Recently, many website owners have encountered an unexpected problem: when you send a link to WhatsApp, it appears without an image or even a description. This situation is especially critical for online stores, real estate agencies, and news portals - where first impressions are everything.
At first glance, it seems that the reason lies in Open Graph settings, cache, or Facebook Debugger. But often it is much simpler (and more insidious): the main image on the page uses the format WebP, which WhatsApp either does not support at all or processes with errors.
What is WebP and why is it used?
WebP is a modern image format that allows you to reduce file size without significantly losing quality. It is actively promoted by Google, and most image optimization plugins (EWWW, Imagify, ShortPixel, LiteSpeed Cache) automatically convert all images to WebP for better results in Google PageSpeed.
But there is a nuance: not all services are compatible with WebP, and WhatsApp is one of the clearest examples. Even if everything is written correctly in the site code, if og:image points to WebP, WhatsApp may simply not display the preview.
Why this is a problem for business
Entrepreneurs invest effort in a website, SEO, and advertising, but when they try to share a link with a customer via WhatsApp, they receive a blank message without a photo. This looks unpresentable and reduces brand trust. This is especially critical for products, promotions, or real estate — when the image itself is key.
How to avoid the WebP problem in WhatsApp
Here are some proven tips:
Always add JPEG or PNG-version of the main image.
In og:image, use a direct link to .jpg, not WebP.
If you are using a CDN or cache plugin, make sure it is does not replace OG images with WebP.
Test pages before launching an ad or email campaign — just send yourself a link on WhatsApp.
Avoid lazy-load and JavaScript solutions for critical previews — WhatsApp only reads raw HTML.
WebP is a useful tool for speeding up your site, but if you don't consider how it will be perceived by other platforms, you could accidentally break important elements of your sales funnel.
The team explains this problem in detail SpeedWP Pro — a service for accelerating and optimizing WordPress websites. They have prepared a complete instructions about the WebP threat in WhatsApp, including examples, solutions, and technical tips.
Therefore, before enabling automatic conversion to WebP, be sure to make sure that your site does not lose the opportunity to beautifully share content on WhatsApp. Because sometimes one invisible image = one lost customer.
