ShotwellLinux
vs
Windows PhotosWindows
Shotwell as a Linux alternative to Windows Photos
Updated
Our verdict
Shotwell is a solid Linux alternative for users who need a simple photo viewer with basic editing and decent organization features. It covers the core needs of Windows Photos—viewing JPEG/PNG/WebP, cropping, rotating, and tagging—while staying lightweight. Power users who rely on advanced AI face recognition or heavy batch processing may find it lacking, but for everyday photo browsing and light tweaks Shotwell works well.
- License
- LGPL-2.1+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 33.0 (September 13, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports common image formats (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP via GDK)
- Basic editing: crop, rotate, straighten, red‑eye removal
- Date‑based and tag‑based organization
- Fast, lightweight UI suitable for quick previews
What is different
- No built‑in video playback; requires external player
- No AI face recognition or automatic sorting
- Batch processing is limited to simple edits, no advanced scripts
- Export options are manual; no one‑click “Save for web” preset
Opening your Windows Photos files
Shotwell can open all standard image files that Windows Photos handles, including JPEG, PNG, and WebP (via the underlying GDK libraries). It does not use a proprietary file format, so there is no special conversion needed. Exporting edited images is straightforward—Shotwell writes the result as a new JPEG/PNG file, preserving the original.
Switching from Windows Photos to Shotwell, step by step
- Install Shotwell from your distro’s repository or Flathub.
- Launch Shotwell and let it scan your Pictures folder.
- Import any existing photo collections using the Import dialog.
- Create tags or albums to mirror the organization you had in Windows Photos.
- If you used video files, set the default video player (e.g., VLC) for playback.
- Adjust preferences for thumbnail size and editor shortcuts to match your workflow.
Key features of Shotwell
- Import photos from camera or disk
- Organize by date, tags, ratings
- Non‑destructive crop, red‑eye, color, straighten
- Support for RAW, JPEG, PNG, TIFF
- Upload to Flickr, Google Photos, etc.
- Fast, lightweight UI
- Integrated with GNOME file manager
How to install Shotwell on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.gnome.Shotwellsudo apt install shotwellsudo apt install shotwellsudo dnf install shotwellsudo pacman -S shotwellsudo zypper install shotwellFrequently asked questions
Can Shotwell edit RAW files?
Yes, Shotwell can import and display many RAW formats, but its editing tools are limited to basic adjustments.
Is there a way to add face recognition?
Shotwell does not include face detection; you would need a separate tool like digikam or an external script.
How does Shotwell handle batch renaming?
Batch renaming is not built in; you can rename files manually or use a file manager script after export.
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