What else can I try to activate webp plugin PSE 2023?

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Running 2023 on latest version of Windows 11. I lost my ability to save as or open webp images after resetting preferences. I have downloaded the latest, version-compatible 64 bit plugin to the proper plugin folder (/Photoshop Elements 2023/plug-ins). I have no other Photoshop plug-ins that may be conflicting, and have only 1 copy of the webp plugin. I have re-opened PSE many times. In preferences/plugins, the folder listed is the same plugin folder my webp file is in. And in Help/about plugin, 2 are listed, none of which exist on my hard drive. The webp plugin is not listed. 

I just have nothing left to try. Maybe I should reinstall  elements. I'd appreciate any help.

Thank you!

[Greg_S.]

Why did you need to reset preferences?

Have you rebooted your computer?

If you only copied the plug-in file to the folder, do you have an installer file for the WebP plug-in?  If so, use it.

Go to Help>System Info . . .  and scroll down to the bottom.  Is the plug-in listed under third party plug-ins?   At the very bottom, do any plug-ins show as failed to load.

Please provide us a link to where you obtained the plug-in.

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Thanks, Greg.

Over the last several days, I have rebooted my computer many times.

I reset the preferences as advised when PSE started malfunctioning. Some of the tools were flaky, and I couldn't perform some simple functions. One thing that comes to mind now is the selection tools.

I downloaded the latest plugin from https://github.com/webmproject/WebPShop/releases/download/v0.4.3/WebPShop_0_4_3_Win_x64.8bi 

I never noticed or downloaded any installer for the plugin, only only the webPShop_0_4_3_Win_x64.8bi file. I thought this was odd, actually. 

Here is what my system info says: 

Optional and third party plug-ins: NONE
Plug-ins that failed to load: NONE

So maybe that leaves an installer? Is it known by another filename, or in another location that doesn't indicate that it's an installer?

Thanks for your time.

Laurie

[Glenn 8675309]

Put the 8bi file (make sure it's uncompressed) here, then restart the editor:  (I think you might be using a zipped version of the 8bi file, and not an uncompressed version.)

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2023\Plug-Ins

I did just that and had zero issues. 

The below image is pse 2023 and is just to show you the 8bi file is there, and it works. 

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Thank you Glenn. Here is the result of the download, and it's in the proper file. It seems to be quite a small file, is it compressed? If so, how to I uncompress it?

[Greg_S.]

As I understand it, the plug-in is only used to Open and Save As a WebP file.

Like Glenn, I have successfully installed the plug-in into Elements 2023.  No installer is required.  Simply copy the file to the folder stated by Glenn.  (When I downloaded from the link provided by Laurie, the file was not compressed.)

So, if you go to the Editor's Open dialog, does WebP show up as an available format?  Same question for the Save As dialog:

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Nope, and nope:

[Glenn 8675309]

When things like this happen it generally is because the file is in the wrong location.

Please provide a screenshot of where the file is installed.   Make the screenshot shows everything I do below, particulalry the info in the address bar.:

[Laurie358996978lsh]

It's still here, this is all that is in this folder.

[Greg_S.]

Laurie, I cross-posted with you.  You have the same file size as I do.  So, it is not compressed.

[Laurie358996978lsh]

ok. sigh.

[Greg_S.]

If the file is in the correct location (which it seems to be - but please give us the screenshot requested by Glenn), try the following:

• Go to Windows Settings>Apps>Default Apps
• In the top search box, type in WebP
• Once the search has been completed, you will probably see a browser listed as the default app.  If so,
• Click on the small box at the side of the default app
• Choose the Photoshop Elements 2023 if it is listed.  If not browse to the PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe file in the       C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2023 folder and choose it.  My screenshot shows that I chose Elements 2025:

If none of this works, try uninstalling and reinstalling the program.  Choose to delete the Preferences file when given that option during the uninstall process.

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 Editor already shows up as the default application. I think reinstalling, or upgrading to 2025, is my only hope.

Thanks to both of you for walking me through this. If nothing else, it's good to know I took the right steps.

Laurie

[Greg_S.]

Let us know if reinstalling works for you.

[Laurie358996978lsh]

I still haven't gotten up the nerve to reinstall PSE 2023, wrestling with why I shouldn't just go ahead and update to 2025 while I'm at it. The cost isn't too bad. I just need to commit. Wish me luck, I'll let you all know.

[Jeff Arola]

The WebPShop_0_4_3_Win_x64.8bi could be blocked by Windows.

Right click on the WebPShop_0_4_3_Win_x64.8bi, then click Properties and under General see if it says down in the right hand side towards the bottom of the dialog Unblock

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Hi Jeff. Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I did have the unblock option, which I unchecked. It still didn't install. Rebooted, opened PSE again, no change. But you did remind me that I have Bitdefender, which I'll see if there is something I can change.

[Laurie358996978lsh]

No luck. For fun, I downloaded the plugin from different browsers...all seem to be identical, no change to PSE. I did make sure that I didn't have two of the plugins in the folder. Thanks again.

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Unfortunately, uninstalling (including exsiting preferences) and reinstalling did nothing other than show the plug-in's icon in the plugin folder. I went over all the previous steps you suggested. I'm wondering if I have a setting/preference within pse that I need to activate or change? Is there a way that I can elevate this, or get someone to look around my computer innards via some support option? Thanks again.

[Greg_S.]

You can try a 7 day free trial of Elements 2025 to see whether the plug-in will work for you.  Note that Elements 2025 has a limited 3-year term license instead of the perpetual license of past versions. 

[Laurie358996978lsh]

Thanks, Greg. It kind of galls me to do that since I'm not even halfway through my 3-year lic. of 2023. But I'll do that just for a trial, and let you know.

[Laurie358996978lsh]

The plugin does work in 2025, as it once worked in 2023. It's still a mystery to me. 

[Laurie358996978lsh · Accepted solution]

SOLVED! I'll spare you from all the experimental things I've done that didn't work. I decided to drop the webp plugin into C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2023\Required\Plug-Ins\File Formats, and I added the plugin location to preferences, and now the webp plug in shows up where it should. I can open and save them. Amazing! There seems to be nowhere on the internet that recommends this action, but whatever works! Thanks for all your help!

[Greg_S.]

Thanks for reporting your solution.  Glad you got it working.