WebP Image Not Showing in Email
A WebP image attached to or embedded in an email appears broken, as a download link, or does not display at all in the recipient's email client.
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Why WebP Does Not Work in Email
WebP has excellent browser support (97%+), but email clients are not browsers and have far worse WebP support.
| Email Client | WebP Support |
|---|---|
| Gmail (web) | Yes (2023+) |
| Apple Mail (macOS 12+) | Yes |
| Apple Mail (older) | No |
| Outlook 2019 and earlier | No |
| Outlook 365 (Windows) | No |
| Outlook on Mac | Partial |
| Outlook Web App | Yes |
| Thunderbird | Yes |
| Yahoo Mail (web) | Yes |
| Corporate Exchange clients | Usually No |
When Outlook (the most widely used corporate email client) does not support WebP, the image appears as a broken image icon or a download attachment — not the intended inline display.
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The Fix: Always Use JPG or PNG for Email
For any image intended to appear inline in an email:
Convert WebP to JPG:
- Open WebP Converter or PNG to JPG
- Upload your WebP image
- Download the JPG version
- Use the JPG as your email attachment or inline image
When to use JPG vs PNG for email:
- Photographs → JPG (quality 85 is excellent for email)
- Screenshots with text → PNG (sharper text edges)
- Logos with transparency needed → PNG
- Logos without transparency → JPG
What About HTML Emails With <picture> Fallback?
HTML emails technically support the <picture> element for providing format alternatives. However, email client support for <picture> is as inconsistent as WebP support itself. For bulletproof email HTML, use a plain <img> tag with a JPG or PNG source.
If You Are a Developer
When building email templates:
- Never use WebP as the primary image format
- Use the MIME type
image/jpegorimage/png - Host images externally (not as attachments) for HTML emails
- Test with Litmus or Email on Acid to verify rendering across clients
Frequently asked questions
Does Gmail support WebP images?
Gmail's web interface added WebP support in 2023. However, the recipient reading your email in Outlook (very common in business contexts) will not see the WebP image. For maximum compatibility, use JPG or PNG for all email images.
How do I convert WebP to JPG for email?
Use the WebP Converter tool on FixFile.online — upload your WebP and download the JPG version. Set quality to 90 for email images where quality matters, or 80 for smaller file size.
Can I use WebP on websites but JPG in email for the same image?
Yes — serve WebP on your website and use JPG when the same image needs to be emailed. Keep both versions: website = WebP (smaller, faster), email = JPG (universal compatibility).