How PicView Displays Image Information and EXIF Data

Press I while viewing an image in PicView to open the Image information window. It shows file details, printing size, megapixels, and EXIF metadata such as the date a photo was taken and its GPS location — and the contents refresh automatically as you browse from one image to the next, so you don't have to close and reopen the window.

This applies to the Windows 10/11 and macOS builds of PicView. The exact fields you see depend on what the file itself carries: a screenshot or an exported graphic may have little or no EXIF data, while a photo straight from a camera or phone typically has plenty.

What the Image information window contains

The window is organized into a few groups:

• File information — basic details about the open file.
• Printing size — the physical dimensions the image would print at.
• Megapixels — the resolution expressed in megapixels.
• EXIF information — camera and capture metadata, including Date taken and GPS location, among others.

Because the panel updates as you move through images, it works well as a quick inspection tool when you're sorting a folder of photos and want to compare capture dates or check which shots carry location data.

Working with GPS coordinates

If the image has GPS coordinates saved in its EXIF data, the information window gives you Google and Bing buttons. Clicking either one opens the corresponding map service at those coordinates, which answers the practical question of where a photograph was taken without you copying numbers by hand.

If the buttons don't lead anywhere useful, the usual cause is that the file simply has no GPS data — not every camera or phone writes location into the image.

Other functions in the same window

The information window isn't read-only. From it you can also:

• Optimize the image — press the Optimize Image button to losslessly compress the current image.
• Rate with stars — click the stars to save an EXIF image rating.
• Rename or move files — edit the corresponding text boxes.
• Resize — change the Width or Height text boxes, or use the % keyboard button to resize by percentage.

These sit alongside the metadata display, so a single panel covers both "what is this image?" and several common edits.

Keyboard shortcuts worth remembering

In the gallery, navigate with the arrow keys or W, A, S, D, and load the selected image with Enter. Holding Shift lets you drag the window, and the hover buttons and hover menu can be turned on or off in the settings window if they get in the way.

Practical notes

• The information window reflects the currently displayed image, so keep it open while you step through a folder rather than reopening it each time.
• EXIF fields like date taken and GPS only appear when the file actually contains them.
• Lossless compression via Optimize Image reduces file size without changing the visible image, which is useful before sharing or archiving.
• Star ratings are written into the EXIF data, so they travel with the file rather than living only in PicView.

PicView is available in both portable and installable versions, and the interface can be switched between dark and light themes.