Documentation WebP converter plugin for Joomla

Compatibility:
Extension type:
Version:		1.1

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WebP Converter Plugin

Automatic Image Conversion to WebP for Joomla 5 and 6

WebP Converter is a Joomla system plugin that automatically converts uploaded PNG and JPG images to WebP format. The conversion happens silently after upload via the Joomla Media Manager, helping reduce image size, improve page speed, and enhance SEO without changing your workflow.

Requirements

Joomla 5.0 or higher (also compatible with Joomla 6)
PHP 7.4 or higher
PHP GD library with WebP support enabled
Administrator access to your Joomla website
Writable /images directory and subfolders

Log in to your Joomla administrator panel
Navigate to System → Install → Extensions
Select the Upload Package File tab
Click Browse and select the downloaded plugin ZIP file
Click Upload & Install
Navigate to System → Manage → Plugins
Find WebP Converter (System plugin)
Enable the plugin
Open the plugin settings to configure the options (see below)

Manual Installation

Unzip the downloaded package on your computer
Using FTP, upload the webpconverter folder to:
/plugins/system/
Log in to your Joomla administrator panel
Navigate to System → Discover
Find WebP Converter and click Install
Navigate to System → Manage → Plugins
Enable and configure the plugin

Plugin settings

Basic Settings

Enable Conversion
Enable or disable WebP conversion globally. When disabled, no images will be processed.

Image Conversion Settings

Supported Formats
The plugin automatically converts the following formats:

PNG
JPG / JPEG
Other formats are ignored.

WebP Quality

Set the quality level for generated WebP images.
Lower values produce smaller files, higher values preserve more detail.

Recommended values:

75–80 for maximum compression
85–90 for balanced quality
95 for near-lossless results

Original Image Handling

Keep Original Image
Choose what happens to the original PNG or JPG after conversion.

Enabled:
The original file is kept alongside the WebP image.

Disabled:
The original file is removed after successful conversion.

This setting only affects newly uploaded images.

Media Manager Integration

Upload Scope
The plugin listens for uploads via the Joomla Media Manager.

Images uploaded to /images are converted
Images uploaded to any subfolder of /images are also converted
The WebP file is created in the same folder as the original image.

Conversion Behavior

New Uploads Only
The plugin processes only newly uploaded images.
Existing images are never modified or converted automatically.

This ensures safe installation on live websites without unexpected changes.

How It Works

Upload a PNG or JPG image via the Joomla Media Manager
Joomla stores the image in the selected folder
The plugin detects the upload
A WebP version is generated automatically
The WebP file is saved in the same folder
No manual action is required.

Compatibility

Joomla 5
Joomla 6
Works with Media Manager subfolders
Compatible with caching, CDN, and performance extensions
Does not store data or logs in the database

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do I need to enable WebP uploads in Joomla settings?
No. The plugin generates WebP files on the server. Joomla upload settings are only relevant if you manually upload .webp files.

2. Will this convert existing images?
No. Only new uploads are processed.

3. Does it work on shared hosting?
Yes, as long as PHP GD supports WebP.

4. What happens if WebP is not supported by the server?
The image will not be converted. The original file remains untouched.

5. Will this affect my website layout?
No. The visual appearance remains the same. Only file size changes.