Save WebP files to Original Format Easily in Firefox

[jscher2000]

(Re-post of Crowdicity post which had 40 votes)

Unfortunately, many programs are not compatible/interoperable with the WebP format. Users need a simple way to save images in traditional formats such as JPEG, PNG, and Animated GIF, which often is available from the server.

Background

Since Firefox added image/webp to its Accept headers, server farms often add WebP compression to JPEG, PNG, and Animated GIF files, changing the internal file format without modifying the file extension. That is transparent to users, but there is an issue: when using Save Image As..., Firefox saves the WebP format.

Sites also are starting to use the <picture> tag with a WebP <source> that overrides the traditional format in the <img> tag.

Firefox users often want the original image format to facilitate editing in programs that don't accept WebP, or for other reasons. Whatever the reason, because Firefox doesn't make it convenient, they often resort to using Chrome instead.

Parity with Chrome

In Google Chrome, if the file name has its original .jpg or .png extension, the browser saves in the original format. This appears to be done through a re-request to the server, which is similar to the workaround employed by some Firefox users of opening the Page Info dialog, Media panel, and using the Save As button (this request does not include image/webp in the Accept headers).

Other Evidence

I can tell this is a pain point based on Mozilla Support and r/Firefox posts, and because my WebP-related extensions have a surprisingly large number of users:

* "Save webP as PNG or JPEG (Converter)" - 14,757 users as of 6 March 2022 36,742 users as of Jan. 29, 2023 ( https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/save-webp-as-png-or-jpeg/ )
* "Don't "Accept" image/webp"- 7,092 users as of 6 March 2022 16,773 users as of Jan. 29, 2023 ( https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/dont-accept-webp/ )

So please, UX folks, take a look at this!

Related Idea

Clipboard functionality should save .webp images as .png 

[knasiotis]

This idea https://mozilla.crowdicity.com/post/733830
mentions the need to save .webp images as png/jpg and provides add-on alternatives.
This is important for compatibility with other applications.

However, it does not mention the case where right clicking an image -> copy image, firefox (supposedly) saves the image as a .webp on the clipboard. When I want to paste that image in other applications (e.g. Messenger) the image is read as a file. Chromium based browsers do not have this issue (maybe chromium converts the image as .jpg/png or changes the file extension).

I believe firefox should have a similar behavior to Chromium because, as things are, we have to screenshot the images we find and this is not a QoL solution, it's frustrating

The only alternative is to disable .webp files in about:config which will probably break some websites or make the browsing experience slower

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to Mozilla Connect. Your post is now open to the community for votes (kudos) and comments. 

[Mte90]

Well this is a behavior by websites. Let me explain, website provide URLs with jpg or png but if the browser support WebP redirect the request content as webp, so the browser will get that.

In this way the file extension that is a mere convention is ignored and save as webp.
So it is a normal behavior, instead you are asking to the browser to convert the image to another format on save that is something maybe to specific.

[bizhuy]

In the mean time (or if this isn't ever implemented), instead of screenshotting, if you're on Windows 10 you can press Win + Shift + S to use screen capture. This method offers more options to you, such as selecting exactly the area that you want to copy, although you have to select it manually since there isn't a "select object" feature.

[knasiotis]

@Mte90  In Chromium, when you save or copy to the clipboard a webp file it is converted to jpg or png (I don't remember exactly). The same image, provided by the same website, firefox saves it as webp. While this is the appropriate behavior, it would be nice to be able to have an integrated conversion mechanism during these processes (copy/save) for cross-application compatibility.

I am making this suggestion, (it can be simple toggle in about:config) because it would be easier to avoid screenshotting like @bizhuy suggested (I'm using ShareX btw), or converting the saved images later on.

Consequently, firefox would be more friendly to use.

[Mte90]

I didn't know of this behavior in Chrome so maybe can be implemented just for sake of similar behaviour.

[Deepanshu]

Please make it so that it doesn't download images in webp format!

[Jon]

Hey all,

Here with an exciting update…

Your idea has quickly received a great deal of votes (kudos) and support here in the Mozilla Connect community, so we are upgrading the status to “Trending idea.” This means it’s now one step closer to reaching our internal teams for review—learn more about The Idea Journey.

Please keep the conversation going and stay tuned for updates 😃

-The Community Team

[Sp4X]

Why not just go to about:config, search for image.http.accept, and type: image/png, image/jpeg, image/gif ??

It's works for me 😄

[Vitalik]

👍👍👍💋

[Dougieg633]

This most certainly doesn't work!! Just try GIPHY as an example.

[brixter]

Please implement this idea. Having *.webp images as downloads is unusable. I have to convert it somehow or I have to resort to making a screenshot. The annoying thing is, I see the URL of the image as *.jpg but I still download it as *.webp.

[laughinghat]

+1, webp is a great feature for viewing content, but should never be downloaded.

[GlenMoz]

Why isn't this fixed yet? My older Macs can't migrate past MacOS 10.13 , and most of their supported apps can't deal with .webp formatted downloads.

Hey, make it a simple menu selection without having to dive into about.config and screw something else up while trying to force Firefox give me what I want.

Again, WHY isn't this fixed yet? Does Mozilla really want me revert to using an ancient (less secure) version of Firefox?

[Barthélémy]

Hello, I am totally lost. I've been struggling for two weeks to solve the webp problem without going over to Chrome. I've downloaded the "save WebP as PNG or JPEG (Converter)" add-on.  When I try to use it, it doesn't work. Which no doubt means that I don't know how to make it work. I am too old to waste much more time on this, so please let me know what I'm doing wrong :

I go on line, choose an image, click on it. That enlarges it top right and gives me the size info. I then have to click on open in a new tab, then on the tab, and finally right click to get "save as". I must then rename the image and change the extension from webp to jpg. When sent to My Documents, I get nothing.

I've tried using the "save as" add-on when first clicking on the image on line. No help.

I've also tried using five different conversion tools on line. They convert, but Photoshop won't accept them, and they are thus still useless.

I have spent hours reading and trying to comprehend the info on line, and I'm tethered out. Can someone please help an old man who hasn't yet given up ?