nomacs - Image LoungeLinux
vs
Windows Photo ViewerWindows
nomacs - Image Lounge as a Linux alternative to Windows Photo Viewer
Updated
Our verdict
nomacs is a good replacement for Windows Photo Viewer if you want a lightweight, fast image viewer with basic navigation and support for common formats. It starts quickly, uses little memory, and handles fullscreen, zoom, and keyboard controls well. The clean interface focuses on single images, and it includes a basic slideshow. While it has extra features like metadata and archive browsing, they don’t get in the way. Ideal for users who want simple viewing with optional advanced tools available.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 3.23 (November 11, 2011)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports common image formats like JPEG, PNG, BMP, and GIF
- Fast startup and low memory footprint
- Full-screen mode with simple zoom and pan controls
- Keyboard navigation using arrow keys, spacebar, and Enter
- Basic slideshow functionality with adjustable delay
What is different
- Includes optional panels (thumbnails, metadata, histogram) that are hidden by default
- Can browse images inside ZIP and Office archives
- Allows adding notes to images, which Windows Photo Viewer doesn’t support
- Has a file explorer panel for folder navigation
- Missing direct printing support — not a core feature but present in Windows Photo Viewer
Opening your Windows Photo Viewer files
nomacs opens all image formats supported by Windows Photo Viewer, including JPEG, PNG, BMP, and GIF, without issues. It can also extract and display images from ZIP archives and some Office files, which adds flexibility. There's no export or conversion feature, but that’s not typically needed for basic viewing. If you only view standard photo files, compatibility is complete.
Switching from Windows Photo Viewer to nomacs - Image Lounge, step by step
- Install nomacs via your package manager (e.g., sudo apt install nomacs) or Flatpak
- Launch nomacs and drag an image folder into the window
- Press F11 for full-screen or use arrow keys to navigate
- Enable cache in Settings > View > Cache for faster image switching
- Hide thumbnails or metadata panels if you prefer a cleaner look
Key features of nomacs - Image Lounge
- Semi‑transparent widgets for thumbnails, metadata, histogram
- Browse images inside ZIP or Office archives
- Add notes to images
- File explorer panel for folder navigation
- Filter images by filename or regex
- Cache for instant image switching
- Thumbnail preview of current folder
- Open‑source GPL‑3.0 license
How to install nomacs - Image Lounge on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.nomacs.ImageLoungesudo apt install nomacssudo apt install nomacssudo dnf install nomacssudo zypper install nomacsFrequently asked questions
Does nomacs work offline?
Yes, nomacs works fully offline and doesn’t require internet access.
Can I use nomacs without seeing thumbnails or metadata?
Yes, the panels are optional and can be hidden via View menu or shortcuts.
Is nomacs actively maintained?
Yes, it's actively developed and packaged in major distributions like Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu.
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