IrfanView - Fast Image Viewer and Converter
IrfanView is a lightweight image viewer and converter by Irfan Skiljan that has been around since 1996. It opens fast, handles over 150 image formats (including modern ones like HEIC and WebP through plugins), and doesn't try to be Photoshop. You open images, view them, and move on. The batch conversion and batch resize tools are the real reason power users keep it installed.
Free for personal use, $18 for a commercial license. Windows only, but it runs well under Wine on Linux.
What it does
Double-click any image and IrfanView opens it instantly. Arrow keys flip through other images in the same folder. That speed alone makes it worth installing as your default viewer - the Windows Photos app feels sluggish in comparison.
Batch conversion (File > Batch Conversion/Rename) is the standout feature. Drop hundreds of files in, pick your output format (JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, WebP), optionally resize or add a watermark through Advanced Options, and hit Start. It chews through them fast. Batch renaming with sequential numbering is in the same dialog.
For quick edits, there's crop (select area, Ctrl+Y), resize (Image > Resize/Resample), and color adjustments (Image > Color corrections). The lossless JPEG operations (Options > JPG Lossless Operations) let you rotate JPEGs without quality loss from recompression.
Advantages
- Opens images faster than anything else on Windows
- Batch conversion and resize handles hundreds of files
- 150+ formats including HEIC, WebP, and RAW
- Tiny footprint - installer under 5 MB
Drawbacks
- Interface hasn't changed much since the late 1990s
- No layer support or advanced editing
- Some formats require separate plugin downloads
- Windows only
Who it is for
IrfanView is the best image viewer on Windows if you value speed and batch processing over a modern interface. Photographers who need to batch-resize or batch-convert hundreds of photos will save hours compared to doing it manually. For viewing alone, ImageGlass has a prettier interface. For editing, GIMP or Photoshop are the obvious steps up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IrfanView free?
What image formats does IrfanView support?
Can IrfanView batch resize photos?
Is IrfanView better than Windows Photos?
Features & How-To Guide
| # | Feature | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quick image preview | Double-click an image file › IrfanView opens it instantly. The left/right arrow keys switch between files in the folder. |
| 2 | Image cropping | Select an area with the mouse › Edit › Crop selection (Ctrl+Y). |
| 3 | Batch resize | File › Batch Conversion › Check Use Advanced Options › Set the new dimensions › Start. |
| 4 | Lossless JPEG operations | Options › JPG Lossless Operations › Rotate/crop without recompression. |
| 5 | Slideshow display | File › Slideshow › Add files › Set the display time › Start. |
| 6 | Thumbnail view | File › Thumbnails (T) › Browse a folder as a grid of thumbnails. |
| 7 | Batch file conversion 7 | File › Batch Conversion › Add files › Choose the target format (JPG/PNG/BMP/TIFF) › Start Batch. |
| 8 | Adding watermarks (batch) | File › Batch Conversion › Advanced › Watermark › Choose the watermark image. |
| 9 | Scanning (TWAIN) | File › Acquire/Batch Scanning › Choose a scanner › Scan directly into IrfanView. |
| 10 | Take screenshot 6 | Options › Capture/Screenshot › Choose the area › Set a keyboard shortcut › Take the screenshot. |
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