Skip to content

IrfanView

ApplicationIrfan Skiljan

Also called irfan view, iview

Irfan SkiljanCreative

A tiny fast image viewer that still needs a plugin pack for some formats. i_view64.exe is the process. It is not Photos.

What you need to know

IrfanView is a tiny viewer. It is not Windows Photos.

i_view64.exe is Irfan Skiljan's viewer. Some formats need the plugin pack from irfanview.com. Photos is Microsoft.

What is it?
Image viewer
Still current?
Yes, see Current status
Official download?
Use the vendor link in this article
Feex says
If i_view64.exe is the process, that is IrfanView, not Photos. I would not hunt the Microsoft Photos app to explain a missing RAW plugin.

What is IrfanView?

IrfanView is a lightweight image viewer and converter. The Windows 64-bit executable is i_view64.exe.

If you have never used it

IrfanView is a small fast image viewer. i_view64.exe is the 64-bit process. It is not the Windows Photos app. Some formats need the official plugin pack from irfanview.com. Download the viewer and the plugins from that site.

What is it used for?

Fast view

Open JPEG and PNG instantly. Photos is the Microsoft app. This is IrfanView.

Batch convert

Rename and convert folders. Photos does not do this the same way.

Plugin formats

RAW and extras need the plugin pack. That ZIP is official. XnView is a different viewer.

Who is it for?

  • People who want a tiny viewer
  • Anyone who hates Photos
  • Users who forgot the plugin pack

Current status

IrfanView (1996) is a current image viewer from Irfan Skiljan. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.irfanview.com/.

How old is it?

Irfan Skiljan shipped IrfanView in 1996. Windows Photos is a Microsoft Store app that keeps changing names. Current IrfanView is still the tiny viewer plus an optional plugin ZIP.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Current Windows build

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor
RAM Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand
Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
i_view64.exe Main Windows executable

Startup components

IrfanView does not need to start with Windows.

File locations

Common IrfanView locations
Typical install C:\Program Files\IrfanView\

File formats

JPEGPNGGIFmany via plugins

Common problems

RAW will not open

Install the official plugin pack. This is not a Photos codec.

32-bit i_view32 leftover

Current Windows is i_view64.exe. The 32-bit exe is the old name.

Getting unstuck

Confirm i_view64.exe

Program Files\IrfanView is the app. Photos is a Microsoft Store package.

Install plugins from irfanview.com

The plugin ZIP is a separate download. Do not use a random pack.

Set file associations in IrfanView

Properties > Set file associations. Settings > Apps can steal them back.

Alternatives

XnView MP, ImageGlass, and Photos overlap. Photos does not replace IrfanView batch convert.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download www.irfanview.com/ Official installer or vendor page
Help www.irfanview.com/main_help.htm Vendor support
Official site www.irfanview.com/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

Any current PC runs it. The point is how small it is.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Was this article useful?