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Stop downloading images as webp

  • 13 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 21 views
  • Last reply by WayanV

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Okay, I'm about to stop using Firefox as my default browser! Until recently now it's downloading EVERY image as webp. NO! Photoshop doesn't even recognize this crappy extension.

Chrome has NO problem downloading simple jpg and png. So, question - how do I STOP Firefox from downloading in webp format? especially the fact that that ACTUAL image is NOT webp!

Okay, I'm about to stop using Firefox as my default browser! Until recently now it's downloading EVERY image as webp. NO! Photoshop doesn't even recognize this crappy extension. Chrome has NO problem downloading simple jpg and png. So, question - how do I STOP Firefox from downloading in webp format? especially the fact that that ACTUAL image is NOT webp!

All Replies (13)

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Are you sure if the image is not .webp ? Maybe the chrome its converting the .webp to .jpg.

I don't see this problem. jpg is jpg and WebP is WebP

https://www.gstatic.com/webp/gallery/1.jpg https://www.gstatic.com/webp/gallery/1.webp

Modified by AndRo Marian

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actually it's not. Even the image itself "shows" what format it is. I'll attach before and after. You can clearly see the native format of .png. I go to save it and poof - saves ONLY as webp. What is this all about?? This also does the same to any format. VERY frustrating.Need this fixed asap.

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Then what is the link if your saying it is having issue with saving?

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Firefox 65 supports WebP images, so websites do not need to fallback to JPG images.

There are specific prefs present on the about:config page to control this new feature. You can remove "image/webp," from the accept prefs to prevent getting WebP images send by the server.

  • image.webp.enabled = true
  • image.http.accept = image/webp,*/* => */*
  • network.http.accept.default = text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,image/webp,*/*;q=0.8 => text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,*/*;q=0.8

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

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ok, so, I see that there are issues with Firefox and how some of those issues are causing it to force save as webp instead of what appears to be the native file of png. but how can this be "solved?"

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cor-el said

Firefox 65 supports WebP images, so websites do not need to fallback to JPG images. There are specific prefs present on the about:config page to control this new feature. You can remove "image/webp," from the accept prefs to prevent getting WebP images send by the server.
  • image.webp.enabled = true
  • image.http.accept = image/webp,*/* => */*
  • network.http.accept.default = text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,image/webp,*/*;q=0.8 => text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,*/*;q=0.8
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.
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It's NOT a falling back to jpg, i NEED it to BE jpg, or png or other normal usable file. It's forcing the download to be webp - which is NOT a usable format.

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So did you modify the accept prefs and removed the image/webp part?

  • image.http.accept = */*

network.http.accept.default = text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,*/*;q=0.8

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The crazy idea to default all image downloads to webp format is really frustrating. Foolish even. Zero image editors support this proprietary format.

Following all of cor-el's advice does solve the problem. however its a real PITA to expect us all to edit the about:config file just to download images in their native format -.jpg .png etc.

And here I thought Firefox was pro-user...

Modified by WayanV

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Exactly! My point exactly.

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WayanV said

... Foolish even. Zero image editors support this proprietary format.

IrfanView - https://www.irfanview.com/history_old.htm As of version Version 4.32 (Release date: 2011-12-15) Support for WebP format (Weppy format, PlugIn, reading + saving)

GIMP 2.10 on 05-2018 https://www.gimp.org/release-notes/gimp-2.10.html

And there are probably others; those are the two image applications that I have used over the last 10 years.

WayanV said

And here I thought Firefox was pro-user...

Yes, WebP compatibility is sure pro-user for displaying WebP as more and more websites start using WebP images. But as far as convenience for users who want save those images for their own use ... think of that format as a simple anti-theft feature for intellectual property. Websites and content owners can't stop theft, but they can sure make it a bit harder for people who think that everything on the web is "free for the taking".

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the-edmeister said

But as far as convenience for users who want save those images for their own use ... think of that format as a simple anti-theft feature for intellectual property. Websites and content owners can't stop theft, but they can sure make it a bit harder for people who think that everything on the web is "free for the taking".

Wow, nice for you to jump to conclusions about image usage.

I found out about this webp format crap when trying to download my own images from my own site. In addition, you may want to learn about the Fair Use doctrine of US Copyright Law (what I'm subject to as a US resident). Finally, being able to freely view source and download images was a core tenant of the Web & Internet's design from the beginning. I've proudly been sharing image content freely since 1994.

Oh and two image editors doesn't amount to much when neither macOS nor Windows supports it.