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Why Do Images Download as WebP (and How to Convert Them to PNG or JPG)
Published July 2026 · 5 min read
Images download as WebP because the website served your browser a WebP version of the picture — most modern sites and CDNs automatically deliver WebP to compatible browsers since it makes pages load faster. To get a PNG or JPG instead, either convert the downloaded file with a free converter like WebP to PNG or WebP to JPG, or use one of the tricks below to grab the image in its original format.
If you have ever right-clicked a photo, hit "Save image as," and ended up with a mysterious .webp file that your photo editor refuses to open — you are not alone. Here is what is actually happening, and every practical way to deal with it.
Why Websites Serve WebP Instead of JPG or PNG
WebP is an image format developed by Google and released in 2010. It supports both lossy compression (like JPG) and lossless compression (like PNG), plus transparency — and it typically produces noticeably smaller files than either format at comparable visual quality. Smaller images mean faster page loads and better Core Web Vitals scores, which is why the web has embraced it.
Here is the key detail: the site owner probably uploaded a JPG or PNG. But somewhere between their server and your screen, an optimization layer converted it. When your browser requests an image, it announces which formats it supports, and the server picks the smallest one it can deliver. That conversion happens automatically in several places:
- CDNs and image services — many content delivery networks convert images to WebP on the fly for supported browsers
- CMS plugins — WordPress and other platforms have popular plugins that generate WebP copies of every upload
- E-commerce and social platforms — large sites re-encode uploaded images into WebP to save bandwidth
Your browser saves exactly the bytes it received. If the server sent WebP, "Save image as" gives you a .webp file — there is no browser setting that changes this, because the format is decided by the website, not by you.
The Catch: Where WebP Files Don't Work
WebP is excellent inside a browser. Outside of one, support is still patchy. Common places a WebP file causes friction:
- Older image editors, including older versions of Photoshop without a plugin
- Upload forms that only accept JPG or PNG (job applications, government portals, marketplaces)
- Print services and professional printing workflows
- Some email clients and older office software
- Older operating system image viewers and devices
None of this means WebP is a bad format — it just means the file you downloaded needs to become a PNG or JPG before some tools will accept it.
How to Convert WebP to PNG or JPG
The fastest fix is a direct conversion. On Pixlane the whole process runs locally in your browser — the file is never uploaded to a server, there is no signup, and it is free. Drop the file in, download the result:
- WebP to PNG — lossless output that preserves transparency; the right choice for logos, graphics, and screenshots
- WebP to JPG — smaller files with universal compatibility; the right choice for photos
- Convert Image — for any other target format, including BMP, TIFF, and AVIF
Not sure which one you need? This covers most cases:
| Your situation | Convert to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Logo, icon, or image with transparency | PNG | Lossless, keeps the transparent background |
| Photo you need to share, email, or print | JPG | Small file, opens everywhere |
| A form or app demands a specific format | Whatever it asks for | Use the universal converter for anything beyond PNG/JPG |
How to Avoid Downloading WebP in the First Place
Sometimes you can get the original JPG or PNG straight from the site:
- Check the image URL. Open the image in a new tab. If the address contains a conversion parameter (something like
format=webpor.jpg.webp), editing or removing it sometimes returns the original file. - Copy instead of save. Right-click → "Copy image," then paste into any image editor and export. The clipboard carries decoded pixels, not the WebP container.
- Look for a download button. Stock photo sites and file-sharing services usually serve the original format through their official download link, even if the preview is WebP.
Be aware that these tricks are not guaranteed. Many sites only store the WebP version publicly, and in that case converting the file after download is the only reliable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does converting WebP to PNG or JPG lose quality?
Converting to PNG is lossless — you get an exact copy of every pixel in the WebP file. Converting to JPG applies lossy compression, so there is a small quality cost, though at high quality settings it is rarely visible. Note that neither conversion can restore detail the website already discarded when it compressed the original image.
Can I make Chrome save images as JPG instead of WebP?
There is no built-in browser setting for this — the format is chosen by the website's server, not the browser. Browser extensions exist that convert images on save, but a quick in-browser converter does the same job without installing anything.
Is WebP lower quality than JPG?
No. At the same file size, WebP generally looks as good as or better than JPG. The complaint about WebP is compatibility outside the browser, not image quality.
What about WebP files that are actually animations?
WebP can store animation, similar to a GIF. A standard image conversion will only keep a single frame, so if the file is animated and you want to keep the motion, convert it to an animated format instead of a still PNG or JPG.