Eye of GNOMELinux
vs
Windows Photo ViewerWindows
Eye of GNOME as a Linux alternative to Windows Photo Viewer
Updated
Our verdict
Eye of GNOME is a good replacement for Windows Photo Viewer if you're on a GNOME-based Linux system and want a simple, fast image viewer. It handles common formats, starts quickly, and supports fullscreen viewing, zoom, and keyboard navigation. Automatic EXIF rotation is a small but useful touch. While it lacks some polish in newer GNOME versions—having been replaced by Loupe—it still works well for basic viewing. Not ideal for non-GNOME users or those needing advanced tools, but for straightforward photo browsing, it’s solid.
- License
- GPL-2.0+ and GFDL-1.3
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 50.2 (June 27, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and now WebP and TIFF
- Fast startup and low memory footprint for quick viewing
- Fullscreen mode with keyboard navigation (arrow keys, spacebar)
- Simple zoom and pan using mouse or keyboard
- Basic slideshow functionality for folder images
What is different
- No longer the default GNOME viewer (replaced by Loupe in GNOME 45)
- Slight GTK/GNOME desktop dependency for best integration
- Set as wallpaper feature not present in Windows Photo Viewer
- Does not support printing (unlike Windows Photo Viewer)
- Interface is minimal but slightly more modern than Windows Photo Viewer
Opening your Windows Photo Viewer files
Eye of GNOME opens all image formats that Windows Photo Viewer supports—JPEG, PNG, BMP, and GIF—without issue. It also handles TIFF and WebP, which Windows Photo Viewer doesn’t support natively. You won’t need to convert files. If you have older or obscure formats like ICO or TGA, compatibility isn’t guaranteed, but for standard photo files from cameras or websites, it works reliably. No export options are provided since it’s a viewer only.
Switching from Windows Photo Viewer to Eye of GNOME, step by step
- Install Eye of GNOME via your distro’s package manager (e.g., 'sudo apt install eog' on Debian/Ubuntu)
- Set it as default for image types in your system settings
- Open images by double-clicking or using 'eog filename' in terminal
- Use arrow keys, spacebar, or mouse to navigate in folder or slideshow mode
- Right-click to set an image as wallpaper or rotate based on EXIF data
Key features of Eye of GNOME
- View single images or folders in slideshow mode
- Automatic rotation using EXIF orientation data
- Fullscreen viewing with navigation controls
- Supports common formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, WebP
- Simple zoom and pan with mouse or keyboard
- Set image as wallpaper directly from viewer
- GTK-native interface, fits GNOME desktop
- Lightweight and fast startup
How to install Eye of GNOME on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.gnome.eogFrequently asked questions
Is Eye of GNOME still maintained?
Yes, but it's no longer the default in GNOME 45+. The project is active with updates, though development focus has shifted to Loupe.
Can I use Eye of GNOME on non-GNOME desktops like KDE or XFCE?
Yes, it runs on any Linux desktop, but the interface blends best with GTK-based environments like GNOME or XFCE.
Does it support batch operations or editing?
No, Eye of GNOME is strictly a viewer. For editing or batch work, consider gThumb or GIMP.
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