Finally, the wait is over, after Paint, now Photos App in Windows 11 also supports WebP Image files. You can now open WebP files in Windows 11 in built-in Paint and Photos apps with ease without needing to rely on third-party tools.
WebP is an image format from Google introduced way back and yet to be supported by Windows 11 built-in Photos.
Till now, you need to install WebP Codec to view WebP images on Windows, which is no longer required on the latest Windows going forward.
Photos App in Windows 11
To match the look and feel of Windows 11, Microsoft updated Photos App with the redesign, mica material, rounded corners, dark mode, and new features. The app lets you view, organize and share photos from PC, OneDrive, and iCloud.
Microsoft Updates Photos App in Windows 11 with WebP Support
Along with WebP support, Microsoft Photos App received the following features:
- Create photos slideshows with music annotations
- With Timeline Scrollbar, All Photos Galley views are grouped by year and month. In addition, the scrollbar lets you easily jump to any point in time and find the photos you want.
- Spotfix lets you remove blemishes or unwanted areas in your photo.
- Auto Enhance is available out of the box.
To access new features, including WebP support, make sure your Photos App has version 2023.11050.2013.0 or higher.
So without any ado, visit Microsoft Store and update Photos and browse WebP image files within it.
Please note that the Photos App update is currently available to insiders running Windows 11 dev or Canary channel. Additionally, you will need to install the “WebP Image Extensions” app from Microsoft Store, as confirmed by Microsoft.
However, we noticed the above app may not be necessary, as Photos App supports WebP files after the update.
Microsoft has officially confirmed Windows 11 Photos App’s support for WebP files through the Feeback hub.
What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments below.
Final words: If you’ve downloaded or received WebP Images on your Windows 11 device, you no longer need to rely on Paint or WebP codec Pack. The Photos App now seamlessly supports WebP files out of the box.