How to Save WebP as PNG in Chrome — No Software or Upload Needed

Why Chrome Keeps Giving You WebP Files

When you right-click and save an image in Chrome, the file often lands as .webp instead of .png or .jpg. This is not a setting you toggled by accident — it’s because the website you’re on serves images in WebP format, and Chrome faithfully downloads whatever the server provides.

WebP has been the preferred image format for many websites since 2019. It offers significantly smaller file sizes than PNG at similar visual quality, which makes it attractive for webmasters who want faster page loads. The tradeoff is that many everyday users end up with .webp files they can’t easily open, edit, or upload to tools that only accept PNG.

If you need PNG files — for presentations, design tools, email attachments, or software that doesn’t support WebP — here are three practical methods to get PNG output from Chrome.

Method 1: Use a Free Browser-Based Converter (Recommended)

The fastest way to turn a WebP download into a PNG file is FreePNGConvert — a free tool that runs entirely in your browser.

How it works:

1. Open freepngconvert.com in Chrome.
2. Drag and drop your .webp file onto the page, or click to browse.
3. The conversion happens locally on your device — your file never leaves your computer.
4. Download the resulting .png file instantly.

Why this is the best option for Chrome users:

• No upload required. The entire conversion runs in your browser using the Canvas API. Nothing gets sent to a remote server, which means it works even on slow connections and keeps your files private.
• No registration. There’s no account, no email, no trial period.
• Transparent backgrounds are preserved. If your WebP image has alpha transparency, the PNG output retains it perfectly. For more details on this, see our guide on WebP to PNG with transparent background.
• Works offline after the page loads. Once the converter page is cached by Chrome’s service worker, you can convert files even without an active internet connection.

This method handles single-file conversions quickly. If you’re someone who only needs to convert a few WebP files per week, it’s all you need.

Method 2: Change Chrome’s Accept Header (Temporary)

Chrome sends an Accept header that tells websites it supports WebP. You can modify this behavior using Chrome DevTools, which makes some servers fall back to sending PNG or JPG instead.

Steps:

1. Open Chrome DevTools with Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac).
2. Open the Network panel.
3. Click the gear icon in the top-right of the Network panel, or open the three-dot menu → More tools → Network conditions.
4. Uncheck Select automatically under “User agent”.
5. In some cases, this changes what image formats the server returns.

Limitations:

• This only works on websites that check the Accept header and have PNG versions available. Many modern CDNs serve WebP regardless.
• It resets when you close DevTools.
• It doesn’t help with images that are only stored as WebP on the server.

This method is hit-or-miss, but worth knowing about if you frequently download images from the same handful of sites.

Method 3: Use a Chrome Extension

Several Chrome extensions can automatically convert WebP downloads to PNG:

• Save Image as PNG — adds a right-click option to save any image directly as PNG.
• WebP/AVIF Image Converter — converts images on the page before you download them.

Pros:

• One-click workflow after initial setup.
• Can handle multiple images if you download often.

Cons:

• Extensions require permissions to read your browsing data.
• Some extensions upload files to external servers for conversion — always check the privacy policy.
• Extensions can break or go unmaintained after Chrome updates.

If you convert WebP files multiple times every day, a well-reviewed extension might save you time. For occasional use, the browser-based converter at freepngconvert.com is simpler and more private.

Which Method Should You Use?

Situation	Best choice
You need to convert 1–5 files occasionally	FreePNGConvert — no install, no upload, instant result
A specific site always serves WebP	DevTools accept header trick (Method 2)
You convert WebP files daily	Chrome extension (Method 3)

Common Questions

Can I prevent Chrome from downloading WebP altogether?

Not directly. Chrome doesn’t have a built-in toggle to reject WebP. The format is negotiated between the browser and the server. Your options are the three methods above — convert after download, change what the server sends, or intercept the download.

Does this work on Chrome for Android?

Yes. FreePNGConvert works in Chrome on Android because the conversion runs in the browser. You can open the site, pick a WebP file from your downloads, and get a PNG back — no app required. For a walkthrough specific to mobile browsers, see our guide on converting WebP to PNG on iPhone (the steps are nearly identical on Android Chrome).

Will the PNG file be larger than the WebP?

Usually yes. PNG is an uncompressed raster format designed for lossless quality, while WebP uses lossy or lossless compression. A typical WebP file might be 50–80% smaller than the equivalent PNG. You’re trading file size for compatibility. If file size matters more than format, check out our WebP vs PNG quality comparison to decide which format fits your use case.

Is it safe to convert WebP to PNG online?

It depends on the tool. Many “free converter” websites upload your file to a server, process it, and let you download the result. The risk is that you don’t know what happens to your file on their server. FreePNGConvert avoids this entirely — the conversion runs in your browser using JavaScript, and your image never leaves your device.

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Last updated: 2026-05-26