FinderBuddyMany websites now serve images as WebP because the files are small. Save one to your Mac and you may find that the app, upload form, or person you send it to doesn't accept it.
Converting it to JPG takes a few seconds on a Mac, with no online converter. Here are three ways, for one file or a folder full.
What is a WebP file?
WebP is an image format from Google built for the web. It usually makes smaller files than JPG at similar quality, and it can also hold transparency and animation.
Macs running macOS Big Sur or later can open WebP files in Preview and Safari. The trouble starts with older software, some upload forms, and apps that only expect JPG or PNG.
Method 1: Export from Preview
- Double-click the WebP file, or right-click it and choose Open With → Preview.
- Choose File → Export.
- Set Format to JPEG, adjust the Quality slider, and click Save.
Converting several WebP files in Preview
Select them in Finder and press Command-O. In Preview, click a thumbnail in the sidebar, press Command-A, choose File → Export Selected Images, click Options, set the format to JPEG, and pick a folder.
On recent versions of macOS, Finder's Quick Actions → Convert Image also accepts WebP files. If it doesn't appear for your files, Preview always works.
Method 2: Convert a folder in Terminal
The built-in sips command reads WebP on macOS Big Sur and later. To convert every WebP file in a folder:
cd ~/Downloads/webp-images
mkdir -p jpg
setopt nullglob nocaseglob
for f in *.webp; do
sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 85 "$f" --out "jpg/${f%.*}.jpg"
doneThe JPGs go into a new jpg folder with the same names, at 85% quality, and the WebP files stay where they were.
Method 3: Right-click with FinderBuddy
FinderBuddy's Convert Image handles WebP in both directions. Select one file or a folder's worth, right-click, choose FinderBuddy → Convert Image, and pick JPG. When you're preparing images for your own website, it converts JPG and PNG to WebP too.
Conversion happens on your Mac, so nothing is uploaded. See pricing or read the setup guide.
Transparent and animated WebP files
- Transparency: JPG can't store it, so transparent areas are filled with a solid color. Convert logos and icons to PNG instead, by choosing PNG as the format in any method above.
- Animation: converting an animated WebP to JPG keeps a single frame. Use a video or GIF tool if you need the motion.
Converting other formats too? See how to batch convert images on Mac, or how to convert PNG to JPG.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert WebP to JPG on Mac for free?
- Open the WebP file in Preview, choose File → Export, set Format to JPEG, and click Save. This works on macOS Big Sur and later.
- Why won't my Mac open a WebP file?
- Macs running macOS older than Big Sur can't open WebP in Preview. Update macOS, or convert the file on a newer Mac.
- Why do images I save from websites end up as WebP?
- Many websites serve WebP because it's smaller than JPG. Your browser saves the file in the format the site sent.
- Is WebP better than JPG?
- For websites, usually: WebP files are smaller at similar quality. For sharing and uploading, JPG is still the safer choice because everything accepts it.