The short answer
A WebP file is an image saved in a format Google built for the web. Its whole purpose is speed. WebP gives roughly the same quality as a JPG or PNG while being noticeably smaller, so pages that use it load faster. It also handles transparency like a PNG and can even hold short animations like a GIF.
You run into WebP most often when you save an image from a website, because so many sites now serve their pictures this way.
How to open a WebP file
- Any modern browser. Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari all display WebP.
- Windows and Mac. The built in Photos and Preview apps now open WebP on current versions.
- GIMP or Photopea. Both free, both open and edit WebP if you need more than a quick look.
How to convert WebP to something more common
If an app will not accept WebP, convert it:
- Open it in Preview, Photos, GIMP, or Photopea and export as JPG or PNG.
- Or use a free online converter, which is the fastest route for a single file.
JPG is the safe choice for photos, and PNG is best when you need transparency.
How to share a WebP file
- Upload the WebP to Snapy.
- Copy the link.
- Share it. It opens in any browser, already optimized and quick to load.
Upload a file to share an image as a link, or learn how to turn an image into a link.
Send a WebP file without an attachment
WebP is everywhere on the web, but plenty of apps and older devices still cannot open it, and email attachments can get blocked or fail to preview on a phone. A link lets the viewer open the image in a browser, where WebP just works.
Snapy gives you a public link to the file you upload. Drop the WebP in the box on the home page, optionally pick a custom name like image.snapy.page, click Get my link, and share the link. Whoever clicks it sees the picture in their browser, with no signup.
If the recipient needs a more common format, export or convert it to JPG or PNG first with your usual tool, then upload that. Snapy hosts the file and returns a link, it does not change the format for you.
Drop your WebP file and get a link. For more options, see how to share a file.