User profile for user: Valefar
Valefar Author
User level: Level 1
74 points

How to permanently allow opening .webp files in Photoshop on macOS Sequoia 15.4?

Attempting to open any .webp in Photoshop invokes a dialog box with the options being "Done" or "Move to Trash" The only way around this is to go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Security and try again, this time watching for the "Open Anyway" option to appear, which invokes another dialog box that requires user password. This has to be done for EACH INDIVIDUAL FILE!


This isn't a Photoshop issue; it applies to the very popular .webp file format, making it a major inconvenience for users working in graphics. How can a user eliminate this vexing restriction on the .webp format?





[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 27″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 1, 2025 5:49 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Matti Haveri
Matti Haveri
User level: Level 6
19,664 points

Posted on Apr 21, 2025 4:31 AM

Sequoia 15.4.1 seems to be overprotective for even pure data files such as .xmp.


For example: Photos.app > select image(s) > File > Export > Export Unmodified Original > Export IPTC as XMP.


Then try to open the exported .xmp with TextEdit or BBEdit and you are greeted with this alert:



It does not help if you set BBEdit to open all .xmp by default:



You can open that .xmp file via Privacy & Security but that does not fix it for other .xmp files:



Photos.app inserts quarantine tag to the exported .xmp. My old .xmp files also have this tag but previous macOS versions have not refused to open them:


xattr image.xmp
com.apple.quarantine


You can remove that tag from a file or all files with:


xattr -d com.apple.quarantine image.xmp

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine *.xmp


Then TextEdit and BBEdit can open them.


I guess the same applies also to downloaded .webp images?

View in context
98 replies
User profile for user: Matti Haveri
Matti Haveri
User level: Level 6
19,664 points

Jul 30, 2025 2:57 AM in response to Matti Haveri

FWIW macOS Sequoia 15.6 seems to have fixed this at least for .xmp sidecars exported from Photos (I occasionally edit and fix nonstandard .xmp exported from Photos when joining it to images and movies). BBEdit 15.5.2 now opens such .xmp via the Finder with no alerts.


https://exiftool.org/forum/index.php?topic=12634.msg68327#msg68327


On the other hand, in Sequoia 15.5 BBEdit 15.5.2 still refuses to open such .xmp via Finder if BBEdit is set as the default for .xmp so a possible Gatekeeper update does not seem to explain this. But now I tested what happens if I set Photos as the default for .xmp: Then when .xmp is dropped on BBEdit on the Dock, BBEdit no longer refuses to open it but instead just asks if I want to open such Photos related .xmp, and then opens it.

Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How to permanently allow opening .webp files in Photoshop on macOS Sequoia 15.4?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up