Convert PNG to WebP on Windows 10 and 11 — Free, No Install

Windows 10 and 11 do not include a built-in PNG to WebP converter. Paint cannot do it. Photos cannot do it. But you can convert in seconds using a browser-based tool in Chrome or Edge — no software installation required. For command-line users, Google's cwebp utility handles batch conversion with fine-grained quality control.

Method 1: Browser Converter — Fastest Way

1. Open the PNG to WebP converter in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox
2. Drag PNGs from File Explorer into the browser window
3. Set quality (80 for web, 100 for lossless)
4. Convert and download. ZIP download available for multiple files

Works immediately — no install, no account, no file upload. Processing happens in your browser. Files stay on your PC.

Method 2: cwebp Command-Line Tool

Download the libwebp package from Google (pre-compiled Windows binaries are available). Extract and add to your PATH, then:

cwebp -q 80 input.png -o output.webp

For batch conversion in PowerShell:

Get-ChildItem -Filter *.png | ForEach-Object {
  cwebp -q 80 $_.FullName -o ($_.FullName -replace '\.png$','.webp')
}

Or in CMD:

for %f in (*.png) do cwebp -q 80 "%f" -o "%~nf.webp"

This gives you precise control over quality, lossy/lossless mode, and encoding options. Best for developers and power users who need to integrate WebP conversion into build scripts.

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Why Paint and Windows Photos Do Not Support WebP Export

Windows 11 added WebP viewing support — you can double-click a WebP file and see it in Photos. But neither Paint nor Photos can save images as WebP. Paint's "Save As" menu offers PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF. No WebP.

Microsoft has not announced plans to add WebP export to their built-in apps. For now, the browser tool is the simplest zero-install solution on Windows. No download, no setup, just open and convert.

Third-party options like GIMP (free), Paint.NET (free with WebP plugin), and Photoshop ($22.99/month) can export WebP, but installing software for a simple format conversion is overkill. For more Windows image conversion options, see our Windows image format guide.

Batch Convert PNG to WebP on Windows

Three approaches for Windows batch conversion:

1. Browser tool: Drag all PNGs at once into the converter, download as ZIP. Best for batches under 200 files
2. cwebp + PowerShell: The script above converts every PNG in a directory. Best for large batches and repeatable workflows
3. XnConvert: Free desktop app with a visual interface for batch conversion. Supports hundreds of formats. Best if you want a GUI with advanced options (resize, rename, etc. during conversion)

For most Windows users, the browser tool covers 95% of needs. Reach for cwebp or XnConvert when you have automated pipelines or need advanced batch operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Windows convert PNG to WebP natively?

No. Windows 10 and 11 can view WebP files but cannot convert to WebP. Neither Paint nor Photos supports WebP export. Use a browser-based converter or download Google's cwebp tool.

What is the easiest PNG to WebP converter for Windows?

A browser-based converter in Chrome or Edge. Open the page, drag your PNG in, download WebP. No installation, no account. Works on Windows 10 and 11.

Does converting PNG to WebP on Windows preserve transparency?

Yes. WebP fully supports alpha channel transparency. Whether you use the browser tool, cwebp, or any other converter, transparent PNGs produce transparent WebP files.