In our review, we decided to consider free applications for viewing digital images with high-quality functionality, rich editing options and good performance. Compilation the best programs to view photos will help you learn more about the viewers and choose the one that will meet your requirements.
Rating of programs for viewing photos on a computer
| Programs | Russian language | License | Seal | Rating | launchSlide show |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 7 | Not | |
| Yes | Trial | Yes | 10 | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 6 | Not | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | |
| Yes | Trial | Yes | 10 | Not |
Free Image Viewers
A high-quality utility with editing functions for more than 100 graphic formats and conversion to convenient formats. Allows you to print images, create photo albums, burn photos to disk, protect photos in a directory with a password, batch rename and apply a large set of effects and tools.
The viewer is convenient and functional, has all the options for easy viewing and high-quality processing. The user has access to sepia settings, blurring of corners, rotation, resaving, reduction, increase, etc. Edited pictures can be saved, sent to print or burned to discs. Slideshow, cataloging, hot key settings and adjustment of the position of the material on the sheet are available. The only drawbacks of the editor are the English-language menu and a sufficient load on system resources.
The software allows you to conveniently view and edit images with high quality. Supports popular graphics formats, converts, has RGB settings and batch processing. In the application, the user can create a business card and manage the image by applying a variety of effects.
Features include auto color enhancement, watermarking, red-eye removal, and slideshows with over 100 transitions, music, and effects. When editing a picture, you can change its name and size, remove fragments, correct or change color, use a magnifying glass, remove a shadow. Also available are histogram plotting, tag processing, drag-and-drop file transfer, and commenting on JPEG files.
The options of this multifunctional utility allow you to view and edit images, import various files, convert objects to graphics formats and print the finished work. The user has more than 80 viewer actions, the use of high-quality tools and effects, import in hundreds of formats and conversion to various graphics formats.
The user can scan and print the material without quality loss, customize the desired look of the resulting image, organize a slide show, screen image, create a web page and use the search. The program can be integrated into the Total Commander shell using special plugins.
This Google utility is designed to edit, organize and process images available on a PC. Picasa has tools for editing photos in comparison, using retouching and other tools to improve pictures.
With the help of a photo organizer, you can quickly find, view, enhance and print material, create collages and slide shows with adjustments and effects. The photo editor scans a specific area of the system or HDD, indexes found video files and images for further sorting into visual albums sorted by date. In addition, you can send photos and clips to Google+.
Multifunctional image viewers
A handy application for structuring and organizing images according to various parameters, applying filters and effects, removing duplicates and downloading GPS tracks.
The viewer catalogs images according to the selected parameters (location, photo creation date, unsorted, marked, etc.), so the user can view the material in chronological order, distribute the image by geotags and create his own travel map. Sharing to social networks and smart search are available in Karambis.
The software works with images of most known formats and has functions for editing and converting. It is able to quickly open a file in different viewing modes, recognize audio and video content and expand its capabilities by adding plugins.
The user has access to the built-in editor options, opening little-known video and audio, batch conversion, inserting text, resizing a picture, extracting an image from an icon, and more. You can work in the utility through the keyboard, turn on the thumbnail preview and create screenshots.
The utility converts graphic images to the required format and size, supports popular and RAW digital camera formats, integrates into Windows and has a batch mode.
The converter allows you to quickly resize photos, compress files, manage and process images, publish to the Web, send by mail, change extension and compression, import from memory cards, set up renaming templates and apply watermarks. There are versions for 32 and 64 different operating systems.
Developed by Nero for playback, burning to discs or searching for files in the media directory. Allows you to edit pictures, create images in ISO and NRG formats, play Blu-Ray and HD movies, and burn mp3 files.
Nero Quick Media works with most known formats and provides the ability to share material in in social networks and video hosting sites. In the utility, the user can create a video presentation and slide show, as well as use the face recognition algorithm.
The multifunctional application allows you to view, organize and edit your pictures. It has batch processing, an advanced editor, synchronizes photos with the android version of the program, uploads material to online galleries and social networks.
Users who use Windows 7 may experience various problems while using the built-in tool of this OS for viewing photos. For example, the tool may not run at all or may not open certain image formats. Next, we will figure out exactly how you can fix various problems in the operation of this program.
Specific troubleshooting steps for photo viewer problems depend on the nature of the problem and the cause. The main factors that can cause the malfunction under study include the following:
- File association change or extension identification failure;
- Virus infection of the system;
- Damage to system files;
- Registry errors.
