Why Are My Images Saving as WebP (And How to Get PNG Instead)

Why Your Browser Keeps Saving Images as WebP

If you’ve right-clicked an image online lately and noticed it saves as a .webp file instead of .jpg or .png, you’re not alone. This happens because the website you’re visiting serves images in WebP format, and your browser downloads exactly what the server provides.

Since around 2019, most major browsers — including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera — added full support for WebP. As a result, many websites adopted WebP to take advantage of its smaller file sizes. When you save one of those images, you get a .webp file.

This isn’t a bug. It’s simply the web moving toward a more efficient image format.

Why WebP Replaced PNG and JPG on Many Sites

WebP was developed by Google to provide superior compression compared to both PNG and JPEG. A typical WebP image is:

• 25–35% smaller than an equivalent JPEG
• significantly smaller than a PNG for the same visual quality
• Capable of supporting transparency (alpha channel) like PNG

For website owners, this means faster page loads and lower bandwidth costs. That’s why content management systems, CDNs, and even social media platforms now automatically convert and serve images as WebP.

When You Still Need PNG

WebP is great for the web, but PNG is still the better choice when you need to:

• Edit the image in Photoshop, Canva, Figma, or similar tools that prefer PNG
• Maintain exact transparency for logos, icons, or overlays
• Share files with people or systems that don’t accept WebP
• Print the image — PNG is more widely supported in print workflows
• Use the image in a presentation or document that requires a universally compatible format

If any of these apply, you need to convert that WebP file to PNG.

The Easiest Way to Convert WebP to PNG (No Upload Needed)

Instead of installing desktop software or uploading your files to a stranger’s server, you can convert WebP to PNG right in your browser.

Here’s how with FreePNGConvert:

1. Open freepngconvert.com in any modern browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
2. Drag and drop your .webp file onto the page, or click to browse.
3. The tool converts the image locally on your device — your file never leaves your computer.
4. Download the resulting .png file instantly.

The entire process takes a few seconds. No account, no upload, no quality loss.

How to Prevent Images From Saving as WebP

If you’d rather not deal with WebP files at all, here are your options:

Option 1: Use Safari (macOS/iOS)

Safari was the last major browser to add WebP support. On older versions of macOS, Safari still saves images in their original format (usually JPEG or PNG). However, Safari 16+ now supports WebP as well.

Option 2: Use a Browser Extension

Extensions like Save Image as PNG or WebP to PNG converter can intercept the save process and automatically convert WebP images before they hit your downloads folder.

The downside: extensions require permissions, may slow down browsing, and need to be kept up to date.

Option 3: Just Convert When Needed

The most practical approach is to save the WebP file and convert it on demand. Since the conversion is instant with a browser-based tool, this adds only a few seconds to your workflow.

What About Transparent Images?

One common concern is that transparency gets lost when converting from WebP to PNG. With the right tool, this doesn’t happen. FreePNGConvert preserves the alpha channel, so logos and icons with transparent backgrounds stay transparent after conversion.

For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide on WebP to PNG with transparent background.

Quick Reference: WebP vs PNG at a Glance

Feature	WebP	PNG
File size	Smaller	Larger
Transparency	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Browser support	All modern browsers	Universal
Editing tool support	Growing but inconsistent	Universal
Print support	Limited	Full
Best for	Web delivery	Editing, sharing, printing

Summary

Your images are saving as WebP because websites now serve that format for performance reasons. It’s not something you did wrong. When you need PNG — for editing, sharing, or compatibility — use a free browser-based converter like FreePNGConvert to convert instantly without uploading your files.

No installation, no registration, no compromise on quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change Chrome settings to save images as PNG instead of WebP?

No. Chrome doesn’t have a built-in setting to force-save images as PNG. The browser saves the image in whatever format the website provides. Your options are to use an extension or convert the file after saving.

Is WebP lower quality than PNG?

Not necessarily. WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression. A lossless WebP can be visually identical to a PNG at a smaller file size. The difference matters most when editing or when you need universal compatibility, not because of inherent quality loss.

Does converting WebP to PNG lose quality?

Converting from lossless WebP to PNG results in no quality loss. Converting from lossy WebP to PNG preserves the current visual quality — it won’t recover data that was already discarded during the original lossy compression, but it won’t degrade further either.

Why do some websites save as JPEG and others as WebP?

It depends on how the website is configured. Many sites now use CDNs or server-side optimizations that automatically serve WebP to browsers that support it. Sites that haven’t adopted these optimizations still serve JPEG or PNG.

Can I open WebP files in Photoshop?

Recent versions of Photoshop (23.2+) support WebP natively. Older versions require a plugin. If you’re using an older version and can’t install the plugin, convert the file to PNG first and then open it in Photoshop.