Web browsers universally support WebP as of 2020, but email clients are a different environment entirely. Email HTML is rendered by a patchwork of different engines — some very modern, some from the era before WebP existed — and the most widely-used business email client (Outlook) has never supported WebP.
Convert WebP Images for Email Use
Convert to JPG or PNG before uploading to your email platform.
Add to Chrome — FreeEmail Client WebP Support
| Email Client | WebP Support | Safe Format |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail (web) | Partial — Chrome engine renders it, but not universal | JPG |
| Gmail (Android app) | Inconsistent | JPG |
| Gmail (iOS app) | Usually not rendered | JPG |
| Outlook desktop (all versions, Windows) | No support (Word rendering engine) | JPG or PNG |
| Outlook.com (web) | Sometimes supported | JPG |
| Outlook for Mac | No support | JPG or PNG |
| Apple Mail (macOS Ventura+) | Renders WebP | JPG (safe fallback) |
| Apple Mail (older macOS) | No support | JPG |
| iOS Mail app | Usually no support | JPG |
| Thunderbird | Recent versions support it | JPG (safe fallback) |
| Yahoo Mail (web) | Partial support | JPG |
| Corporate email (Lotus Notes, etc.) | No support | JPG or PNG |
Why Email Cannot Use the picture Element
On the web, you can provide WebP with a JPG fallback using the HTML <picture> element:
<picture>
<source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">
</picture>This technique does not work in email because:
- Outlook (Windows) ignores the
<picture>tag entirely - Most email clients strip or rewrite HTML to a narrow subset they understand
srcsetattributes are not supported in any major email client- Email HTML is a frozen subset of 2000s-era HTML4 standards in practice
The only reliable image tag in email HTML remains <img src="..."> with a direct JPG or PNG URL.
Converting WebP Images for Email Campaigns
Quick conversion workflow
- Find the WebP image on the web or in your asset library.
- Right-click the image and select Save as JPG using the WebP to JPG/PNG Converter extension.
- Upload the JPG to your email platform's image library (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Campaign Monitor, etc.).
- Insert the image into your email template as normal.
For batch conversion of multiple images for a campaign:
# Convert all WebP assets in your email campaign folder
magick mogrify -format jpg -quality 85 -path ./email-ready *.webpQuality 85 is a good setting for email: produces sharp-looking images at small file sizes. Email platforms re-compress images anyway, so there is no benefit to uploading very high quality (95+) images.
Email Image Best Practices
- Format: JPG for all photos, PNG for logos with text, GIF for simple animations (no WebP animations)
- Maximum width: 600px — the standard email width; wider images are scaled down but increase download size
- File size per image: Under 100KB per image; total email under 500KB
- Always use alt text: Many corporate email clients block images by default; recipients see alt text before approving image loading
- Host images externally: Link to images on your CDN or email platform — never embed images as base64 in email HTML (breaks deliverability)
Receiving WebP Image Attachments in Email
The email compatibility problem also applies in reverse: if someone sends you a WebP image as an email attachment:
- Gmail (web) usually displays it inline in the message
- Outlook desktop shows a generic file icon instead of a preview
- You may need to save the attachment and open it in Chrome, or convert it to JPG to open in other applications
If you regularly receive WebP attachments that you need to open in other applications, converting them to JPG or PNG on receipt saves time. The Chrome extension handles this: drag the saved WebP file into the extension popup to convert it immediately.
Convert WebP to JPG for Email — Instant
Right-click any WebP and save as JPG. Safe for any email client.
Install WebP Converter — FreeRelated Guides
- WebP Browser Support in 2026
- WebP Not Supported? How to Fix It for Any App
- Convert WebP for Social Media Uploads
- How to Convert WebP to JPG
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use WebP images in email newsletters?
You can, but you should not. Outlook desktop (all versions) does not support WebP, representing a significant portion of business email opens. WebP images appear as broken icons in Outlook. Always use JPG or PNG for email images.
Does Outlook support WebP images in emails?
No. Outlook desktop uses Microsoft Word's rendering engine for HTML emails, which has no WebP codec. WebP images in Outlook appear as broken image icons. This applies to all Outlook desktop versions including Outlook 365.
Does Gmail support WebP images in emails?
Gmail web interface renders WebP via Chrome's engine. However, Gmail mobile app behavior is inconsistent, and many recipients open Gmail emails in Outlook or other clients. Use JPG for reliable display across all clients.
What is the best image format for email newsletters in 2026?
JPG for photos and product images, PNG for logos and graphics with text, GIF for simple animations. Never WebP — Outlook desktop does not support it, and picture/srcset fallbacks are not supported in email HTML.
Can I use a picture element fallback for WebP in emails?
No. The HTML picture element and srcset are not supported in any major email client. Outlook ignores the picture tag entirely. Use only standard img tags with JPG or PNG URLs in email HTML.
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