IrfanView

View edit and manage over 130 image formats

IrfanView is a long-running Windows image viewer and basic photo editor built for users who want more control than the default picture viewer provides, without moving into a complex professional editing suite. Its main strength is versatility: it can open and save more than 130 multimedia formats, and its plugin support extends what it can handle even further.

For everyday use, IrfanView works well as a practical image browser. You can open photos, zoom in and out, resize images, and view useful file details directly from the program. The status bar shows information such as pixel dimensions, zoom level, color depth, file size, and memory use. A separate image information panel provides deeper metadata, including path, DPI, compression, color information, and other technical details. This is helpful if you regularly compare versions of the same file or prepare images for websites, documents, or archiving.

The editing tools are simple but useful. IrfanView supports common adjustments such as cropping, red-eye correction, borders, filters, light and contrast changes, tint, gamma, and batch editing. That makes it especially handy when you need to apply the same changes to multiple images, scan documents, or make photos clearer and sharper without learning advanced software.

Format support is another major advantage. In addition to common image files, IrfanView can work with multi-page GIF, TIFF, and ICO files. It also supports TWAIN, allowing image retrieval from compatible printers, digital cameras, and video graphics cards.

The main drawback is the interface. IrfanView is functional, but its menus can feel old-fashioned and crowded, especially for casual users who expect a more modern layout. Some features may take a little exploring to find.

Overall, IrfanView is best for Windows users who need a lightweight, capable image viewer with practical editing and batch tools. It is not the friendliest-looking app, but it remains a dependable choice for managing many image types and making quick, everyday corrections.