works — no messing around with extensions or conversions.
Look up the list of some popular WebP-compatible viewers if you need recommendations. They make handling WebP way less painful, especially in workflows involving multiple images.
Those are some of the more reliable ways to open WebP images on Windows 11. Sometimes Windows itself makes things harder than they need to be, but luckily there are workarounds that don’t involve much hassle — at least most of the time.
Summary
- Change file extension or use the Photos app for quick viewing
- Open directly in Paint or Paint 3D if you prefer native apps
- Use your browser for instant viewing without conversion
- Convert to JPG or PNG if you need broader compatibility and editability
- Install third-party viewers for hassle-free handling of WebP images
Wrap-up
Handling WebP images on Windows 11 isn’t always straightforward, but there are ways to make it painless. Usually, a quick file extension change, using a browser, or installing a good viewer does the trick. On some setups, a mix of methods might be necessary. Just gotta find what works best in the moment. Fingers crossed, this saves someone a ton of frustration or at least speeds things up a bit. Good luck!