Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between XnView MP and XnView Classic?
XnView Classic is the historical, lightweight Windows-only version (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, 11), ideal for older machines. XnView MP (Multi-Platform) is the modern successor, available on Windows, macOS and Linux. MP handles more recent formats (HEIC, AVIF, JPEG-XL), offers a tabbed interface and a faster engine. For new users, XnView MP is recommended.
Is XnView really free?
Yes. XnView MP, XnConvert and XnResize are free for private, educational or non-profit use. For commercial use in a company, a paid license is required and can be purchased directly on xnview.com.
How many image formats does XnView support?
XnView MP reads more than 500 image formats and can write to about 70 formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, BMP, WEBP, JPEG-XL, AVIF, HEIC/HEIF, PSD, JPEG 2000, OpenEXR, PDF, as well as most RAW formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, ORF, RAF, RW2).
Can XnView open RAW files (CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG)?
Yes. XnView MP displays RAW files from most Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax cameras, with no separate install. For very recent camera bodies, update to the latest version.
How do I open or convert HEIC/HEIF photos from my iPhone?
Yes. XnView MP reads HEIC and HEIF photos (the format used by recent iPhones) natively on Windows, macOS and Linux — no separate codec required in most cases. To convert HEIC to JPEG, PNG or TIFF in batch, drop the photos into XnConvert and choose the output format.
How do I convert several images at once (batch)?
Two options: one-off conversion in XnView MP via Tools > Batch convert; complex processing (filters, watermark, chained resize, text overlay) with XnConvert, which offers more than 80 configurable actions.
How do I resize an image with XnView?
In XnView MP: Image > Resize (Shift+S). Enter the new size in pixels or as a percentage, keep the aspect ratio, choose Lanczos for best quality, then save. To resize many images in one operation, use XnResize (simple and fast) or XnConvert (more control).
What is the difference between XnResize and XnConvert?
XnResize is a minimalist tool dedicated to batch resizing, with a very simple interface. XnConvert is more complete: it resizes, but also handles format conversion, filters, watermarking, text overlay, metadata management and more than 80 chainable actions. Choose XnResize for quick resizing, XnConvert for advanced processing.
Does XnView work on Mac (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3)?
Yes. XnView MP, XnConvert and XnResize provide a native macOS version compatible with Intel and Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4).
Does XnView work on Linux?
Yes. XnView MP, XnConvert and XnResize are available as DEB, RPM, AppImage and tarball packages, in 64-bit and ARM, compatible with most modern distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, openSUSE).
How do I edit or remove EXIF, IPTC or XMP metadata?
In XnView MP, select your images, open Properties (Alt+Enter), Metadata tab. For batch removal or mass changes, use the "Clear metadata" action in XnConvert.
Can XnView manage hierarchical keywords (Lightroom-style)?
Yes. XnView MP supports hierarchical keywords stored in XMP (lr:hierarchicalSubject), with a tree-style category panel for tagging images. Keywords are written to XMP sidecar files or directly to the XMP block of JPEG, TIFF, PSD and RAW, ensuring round-trip compatibility with Adobe Lightroom Classic, Bridge and Photo Mechanic.
Does XnView contain ads or unwanted software?
No. Software downloaded from xnview.com contains no ads, no adware and no bundles. Always download from xnview.com to avoid third-party installers that may add unwanted software.
How do I find duplicates in a photo library?
In XnView MP: Tools > Find duplicates. Comparison is possible by name, size, date, binary content or visual similarity, which also detects recompressed or resized versions of the same image.
How do I compare two images side by side?
In XnView MP, select two or more thumbnails (Ctrl-click), then View > Compare. The viewer opens with synchronised pan and zoom — useful for before/after edits, JPEG quality tests or duplicate verification. Up to four images can be compared at once.
How do I convert an image to PDF with XnView?
Select the images in XnView MP, then Create > Multi-page file, format PDF. For many files or automation, XnConvert handles batch conversion to PDF with more options.
How do I view PDF, PostScript (PS), EPS or AI files?
XnView MP reads PDF natively. For PostScript-based formats (PS, EPS, AI) and for advanced PDF features, install Ghostscript (32-bit or 64-bit, matching your XnView MP build) — XnView MP detects it automatically on next launch.
Is there a portable version of XnView?
Yes. XnView MP ships an official portable archive (Windows, macOS, Linux) that runs without installation: at first launch, you can choose to keep settings next to the executable rather than in %APPDATA% / ~/.config, ideal for USB sticks or shared workstations.
Where are XnView MP settings stored, and how do I move them to another computer?
XnView MP stores its settings in %APPDATA%\XnViewMP on Windows, ~/.config/XnViewMP on Linux, and ~/Library/Application Support/XnViewMP on macOS. Copy that folder to migrate preferences, keyboard shortcuts and the catalog database to another machine.
How do I make XnView the default image viewer on Windows?
In XnView MP: Tools > Options > Integration > File associations, then pick the formats. On Windows 10/11, also confirm via Settings > Apps > Default apps, since Windows requires a per-user confirmation before applying a new default viewer.
Can XnView rotate or crop JPEG files without quality loss?
Yes. XnView MP performs JPEG lossless rotation, flipping and cropping (when the crop aligns with the 8x16 pixel block grid). Use Image > JPEG lossless transformations or Tools > Batch processing to apply rotations to many files based on the EXIF orientation tag.
How do I sort or rename photos by their EXIF capture date?
In XnView MP, sort the browser by Date taken (View > Sort by). To rename in batch using EXIF data, open Tools > Batch rename and use placeholders like {EXIF:DateTime} or {DateTaken|Y-m-d_His}. XnConvert offers the same EXIF-based renaming inside its batch pipeline.
How do I run a slideshow or present photos full-screen?
Select images or a folder, then in XnView MP choose View > Slideshow (or press Enter / F11 depending on the build). XnView MP lets you save slideshows as .ini sessions with custom transitions, intervals, music and per-image timings, ready to be replayed or shown on a TV.
Can XnView play video files (MP4, MOV, AVI)?
Yes. XnView MP plays MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM and most container formats supported by FFmpeg, with thumbnails generated automatically in the browser. The built-in player handles seek, fullscreen and standard playback controls — no codec install required for the formats covered by FFmpeg.
Can XnView read or share metadata with Adobe Lightroom?
Yes. XnView MP reads and writes XMP sidecar files (.xmp) that are compatible with Adobe Lightroom and Bridge — star ratings (xmp:Rating), color labels and keywords (including hierarchicalSubject) are exchanged in both directions. Note: XnView MP is a viewer and organizer, not a RAW development module — Lightroom-specific develop settings (exposure, crop, masks) are not applied to the preview.
Does XnView support color management and ICC profiles?
Yes. XnView MP reads embedded ICC profiles in JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, JPEG-XL and most RAW formats. Configure the working space in Tools > Options > View > Color management — sRGB is the default, Adobe RGB and custom .icc profiles are supported. XnConvert also converts between color spaces or strips profiles in batch.
Where can I ask a question or report a bug?
The official forum newsgroup.xnview.com is the main channel, moderated by the community. Dedicated sections exist for bugs, suggestions and questions in several languages.