While Windows 10 comes with built-in Microsoft Photos, the photo viewer is slow and crashes often. So, if you are looking for a third-party photo viewer, we got you covered. In this post, we share a list of 5 best photo viewers for Windows 10 that you can consider.
What is a photo viewer?
For the unversed, a photo viewer is software that can display stored pictures. You can use it to cut, copy, delete, rename and convert images from one format to another. It can handle common file formats such as PNG, BMP, JPG, etc.
Which is the best photo viewer for Windows 10?
Following is a list of top photo viewers for Windows 10. The list includes both free as well as paid software.
Movavi Photo Manager
This tool for Windows allows you to manage digital photos collection. Movavi Photo Manager allows you to edit single or multiple images and helps you to flip, crop, rotate and resize photos. It allows you to manage PNG, JPEG, RAW, and other formats and detects faces in the picture automatically and helps create an album for each person. Moreover, it can help you add tags to image files and find and remove duplicate photos from the hard drive.
Pros
- Can select visually similar images
- Help you view photos in full-screen mode
- Helps review photo albums created automatically
Cons
- No mobile version available.
- Windows Only.
ImageGlass
ImageGlass is one of the best photo viewers with modern UI.It is a simple tool with a modern UI that does not include bells and whistles. That said, performance-wise, it is far superior to the Microsoft Photos app.
It has a negligible loading time and you can get the preview of the images instantly. Also, it comes with a quick menu on top of the image which gives you quick access to all necessary features like zoom, rotation, print, etc., on the top bar itself. If you want to rotate an image, all you need to do is click on the rotate button.
Pros:
- Modern UI
- Quick and accessible menus
- Feature-rich
- Active Development
Cons:
- Unaware of DPI
Pictureflect Photo Viewer
Pictureflect Photo Viewer is built on the UWP framework and is one of the best photo viewer tools on the market. It’s fast and minimalist and supports various formats including PNG, RAW, WEBP, DNG, JPG, and more.
Additionally, it supports GIFs making it all the more perfect for use. So, if you have a touchscreen Windows 10 computer, you can simply tap near the bottom edges for navigation and control.
Pictureflect allows you to choose the background color, set slideshow intervals, display EXIF information, customize zoom settings, and more. Also, if you want more editing features, you can purchase the app and edit images on it.
Pros;
- Simple UI
- Built on UWP
- Shows EXIF
- Supports touchscreen Windows 10 devices
Cons
- It can get slow sometimes
FastStone Image Viewer
FastStone Image Viewer is your go-to tool if you want to view images in full-screen always. It is fast, opens a range of image formats, and provides you with a full view of the image in its entirety. Also, it comes with several editing options including color management, viewing histogram, changing effects, etc.
It comes with a full-screen preview feature which is great for a photo editor and can help you get a clear idea of the image.
Simply put, this app is designed for people who love to work on images. We recommend this app to every photographer or image out there. Go ahead and try it!
Pros:
- Offers tree view for photo management
- Supports several image formats
- Includes color management and editing
- Full-screen mode
Cons:
- Outdated UI
XnView
A popular app, XnView can organise several images in a single, tabbed window. This ability allows users to view and navigate all photos simultaneously. For example, you can compare different images side by side and organize them in a single window and also get to preview images in detail. It allows you to zoom, rotate and start a slideshow in the same window.
Pros:
- Tabbed UI
- Quite fast
- Handles several images simultaneously
- Can help change orientation and start a slideshow in a single click
Cons:
- Only advance editing
FAQs
1. Are these photo viewers free to use?
Most of the mentioned photo viewers have free versions available, with some offering additional features in their paid versions. IrfanView, XnView, FastStone Image Viewer, and HoneyView are free for non-commercial use. ImageGlass is open-source and free for all users. ACDSee offers a free trial, with paid versions available for advanced features.
2. Can I use these photo viewers as a replacement for the default Photos app in Windows 10?
Yes, you can set any of these photo viewers as the default app for viewing images on your Windows 10 system, replacing the default Photos app.
3. How do I set a different photo viewer as my default image viewer on Windows 10?
To set a different photo viewer as your default image viewer, follow these steps:
- Install the photo viewer of your choice.
- Right-click on any image file.
- Select “Open with” > “Choose another app.”
- From the list of applications, choose your preferred photo viewer.
- Check the box that says “Always use this app to open [file extension] files.”
- Click “OK.”
4. What factors should I consider when choosing a photo viewer?
When choosing a photo viewer, consider factors like supported file formats, speed and performance, user interface and ease of use, editing and annotation capabilities, slideshow functionality, and whether the software is free or paid.
5. Can these photo viewers edit images as well?
Some photo viewers, like IrfanView, XnView, FastStone Image Viewer, and ACDSee, offer basic image editing features such as cropping, resizing, and color adjustments. However, if you need more advanced editing capabilities, consider using dedicated image editing software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP.
Parting Thoughts
Hopefully, from this list you can choose the best photo viewer for Windows 10. Do your research and choose the one that suits your requirements.