If the tool doesn't start at all, it's likely that its files have been corrupted due to a virus infection or other failure. Therefore, first of all, check the system for viruses using an antivirus utility. By the way, there is also a possibility that the malicious code simply changed the extension of image files (PNG, JPG, etc.) to EXE and that is why photo viewing applications cannot open them.
Then be sure to scan the system for file corruption using the built-in utility.
If none of these general scan methods turned up problems, proceed to the specific photo viewer troubleshooting steps below.
Method 1: Set up file associations
There is a possibility that the cause of the problem lies in the failure of the file association settings. That is, the system simply does not understand which objects the photo viewer should open. This situation could arise when you installed a third-party image viewer, but then uninstalled it. In this case, during installation, he overwrote the image file associations to himself, and after deletion, they simply were not returned to their original state. Then you need to make a manual adjustment.
- click button "Start" in the lower left corner of the screen and select "Control Panel".
- Next, open the section "Programs".
- Click on the item "Associating File Types...".
- A list of all file types registered in the system will be loaded. Find in it the name of the extension of the type of pictures that you want to open using the viewer, select it and click "Change program...".
- In the window that appears in the block "Recommended Programs" highlight the name "Viewing photos..." and click OK.
- After that, the comparison will change. Now given type pictures will open by default with the Windows Photo Viewer. Similarly, change the associations of all those types of images that you want to open through a standard tool. After completing the necessary actions, you can exit the mapping management window by clicking "Close".
Method 2: Editing the Registry
If you are using 64 bit Windows version 7, the problem with the operation of the photo viewer can be solved by editing the system registry.
Attention! Before doing any of the following, be sure to create backup registry and system restore point. This will help you avoid big trouble in case of mistakes.
- Dial Win+R and enter the command in the window that opens:
Click the button OK.
- In the window that appears, open the branch "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT".
- Make settings for JPG files first. Sequentially move to the sections:
jpegfile/Shell/open/command
- Then look for the parameter "Default" on the right side of the interface. Click on it.
- In the only field of the window that opens, instead of the current entry, type in the following expression:
Click OK.
- Next, you should do a similar procedure for pictures with the PNG extension. In directory "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" go through the sections:
pngfile/Shell/open/command
- Reopen the object "Default" In chapter command.
- Change the parameter value to the following:
rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\shimgvw.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen %1
Click OK.
- Finally, you should follow the procedure for specifying the mapping for pictures with the JPEG extension. Go to directories "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" by sections:
PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Jpeg/Shell/open/command
- Open the object in the last named section "Default".
- Change its value to this:
rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\shimgvw.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen %1
Click OK.
- Then close the window "Editor" and reboot the system. After restarting, images with the above extensions will be opened through the standard photo viewer using the second version of the shimgvw.dll library. This should solve the problem with the performance of this program on Windows 7 64-bit version.
Problems with the built-in photo viewer not working can be caused by a number of different reasons. Each of them has its own solution algorithm. In addition, the specific method depends on the bitness of the operating system. But in most cases, problems can be resolved by updating the file type associations.
Now let's see what to use to view images on a computer, we will choose the best photo viewers for Windows. The best photo viewer is a subjective concept, so in this article I will offer several applications with which you can open popular image formats for viewing and processing images.
Any user, when working on a computer, inevitably encounters pictures, images, photographs. In any case, graphic format files will end up on your computer, so you need a program to open and view them. Therefore, a photo viewer is required on a computer to conveniently view digital images.
Windows 10 has a built-in Photos app that lets you open a picture file, create an album, make any necessary edits to a photo, and more. Windows versions Preview application was used Windows images. The user can install Windows Picture Viewer in Windows 10, in addition to the Photos program.
There is a free Photo Gallery app included with the main components Windows Live. The photo album supports opening and editing photos. The program must be installed on a computer (it is not included in the OS).
In addition to applications produced by Microsoft, a large number of third party programs to view and edit images. In this article, we will look at the best free image viewers that have many additional built-in tools for working with graphic file formats.
Third-party photo viewers (viewers) can be used on your computer, as an alternative to standard Windows tools. As the best free image viewers, I recommend the following programs: FastStone Image Viewer, XnView, IrfanView, Ashampoo Photo Commander Free, Honeyview. These programs work in Russian in operating system Windows.
These applications, in addition to basic functions, have tools for editing images. For more serious image editing, you need another program - an image editor (photo).
