XnView
XnView is an image viewer and batch converter by Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet (XnSoft, France). It opens over 500 image formats including JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, PSD, RAW files from cameras, and many legacy formats most viewers cannot handle. It is free for personal use, with commercial licenses starting at $5.
Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The cross platform version is called XnView MP.
What it does
Open a folder and XnView shows thumbnails of every image inside. Double-click to view full size, use arrow keys to browse. The viewer supports side-by-side comparison of up to four images at once (Tools > Compare), with synchronized zoom so you can check details across versions.
The batch tools are the main reason to use XnView. Tools > Batch Convert lets you select hundreds of files and convert them to a different format, resize them, add watermarks, or apply transformations - all in one pass. Batch Rename (Tools > Batch Rename) renames files using patterns like "vacation_001, vacation_002" with a live preview before committing.
Metadata editing works across multiple files at once. Select photos, go to Edit > Metadata, and change EXIF or IPTC fields like author, description, or keywords in bulk. The duplicate finder (Tools > Search for Duplicate Files) scans folders by name, size, or content to help you clean up photo libraries.
Advantages
- Opens 500+ image formats, including RAW and obscure legacy types
- Batch conversion, resizing, and renaming across many files at once
- Free for personal use
- Lightweight and fast even on older hardware
Drawbacks
- Interface looks utilitarian compared to modern viewers like FastStone
- Commercial license required for business use
- Photo editing is very basic - not a Photoshop replacement
- XnView Classic and XnView MP can be confusing (MP is the newer version)
Who it is for
XnView is the go-to tool if you work with large collections of images and need batch operations. Photographers use it for metadata editing and format conversion. The 500+ format support means it opens files that Windows Photos and even IrfanView choke on. If you only need basic viewing, the Windows Photos app is sufficient, but XnView earns its place when you need to process files in bulk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is XnView free?
What formats does XnView support?
What is XnView MP?
Features & How-To Guide
| # | Feature | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photo and image browsing | File › Open › Choose folder › Browse thumbnails › Double-click opens in full size › Arrow keys switch between photos. |
| 2 | Batch photo format conversion | Tools › Batch Convert › Add files › Choose output format (JPEG/PNG/WebP/TIFF) › Set quality › Convert. |
| 3 | EXIF and IPTC metadata editing | Select photos › Edit › Metadata › IPTC/EXIF › Edit fields (author/description/keywords/date) › Save. Works batch on multiple files. |
| 4 | Batch photo resize 2 | Tools › Batch Convert › Transformations tab › Add Action › Resize › Type dimensions or percent › Apply › Convert. |
| 5 | Photo comparison 3 | Select 2-4 photos › Tools › Compare › Photos display side by side › Zoom synchronously › Compare details. |
| 6 | RAW file browsing from cameras | File › Open › Choose RAW files (.cr2/.nef/.arw/.dng) › XnView decodes and displays › EXIF preview with photo data. |
| 7 | Batch file rename 4 | Tools › Batch Rename › Choose files › Set name pattern (e.g. "vacation_###") › Preview new names › Rename. |
| 8 | Duplicate photo finder | Tools › Search for Duplicate Files › Choose folder › Comparison method (name/size/content) › List of duplicates › Delete or move. |
| 9 | Contact sheet creation | Tools › Contact Sheet › Choose photos › Set layout (columns/rows/thumbnail size) › Generate PDF or image. |
| 10 | Slideshow creation | Tools › Slideshow › Add photos › Set display time and transition effects › Play full screen or export. |
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