You've probably noticed that when you try to save an image from a modern website, it downloads as a .webp file instead of the .png or .jpg you expected. WebP is a newer image format developed by Google that offers smaller file sizes, and most major websites have adopted it. The problem is that many tools, platforms, and workflows still don't support WebP natively. If you need to paste an image into a presentation, upload it to a platform with format restrictions, or edit it in an older app, you'll need to convert it to PNG first.
Why Websites Use WebP
WebP delivers 25-35% smaller file sizes compared to PNG for lossless images and similar savings over JPEG for lossy compression. This directly translates to faster page load times and lower bandwidth costs, which is why Google and other major platforms have adopted it widely. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all support WebP natively, so there's no visual downside for website visitors. For site owners, it's a straightforward performance win — serve smaller files without sacrificing image quality.
Why You Might Need PNG Instead
Despite WebP's advantages, PNG remains the universal standard for lossless images. Many design tools, document editors, and content management systems still expect PNG or JPG uploads. Social media platforms sometimes re-compress WebP files unpredictably, while PNG handling is well-established. If you're creating documentation, presentations, or print materials, PNG ensures maximum compatibility. Additionally, PNG supports transparency, making it the preferred format for logos, icons, and graphics with transparent backgrounds.
Method 1: ExtForge Image Downloader — Batch Convert
If you need to convert multiple WebP images from a page, ExtForge Image Batch Downloader & Converter is the fastest approach. Click the extension icon, and it scans the page for all images including WebP files. Select the images you want, set the output format to PNG, and download them all as a ZIP file. The conversion happens locally in your browser — no server uploads, no quality loss. This method is ideal when you're saving reference images, archiving a gallery, or collecting assets from a design inspiration site.
Method 2: Right-Click Convert with ExtForge
For single images, ExtForge Image Batch Downloader adds a right-click context menu option. Simply right-click any image on any webpage and select the ExtForge option to save it as PNG, JPG, or WebP. The conversion happens instantly and the file downloads directly in your chosen format. This is the quickest method when you just need one or two images converted, and it works on any image format the browser can display, including WebP, AVIF, and SVG rendered as bitmap.
Method 3: Online Converters
Free online tools like CloudConvert, Convertio, and Squoosh let you upload WebP files and download them as PNG. These work without installing anything and support batch conversion on some plans. The tradeoffs are clear: you're uploading your images to a third-party server, free tiers often have file size or quantity limits, and the round-trip upload-convert-download process is slower than local conversion. For non-sensitive images where you don't want to install an extension, online converters are a reasonable fallback.
WebP vs PNG: When to Use Each
WebP is the better choice when file size matters and you control the viewing environment — websites, web apps, and email where you know the recipient's client supports it. PNG is the safer choice when compatibility matters — documents, presentations, design handoffs, and any situation where the recipient might use software that doesn't handle WebP. If you're archiving images for long-term storage, PNG is also preferable because it's an older, more universally supported standard with decades of tool support.
A Note on AVIF
AVIF is an even newer format that offers better compression than WebP, and you may start encountering it on cutting-edge websites. Like WebP, AVIF isn't universally supported outside of browsers yet. ExtForge Image Batch Downloader can convert AVIF images to PNG, JPG, or WebP during download, so you're covered as this format becomes more common. The same workflow applies: scan the page, select images, choose your output format, and download.
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Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I save a WebP image as PNG in Chrome?
The easiest way is to install ExtForge Image Batch Downloader & Converter. Right-click any WebP image on a webpage and use the context menu to save it directly as PNG. The conversion happens locally in your browser with no quality loss.
Why do websites save images as WebP instead of PNG?
WebP files are 25-35% smaller than equivalent PNG files, which means faster page loads and lower bandwidth costs. Since all major browsers support WebP, websites use it to improve performance without any visible quality difference for visitors.
Can I convert multiple WebP images to PNG at once?
Yes. ExtForge Image Batch Downloader scans the current page for all images, lets you select which ones to convert, and downloads them all as PNG files in a single ZIP archive. This is much faster than converting images one by one.
Is there a quality loss when converting WebP to PNG?
Converting a lossy WebP to PNG does not introduce additional quality loss — it preserves the current quality in a lossless format. However, any compression artifacts from the original WebP encoding will still be present. Lossless WebP converts to PNG with no quality difference at all.