XnView MP: The Complete Guide for Windows, macOS & Linux

How to Batch Rename and Convert Images with XnView MPXnView MP is a powerful, free (for personal use) image management tool available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It combines an image viewer, organizer, and batch-processing engine in one application, making it an excellent choice for photographers, designers, and anyone who needs to handle large numbers of images quickly. This guide covers everything you need to know to batch rename and convert images with XnView MP, from installation and basic navigation to advanced renaming patterns and conversion options.

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What you’ll need

• A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• XnView MP installed (download from the official site).
• A folder with images you want to process (back up originals if needed).

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Getting started: Installing and launching XnView MP

1. Download the appropriate installer for your OS from the official XnView MP website and run it.
2. Launch XnView MP. On first run it will scan common folders and present a file browser-style interface.
3. In the left pane use the folder tree to locate the images you want to process. The central pane shows thumbnails; the right/preview pane shows selected image(s) preview and metadata.

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Basic workflow overview

There are two core tasks:

• Batch renaming — change file names using patterns, metadata, or sequences.
• Batch converting — change image formats, resize, apply filters, or set output quality.

XnView MP combines these in the Batch Processing dialog, which lets you add files, set output options, and perform renaming and conversion in a single run.

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Opening the Batch Convert/Rename dialog

1. Select the files or folder in the browser pane (Ctrl/Cmd + A to select all).
2. Right-click and choose “Batch Convert…”, or use the menu: Tools → Batch Convert… (or press F2 on some setups).
3. The Batch Convert dialog opens. It has three key areas:
   • Input list: files added for processing.
   • Output settings: destination folder and filename pattern.
   • Actions/Options: conversion format, resize, filters, metadata handling, and the Rename tab.

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Adding files and folders

• Drag-and-drop images from the browser to the Input list.
• Use the “Add” button to add individual files, or “Add Folder” to include whole directories (with optional subfolders).
• Use filters to include only certain file types (e.g., *.jpg; *.png).

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Batch renaming: patterns and examples

XnView MP supports a pattern-based renaming system that can include text, counters, date/time, and metadata (EXIF/IPTC). Open the “Rename” tab in the Batch dialog.

Common pattern tokens:

• {name} — original base filename (without extension)
• {ext} — original file extension
• {#} or {nnn} — sequential numbering; number of digits equals the number of n’s (e.g., {000} → 001)
• {date} — file date (format depends on settings)
• {exif:YYYY} or other EXIF tags — specific metadata fields
• {width} and {height} — image dimensions

Examples:

• Sequential names: Vacation_{000} → Vacation_001.jpg, Vacation002.jpg Pattern: Vacation{000}
• Preserve original name with prefix: Edited_{name}
• Add capture date: IMG{exif:YYYYMMdd}{000} → IMG_20220428001 Pattern: IMG{exif:YYYYMMdd}_{000}
• Include resolution: Photo{width}x{height}{000} → Photo_4000x3000_001

Tips:

• Preview the Output column to verify names before running.
• If EXIF data is missing for some files, include fallbacks (e.g., use {date} instead).
• Use zero-padded counters ({000}) to maintain proper sorting.

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Batch converting: format, quality, and resizing

In the Batch dialog’s main tab, choose output format from the “Output format” or “Format” dropdown (e.g., JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, GIF, HEIC where supported).

Key options:

• JPEG quality: set quality percentage (80–95 is common for good quality/size balance).
• PNG compression: choose compression level (lossless).
• Preserve metadata: check or uncheck to include EXIF/IPTC in the output.
• Color profile: convert or embed ICC profiles if needed.
• Overwrite handling: choose to overwrite existing files, rename, or skip.

Resizing and image processing:

• Click the “Actions” or “Transformations” button to add actions such as Resize, Crop, Rotate, Rotate by EXIF, Adjust colors, Sharpen, and Apply filters.
• Resize modes: exact pixels, percentage, fit within dimensions, or set long/short side.
• Interpolation: choose bicubic or Lanczos for better quality downsizing.

Example workflow to convert RAW to JPEG, resize to 1920px wide, and rename:

1. Add RAW files to Input list.
2. Choose Output folder.
3. Set Format = JPEG; Quality = 90.
4. Click “Actions” → add “Resize” → set width = 1920, maintain aspect ratio.
5. Open “Rename” tab → set pattern: Event{exif:YYYYMMdd}{000}
6. Preview results and click “Convert”.

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Using metadata in filenames

EXIF and IPTC fields are accessible with tags. Common EXIF tokens:

• {exif:DateTimeOriginal} or formatted {exif:YYYYMMdd}
• {exif:Make} and {exif:Model} (camera make/model)
• {exif:Artist} (photographer)

If using non-ASCII characters in metadata, ensure your output file system supports the characters and XnView MP settings for filename encoding are appropriate.

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Advanced tips

• Use the “Save preset” feature to save recurring batch jobs (format + actions + rename pattern).
• For very large batches, process in smaller chunks to avoid memory or timeout issues.
• Combine multiple actions (resize + sharpen + convert) to create a consistent export workflow.
• If preserving originals is critical, set output to a separate folder or enable automatic renaming to avoid overwrites.
• Use “Preview” in the main window to quickly inspect images before adding to the batch.

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Troubleshooting common issues

• Missing EXIF data: files from some sources (screenshots, edited images) may lack EXIF; use file date or manual input instead.
• Filenames not applying: ensure Rename is enabled and the Output list shows new names in Preview.
• Color/profile shifts after conversion: enable ICC profile embedding or convert profiles explicitly.
• Slow performance: disable heavy filters, or process in smaller batches; increase cache in XnView MP settings.

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Command-line batch processing (optional)

XnView MP includes a command-line tool (on some platforms) called xnviewmp or xnconvert in the XnView suite. This is useful for scripted or automated tasks.

Example (conceptual):

xnconvert -in "input_folder/*.CR2" -out "output_folder" -format jpeg -quality 90 -resize 1920 -rename "Event_{YYYY}{MM}{DD}_{000}.jpg" 

Check your installed XnView binaries and consult the included help for exact flags and syntax.

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Summary

XnView MP makes batch renaming and conversion straightforward with a flexible pattern-based renamer and powerful conversion options—format selection, quality, resizing, and filters. Use the Batch Convert dialog to combine renaming and conversion in one operation, save presets for repeated tasks, and always preview before committing to large batches to avoid accidental overwrites or unwanted results.