What Operation Modes Does feh Offer?

Updated

feh provides four main operation modes: slideshow, thumbnail, list, and multiwindow. Each mode is suited to a different task — browsing a directory full-screen, picking from a visual grid, inspecting image metadata in text form, or opening many images at once. The right choice depends on whether you want to view images, select them, or read information about them.

Slideshow mode

Slideshow mode shows all files in or below a directory. You can change slides with the keyboard or let feh advance automatically after a delay. This is the mode to use when you want to page through a folder of images without opening each one individually.

Typical use case: reviewing a directory of photos or screenshots in sequence, either manually or hands-free.

Thumbnail mode

Thumbnail mode lists files as clickable thumbnails. Instead of viewing one image at a time, you get a visual grid and can click a thumbnail to act on it. This is useful when you need to identify an image by appearance rather than by filename.

Typical use case: finding a specific image in a folder where filenames are not descriptive.

List mode

List mode produces ls-like output that includes image dimensions and similar information. It is a text-oriented view rather than a visual one, so it fits scripting, quick inspection, and situations where you want metadata without opening a window per file.

Typical use case: checking the dimensions or basic properties of many images at once.

Multiwindow mode

Multiwindow mode opens all images at once, each in its own window. This differs from slideshow mode, where images share a single viewing context and you move between them.

Typical use case: comparing several images side by side, or working with multiple images simultaneously on a desktop.

Choosing between the modes

Mode Output form Best for
Slideshow One image at a time, keyboard or timed advance Sequential browsing of a directory
Thumbnail Clickable thumbnail grid Visual selection by appearance
List Text output with dimensions and metadata Inspection, scripting, metadata checks
Multiwindow All images open at once Side-by-side comparison

All four modes are part of feh's design as a light-weight, configurable, and versatile image viewer aimed at command-line users, though it can also be started from graphical file managers. Beyond viewing, feh can compile text and thumbnail listings, show (un)loadable files, set X11 backgrounds, and more.

Related capabilities worth knowing

  • HTTP/FTP support is optional via libcurl, so remote images can be part of your workflow when that support is compiled in.
  • Wallpaper setting: feh can be used as a wallpaper setter and supports rxvt transparency.
  • Filelist support: you can drive feh from a file list rather than only from directory contents.
  • Custom actions: configurable shell commands let you act on images — for example, sorting them — directly from within feh.
  • Keyboard shortcuts: there are many configurable shortcuts, and feh remains usable without a mouse.

The current release shown on the site is feh v3.13.1 (2026-09-16). That release improved the behaviour of --scale-down in tiling window managers, so newly loaded images should no longer flicker. If you use a tiling window manager and rely on scaling, that fix is relevant to you.

For exact flags, key bindings, and mode-specific options, the feh manual is the authoritative reference.