FastStone MaxView is a tiny, fast, and innovative image viewer. This utility supports all major graphic formats, providing a streamlined experience without unnecessary clutter. Its intuitive layout is specifically designed to maximize screen space, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize an uncluttered, full-screen viewing environment.
The software offers a unique capability: direct viewing of images contained within password-protected ZIP, RAR, and 7-Zip archives. This feature provides a secure and instant solution for accessing private image collections without the time-consuming step of extracting the entire archive first. It also includes support for popular comic book file formats, such as CBR, CBZ, and CB7, expanding its utility beyond standard photo viewing.
In This Article
Tech Specs
| Software Name | FastStone MaxView |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.5 |
| License | Shareware |
| File Size | 4.6MB |
| OS Support | Windows |
| Language | English |
| Developer | FastStone Corporation |
| Homepage | https://www.faststone.org/ |
| Last Updated | 2026-01-24 |
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Directly views images inside password-protected ZIP, RAR, and 7-Zip archives. | It is Shareware, requiring a purchase for a lifetime license after the trial period. |
| Extremely lightweight and fast, with a small file size of 4.6MB. | Only available for the Windows operating system. |
| Supports a wide array of image formats, including major digital camera RAW files. | Lacks the advanced image editing and batch conversion features found in the developer’s other products. |
| Features auto-hidden menus and toolbars to maximize the viewing area. |
Important Features
- Archive and Comic Book Viewing: View images directly from compressed archives, including password-protected ZIP, RAR, and 7-Zip files, without needing to extract them first. The utility also reads comic book formats like CBR, CBZ, and CB7.
- Full-Screen and Magnifier Tools: The application features a true full-screen mode with auto-hidden menus and toolbars to maximize image display. A customizable, crystal-clear magnifier allows for a single-click inspection of image details.
- Extensive Format and RAW Support: It supports common formats like JPEG, PNG, and TIFF, plus a comprehensive list of digital camera RAW formats, including CR2, NEF, ORF, and DNG files.
- Slideshow with Music: Users can create engaging slideshows featuring over 150 transitional effects, complete with optional background music for a personalized presentation experience.
- Lossless Image Manipulation: Perform basic image edits such as rotation and cropping on JPEG files without any loss of image quality.
- Annotation and Metadata Display: Quickly add annotations like texts, arrowed-lines, and highlights to images. The software also displays detailed EXIF metadata for photographic information.
