Troubleshooting WebP Images on Mac: Solutions and Tips

Mac users sometimes get an issue on display because WebP images aren't displaying correctly on the screen. WebP image format developed by Google maintains excellent quality image with high compression ratio while having smaller sizes for file. However, still there are times WebP images do not come to screen appropriately on Mac devices. Let's find out in this article what might be wrong with WebP pictures that don't work on Mac and how you can still use them without hassle.

Part 1: Understanding the WebP Format

This discussion would be meaningless without knowledge of what is a webp file and why it is employed. WebP is a format developed by Google. It is an image format designed to provide better compression as compared to traditional formats, such as JPEG and PNG. The main advantage is that WebP supports lossless and lossy compression, respectively. Lossless WebP will retain the original quality of the image, whereas lossy WebP compresses the image for smaller file sizes, which makes it ideal for websites that need to load faster.

Part 2: Why WebP Doesn't Work on Mac

There are several reasons why WebP images may not be supported or properly displayed on your Mac:

1. Native support is lacking in macOS

Starting with MacOS Monterey, the default Apple preview application does not support this WebP format. This means that if you attempt to open a WebP image with Preview or some other default programs, you instead get an error message or a white screen. As with most modern image formats such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, macOS does not support WebP images out of the box.

2. Outdated Applications

Of course, if the user works with macOS, it could be essential to open a .webp to notice that some earlier versions of applications or web browsers do not support WebP images. For instance, before its latest update, Safari, which is the default browser on Mac OS, didn't support WebP images. This lack of support may prevent WebP images from displaying in these apps.

3. Software Limitations

Though many modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge have WebP natively, it's not possible that all the viewing software and other applications may support WebP. Therefore, an image may fail to open or display improperly.

Part 3: Solutions for Opening WebP Images on Mac

Solution 1: Use a Compatible Browser (Chrome, Edge, etc.)

Opening a WebP image in view on a Mac can therefore be done by simply opening the compatible browser. Google chrome and Microsoft edge exclude both of them having native support for the WebP picture and therefore it could just be opened in either browser.

• Google Chrome: Either, click on the WebP file and then drag it to the Google Chrome browser or right click on the file and choose Open with > Google Chrome.
• Microsoft Edge: Similar to Chrome, Edge has support for WebP out of the box. To open the picture, you can click on the image and right click and using the option "Open with" you select Edge.

Solution 2: Convert WebP to a compatible format (e.g., JPEG, PNG)

If you want to embed a webp file in Preview or any other default macOS app that doesn't support WebP, then, it's possible to convert the WebP image to one of the universally recognized formats including JPEG or PNG. This is possible in several ways on the Mac among which are; Online versions, and Using image editors that allow for WebP conversion.

Here's how to convert WebP images to JPEG or PNG using an online converter:

• Go to an online converter: CloudConvert or Zamzar enablesyou to choose your WebP image and then convert it to format like JPEG or PNG.
• Upload Your WebP Image: Import WebP image that is on the web Through Mac save WebP file.
• Choose the Output Format: Output format A selection list and choose like this, JPEG or PNG.
• Download the Converted Image: Once the conversion is done you will be able to download the image in the new format and then any mac application of your choosing will be able to read it.

Solution 3: Use third-party apps to view WebP images on Mac

One such solution is a third party application where you can particularly open and work with WebP images. As a rule, such applications are comparatively small and simple, and it takes only a short period to open any WebP picture that doesn't work on Mac. Here are some popular third-party apps for opening WebP files:

• WebP Converter: This application is designed to work with WebP format and through it, you can export your images in PNG and JPEG. It also means that this allows opening of WebP file natively at the same time with the references of graphics and development of services or other graphically intensive kinds of applications.
• ImageOptim: Though primarily considered as an image compressor and optimizer for web use, ImageOptim can display WebP image previews.

Part 4: Extra Tip: Convert Images with HitPaw Video Converter for Mac Formats

There are multiple ways to handle WebP images on Mac, but the most efficient one is through a powerful third-party tool like HitPaw Video Converter. Even though it's mostly known for video conversion, HitPaw also provides great functionality in image format conversion, such as WebP. Using HitPaw Video Converter, you can easily convert your WebP picture that doesn't work on Mac into any formats that can work on any macOS application.

Watch this Video Guide to Learn More

Key Features of HitPaw Video Converter

HitPaw Video Converter - All-in-one Video Solutions for Win & Mac

TRY NOW TRY NOW

Secure Verified. 254,145 people have downloaded it.

• It supports and handles numerous formats: It can convert images such as WebP, JPEG, and PNG while it can also handle videos in MP4, AVI, MOV, and other formats.
• Batch Conversion: This will save you a lot of your time while converting a large piece of content.
• High Output Quality: This converter works to lose the least percentage of quality in conversion, keeping almost the same clarity and amount of detail in the same media file.
• User interface: Very user-friendly and non-technical, making even a novice comfortable with usage.
• Fast conversion: Quickly processes files to be converted from one format to another for you, so you avoid long waits.

BUY NOW BUY NOW

Secure Verified. 254,145 people have downloaded it.

How to use HitPaw Video Converter for WebP Conversion?

• Step 1:Open HitPaw Video Converter, head to the Toolbox section, and choose Image Converter. Import your WebP files to begin converting.

  

• Step 2:Click each image to preview. Add or remove images as needed, either individually or in bulk.

  

• Step 3:Select an output format (JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, JPEG) and choose a folder for saving converted files.

  

• Step 4:Hit "Convert All" to instantly convert your images to the chosen format in bulk.

  

Part 5. FAQs about WebP Pictures Not Working on Mac

Conclusion

We end by saying that WebP picture doesn't work on Mac can be frustrating, but it is a problem easy to fix. Whether it's using a compatible browser, converting the images to a more suitable format, or even using third-party tools such as HitPaw Video Converter, there are ways to ensure you can open and view WebP images. With these solutions, you can enjoy all the benefits of the WebP format without worrying about compatibility issues on your Mac.