What Browser Does Not Save as WebP Images

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Some browsers are not compatible with WebP images, which can be frustrating for web developers and users alike. Internet Explorer, for example, does not support WebP images.

Mozilla Firefox, on the other hand, has supported WebP images since version 22, but users can still opt out of saving WebP images if they prefer.

Safari also doesn't natively save WebP images, but it can be enabled through a preference setting. This can be useful for users who need to save WebP images for specific purposes.

Microsoft Edge, like Safari, does not natively save WebP images, but users can use extensions to enable this functionality.

Not Saving WebP Images

Not all web browsers support the webp format, and most web services that use the webp format fall back to png or jpg images instead when such a browser is used.

If you rely on Chrome, you can try the User Agent Switcher extension which fakes the browser you are using. Select the user agent of a browser that does not support webp, and you should get the same png or jpg delivery that those browsers get.

Credit: youtube.com, How to stop chrome or Brave browser Saving images in Webp Format in Windows 10 or 11

To bypass WebP conversion altogether, you can use a tool like UnWebP. It's a web app that lets you download the original version of an image by bypassing the automatic WebP delivery that some servers enable for browsers like Chrome.

Here's how to use UnWebP:

  1. Right-click on the image you want to download and copy the image link.
  2. Open UnWebP and paste the image URL into the input box.
  3. Click on Download to save the image in original format.

Alternative Solutions

If you rely on Chrome, try the User Agent Switcher extension instead which fakes the browser you are using. Select the user agent of a browser that does not support webp, and you should get the same png or jpg delivery that those browsers get.

Not all web browsers support the webp format, which means some users may not be able to load webp images.

Most web services that use the webp format fall back to png or jpg images instead when a browser that doesn't support webp is used.

Choosing a Solution

Firefox doesn't have a built-in converter to turn WebP images back into their original format, unlike Chrome and Edge.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Save Google Images as JPEG or PNG Instead of WEBP – Easy Fix with Chrome Extension

Currently, people use various workarounds to save WebP images without the extra compression.

One workaround is to save images from the Page Info dialog's Media tab, using the Save As button.

This method triggers the server to send the original file without the WebP compression.

You can try using right-click > View Image Info to trigger this option, but note that in Firefox 89+, you need to enable this menu item in about:config by setting browser.menu.showViewImageInfo to true.

Another workaround is to disable WebP images altogether by setting image.webp.enabled to false in about:config, which will show nothing when Firefox gets .webp images.

This is arguably a minor deal to fix from the perspective of code development, but it's a significant issue for content creators who need to save images without the extra compression.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to avoid saving WebP?

To avoid saving WebP images, use Simple Modify Headers, a Firefox extension that removes WebP from accepted formats. Alternatively, use the "Don't Accept WEBP" option in Simple Modify Headers.

Jennie Bechtelar

Senior Writer

Jennie Bechtelar is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for distilling complex concepts into accessible language, Jennie has established herself as a go-to expert in the fields of important and industry-specific topics. Her writing portfolio showcases a depth of knowledge and expertise in standards and best practices, with a focus on helping readers navigate the intricacies of their chosen fields.

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