How to Convert WebP to JPG on Mac — 4 Free Methods
WebP is the modern web image format — smaller than JPEG, used everywhere online. But if you have downloaded a WebP image and need to open it in older Mac software, send it by email, or use it in a design tool that doesn't support WebP yet, you need to convert it to JPG first.
This guide covers four free methods to convert WebP to JPG on Mac — no paid software, no watermarks.
Method 1 — Convert WebP to JPG Free Online (Any Mac)
- Open convertlo.pro/webp-to-jpg.html in Safari or Chrome.
- Drag and drop your WebP file onto the converter, or click Browse.
- Conversion runs entirely in your browser — the file never leaves your Mac.
- Click Download — your JPG is saved to your Downloads folder.
Works on all macOS versions. Supports files up to 50 MB. Batch conversion available for multiple WebP files at once.
Method 2 — Convert Using Preview (macOS Ventura and Later)
- Open your WebP file in Preview (double-click, or right-click → Open With → Preview).
- Go to File → Export (not "Export as PDF").
- In the Format dropdown, select JPEG.
- Adjust the Quality slider if desired (85–90 recommended).
- Choose a save location and click Save.
Preview supports WebP on macOS Ventura (13) and later. On Monterey (12) or older, Preview cannot open WebP files — use Method 1 instead.
Method 3 — Convert Using Terminal (sips — All macOS Versions)
- Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal, or Spotlight search "Terminal").
- Navigate to the folder containing your WebP file, or use the full path.
- Run this command to convert a single file:
sips -s format jpeg image.webp --out image.jpg
To convert all WebP files in the current folder at once:
mkdir -p jpgs && sips -s format jpeg *.webp --out jpgs/
This saves all converted JPG files into a subfolder called jpgs/. The sips command is built into every Mac — no installation needed. Works on all macOS versions including Monterey and older.
Method 4 — Batch Convert With Automator (No Terminal)
- Open Automator (Applications → Automator).
- Choose Quick Action as the document type.
- Set "Workflow receives current" to image files in Finder.
- Search for "Change Type of Images" in the actions library and drag it in.
- When prompted, click Add to add a "Copy Finder Items" action first (to avoid overwriting originals).
- Set the output type to JPEG.
- Save the workflow as "Convert to JPG" (or any name you like).
Once saved, right-click any WebP file (or selection of files) in Finder → Quick Actions → Convert to JPG. The converted files appear in the same folder. This method is best for recurring batch conversions without opening a browser or Terminal.
Convert WebP to JPG — Free, Instant, Private
Drop your WebP file and download JPG in seconds — no upload, no signup, works on any Mac.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Method | Best for | macOS | Batch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Browser (Convertlo) | Quickest — no setup | All versions | Yes |
| 2. Preview | Single files with quality control | Ventura (13)+ | Limited |
| 3. Terminal (sips) | Batch conversion, scripting | All versions | Yes — entire folders |
| 4. Automator | Recurring batch via right-click | Monterey (12)+ | Yes |
Does Converting WebP to JPG Lose Quality?
WebP and JPG are both lossy formats. Converting between them re-encodes the image, which can introduce a small additional quality loss. In practice:
- At quality 90% or higher — the difference is invisible. Use this for photos you care about.
- At quality 80–85% — excellent quality, file size noticeably smaller. Recommended for most use cases.
- At quality 70% — acceptable for web thumbnails and small images. Not for printing.
- Below 70% — visible compression artefacts. Avoid unless file size is critical.
The sips terminal command does not let you set JPEG quality directly (it defaults to ~75%). For quality control, use the browser method (Convertlo) or Preview, both of which let you choose the quality level.