For those who are still using the old version of Adobe Photoshop (such as Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, or CS6), you probably have a major headache.
These older versions do not natively support the WebP image format.
If you try to open a .webp file, Photoshop will show a file format error, and WebP won't show up in your "Save As" dropdown menu either.
I found out about this problem when I was trying to fix blurry Blogger images.
Fortunately, Google provides an official plugin called WebPShop to bridge this gap.
However, there is a major technical issue for users of legacy software.
👉 Related tips:
- Understanding Blogger image WebP compression: how it works
- How to convert Blogger images to WebP format for faster loading
How to add WebP plugin to old Photoshop CS
I will show you precisely how to fix this problem, so you can still use your old Photoshop.CS to save images in WebP format.
But because your Photoshop is using the 32-bit version, you cannot find the plugin on the GitHub site.
Don't worry, you don't have to ask Google AI or search all over the internet for the compatible plugin.
The compatibility problem: 32-bit vs. 64-bit
If you head straight to this GitHub repository's releases page, you can only find these two 64-bit versions:
- WebPShop_0_4_3_Win_ARM64.8bi
- WebPShop_0_4_3_Win_x64.8bi
The two options will not work if you are running a 32-bit version of Photoshop.
I know it because I have tried them before I wrote this guide.
These WebPShop releases are strictly built for 64-bit systems (Win_x64).
WebP plugin for 32-Bit Photoshop CS
To successfully add WebP support to old Photoshop CS installations, you must use this last compatible 32-bit iteration of the plugin.
I managed to track this specific standalone 32-bit file directly from the WebM project archive:
👉 Download WebPShop 32-bit (Windows x86 .8bi file)
How to install the plugin:
- Close Adobe Photoshop completely.
- Download the
WebPShop_0_2_1_Win_x86.8bifile using the link provided above. - Then copy the downloaded file and paste it into your local Photoshop Plug-ins directory. This is typically located at:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS\Plug-ins\ - Relaunch Photoshop.
Once restarted, your Photoshop setup will fully support the WebP format, allowing you to open, edit, and export WebP images.
How to confirm the WebP Plugin is working
Once you have dropped the 32-bit file into your folder and restarted your legacy software, you will want to make sure everything installed correctly.
Here are the two quickest ways to verify it:
Method 1: Check the "Save As" format menu
- Open any existing image (like a standard JPEG or PNG) in Photoshop CS.
- Go to the top menu and select File > Save As...
- Click on the Format dropdown menu.
- Look for WebP (*.WEBP) in the list. If it appears there, the plugin is active, and you are ready to use it.
Method 2: Test an existing WebP file
Try downloading any .webp image from the internet, then drag and drop it straight into your Photoshop workspace.
If the image opens up cleanly into layers without throwing a "Could not complete your request because it is not the right kind of document" error, your installation was a total success.
⚠️ Troubleshooting Note:
If you followed the steps but still don't see WebP in your options, double-check your pathing. Make sure the file wasn't left inside a zipped folder, and that it is placed in the exact Plug-ins directory of the specific Photoshop version you are actually launching.
👉 Related post: The complete Blogger image guide: optimization, compression & rendering