irfanview64.exe

What is irfanview64.exe?

irfanview64.exe is the 64‑bit executable for IrfanView, a fast, lightweight image viewer and converter. It opens images, displays photos in a window or fullscreen, and supports batch operations. It remains compact, uses minimal memory, and loads quickly for everyday image viewing and simple editing.

IrfanView uses a straightforward, single-process architecture with optional plugins for extra formats. The i_view64.exe binary handles the UI, image decoding, and rendering, delegating tasks to plugins when installed.

Types of IrfanView Processes

• Viewer Process: Main i_view64.exe window handling image display
• Slideshow Process: Handles full-screen slideshows when activated
• Converter/Batch Process: Performs batch conversion tasks via command line or UI

Is irfanview64.exe Safe?

Yes, irfanview64.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from IrfanView downloaded from official sources (irfanview.com) or installed via reputable distribution.

Is irfanview64.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real irfanview64.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.

How to Tell if irfanview64.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\\Program Files\\IrfanView\\i_view64.exe or C:\\Program Files (x86)\\IrfanView\\i_view64.exe. Any irfanview64.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click the process in Task Manager → Open file location → Right-click i_view64.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "IrfanView" or "Irfan Skiljan".
3. Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-15% CPU per process, 50-200 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when IrfanView is not in use is suspicious.
4. Behavior: IrfanView should only run when you open images or start a batch. Multiple unknown processes when idle indicates malware.

Why Is irfanview64.exe Running on My PC?

irfanview64.exe runs when you open IrfanView or when certain image operations are queued. It may stay active for slideshows or batch conversions.

Reasons it's running:

• Active Image Viewing: You're viewing an image or scrolling through a folder; the viewer process is active.
• Slideshow or Fullscreen: A slideshow is running or a full-screen preview is active, keeping the process alive.
• Batch Conversion: You started a batch conversion or format change, which uses i_view64.exe to process files.
• Plugins Handling: Plugins loaded for additional formats or editing tasks may run in support processes.
• File Association: Windows associations trigger i_view64.exe when you double-click an image in Explorer or drag-and-drop into IrfanView.

Can I Disable or Remove irfanview64.exe?

Yes, you can disable irfanview64.exe. It's safe to close IrfanView when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you no longer need it.

How to Stop irfanview64.exe

• Close IrfanView: Close the application window or use File → Exit
• End Task: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find i_view64.exe, right-click → End Task
• Disable Startup: If IrfanView starts on login, disable it in Task Manager → Startup
• Disable File Associations: In IrfanView, disable Start with Windows, or in Windows Settings → Apps → IrfanView remove image file associations

How to Uninstall IrfanView

• ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → IrfanView → Uninstall
• ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → IrfanView → Uninstall
• ✔ Delete remaining folder: C:\Program Files\IrfanView (and C:\Program Files (x86)\IrfanView if present)

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If irfanview64.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

• Large image files: Open large images may consume memory; close large files or resize using IrfanView
• Batch processing: Batch conversions may peak CPU; run during idle times or limit files per batch
• Plugins: Disable or remove unused plugins via Options → Plugins
• Thumbnail caching: Disable thumbnail generation or clear cache under Thumbnails options
• Outdated IrfanView: Update to the latest version from irfanview.com
• Background tasks: If IrfanView is set to run on startup, disable it in Task Manager Startup

Related Processes