The best photo viewers, in addition to the viewing function, have additional features that are necessary for working with images on a computer. The programs have built-in tools for performing various operations with digital photographs or any other images: rotate, resize, remove red-eye, image, color correction, convert to other formats, send to print, etc.
The free Picasa program (which would have been included in this review) was left out of this review, due to the fact that Google stopped developing and supporting the application in 2016.
FastStone Image Viewer
FastStone Image Viewer is a powerful free image viewer and editor with a simple, intuitive interface. Built-in tools will help the user solve certain problems with photography: remove red-eye, resize images, apply color correction, convert files, etc.
Available for download regular version FastStone Image Viewer or a portable (portable) version of the program that does not require installation on a computer.
Key Features of FastStone Image Viewer:
- Opening graphic files of the main formats
- Editing digital photos and graphics files
- A large number of built-in tools for working with images
- Batch File Processing
- Batch conversion to another format
- Create slideshows with transitions and effects
- Preview function
XnView
XnView is a free program (for non-commercial use) for viewing images, multimedia files, for converting files to other formats. This is a high-quality program for managing photos on a computer. Thanks to the support of a large number of formats, in XnView, in addition to working with graphic files, for example, you can watch movies or listen to music.
The program has a simple interface, a large number of built-in tools, XnView will perfectly cope with the processing and editing of photos on a computer.
The user can download the regular or portable version of the application to the computer from the XnView official website.
Features of the XnView program:
- Support for over 500 formats
- Photo editing
- Apply filters and effects
- Screen capture
- batch conversion
- Editing metadata
- Convert files to 70 file formats
- Support for viewing video and audio files, archives, documents
- Create a slide show
- Plugins are supported to expand the program's capabilities
IrfanView
IrfanView is a fast free image viewer that consumes minimal computer resources. The program is one of the leaders in the number of downloads in the world for programs of this class. This indirect information tells us about the quality of the application, which is rated by users.
Honeyview is a free image viewer with a simple and intuitive interface. The program quickly opens graphic files, the application has photo editing tools.
You can download it from the official website of the developer, as an installation file or as a portable version.
Features of the program Honeyview:
- Support for a large number of graphic formats
- RAW format support
- Viewing images in archives
- Viewing photos in a slideshow
- Bookmark for favorite photos
- Support GPS data on photo
Conclusion
The user can choose the best Windows photo viewer for their computer. Free programs: FastStone Image Viewer, XnView, IrfanView, Ashampoo Photo Commander Free, Honeyview, are among the best image viewers in this class of software.
Download programs for viewing images and photos.
The best free picture viewers for Windows XP, 7, 8, 10.
Download photo, image, and graphics viewers on your computer.
FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable and convenient viewer, editor and converter. FastStone Image Viewer has a nice set of features, including viewing, comparing and resizing images, removing red eyes, managing (reducing and adjusting) colors.
FastStone Image Viewer features an innovative yet intuitive full-screen view, a handy thumbnail browser, quick access to essential tools through hidden toolbars that pop up when the mouse touches the four edges of the screen.
version: 4.54 from 13 December 2019A free image viewer and editor that lets you take screenshots, view photos in a slideshow, and open video and audio files.
Initially, IrfanView was conceived as a regular photo viewer. But then the creators decided to add some functionality to it, thereby increasing the popularity of the product. Let's take latest version IrfanView and take a closer look at what they did.
version: 2.49.2 from 13 December 2019XnView is a powerful photo viewer that includes some editing tools. With it, you can organize convenient viewing of pictures, change the format of selected files, improve sharpness and brightness, apply a watermark, and create a photo gallery for a web page.
If you are going to show your friends photos from a trip to Thailand or prepare a photo gallery for a website, it is best to do this with XnView - downloading this multifunctional application in such cases will be very useful. Indeed, in addition to creating conditions for comfortable viewing, the program will also allow you to edit images in just a couple of clicks.
version: 3.9.14.259 from 06 November 2015A smart application from Google that will allow you not only to find and organize images on your computer, but also to improve them. It offers a chic set of popular photo editing tools, as well as several basic video editing tools.
First of all, Picasa is known as an advanced image file organizer. You don't have to search all over your computer for a specific photo. Add tags to images or entire folders and sort them the way you want, not just by date. In addition, you will provide yourself with quick access to pictures - thanks to a kind of library located on the left side of the interface, and search tools.
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