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Over the past year, Google has moved the Chrome browser such that whenever you save an image file, it wants to be in the WebP format by default.
This was done because the WebP format makes image files smaller by about 25%. That reduction isn’t the actual image size, but the saved file size.
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This is great for websites that need to save server space, but not so great for users who want to reuse an image for computer wallpaper or to share with friends and family. Want to
The WebP format isn’t exactly a standard that can be viewed by any application.
So, what do you do? Do you have to install an image editor to get the cover file into a format usable from webapi?
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Fortunately, no. You can add a chrome extension that will allow you to convert the image to jpg or png format. Let me show you how to install and use this extension.
How to avoid Chrome’s new save-as-webp image format problem
Requirements
The only thing you will need is an updated version of the Chrome browser. I’ll demonstrate Pop!_OS running on Linux with version 109.0.5414.119, but it doesn’t matter which operating system you use.
With your browser ready, let’s tackle this problem.
First of all you have to open the Chrome web browser.
The extension in question is called Save Image As Type. point your browser to Extension’s page in the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome. When prompted, click Add extension and the installation is complete.
Installing the Save Image As Type Chrome extension. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Once the extension is installed, you may want to pin the extension to the Chrome toolbar for easy access. To do this, click on the puzzle piece icon and, from the drop-down, click on the pin icon associated with Save image as type.
This will pin an icon to the toolbar that looks like a small image. You don’t need to pin the extension to the toolbar if you don’t want to because you don’t interact with it that way. But this is always the easiest way to remove an extension from Chrome.
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If you decide to remove the extension, all you have to do is right-click on the icon and select Remove from Chrome.
Pinning the extension to the Chrome toolbar. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Using Save Image as Type Extension
You will need to close and reopen Chrome before you can use the extension. Once you’ve done that, open a webpage that contains the image you want to save.
Right-click the image and choose Save Image As Type > Save As X (where X is either JPG, PNG, or WebP).
Saving images in JPG format is once again possible in Chrome. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Your image will be saved in the file format of your choice, and you’re ready to go.
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All of this to tackle a problem that has been frustrating users ever since Google chose to change the default behavior in its web browsers. Even though WebP is a valid image file format, it is not as acceptable as JPG or PNG. This simple extension avoids that problem.
