XnView Software

(tested on Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce and Linux Mint 21.0 Cinnamon, but may happen on other platforms as well)


Make sure that XnView MP is configured so that double-click, middle-click, and the 'Enter' key are all set to the switching mode:

• Browser <> Fullscreen | Viewer <> Fullscreen

(or, if my suggestion for "Browser > Viewer <> Fullscreen" switching mode ever gets added, then that would probably run into the same issue as well since this bug seems to simply require that you go from viewer --to-> fullscreen --to-> viewer)


1. In a folder with multiple images, open an image in "Viewer" mode

2. Press the 'Enter' key to go into fullscreen mode (assuming that you have

3. Move your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, bringing up the "floating view", and select a different image

4. Press the 'Enter' key to attempt to exit fullscreen, but observe how nothing happens

5. Exit fullscreen via a different method, whether that be via double-clicking or via middle-clicking

6. Press the 'Enter' key again to enter fullscreen, noting how it succeeds

7. Without changing images, press the 'Enter' key again to attempt to exit fullscreen, but observe how nothing happens yet again

I have this problem with Windows 11 and version 1.7.1 and 1.7.2.
Leaving the fullscreen with enter key stops working randomly. Restart of the program restores it.

In my case, I don't even change images with the floating strip, I switch images with just pgup and pgdown. Haven't really been able to narrow down after what action it stops working. Other methods (like double click) still work.

I managed to trace the problem enough that it seems to be about focus. Entering the fullscreen mode sometimes makes the fullscreen viewer to lose focus. Using a mouse double click to switch modes of course brings the focus back, but ENTER naturally doesn't work.

I have a two-monitor setup and I use xnviewmp on both primary and secondary display, depending on what other stuff I'm doing. Sometimes when I move the program to another screen there's of course the problem of dialogs remembering the 'old' screen and the focus seems wonky sometimes. Maybe this has got something to do with it?

do you have a way to reproduce this problem?

I have both Double Click and ENTER set to: Browser <> Fullscreen | Viewer <> Fullscreen.

The moment I bring up the thumbnails in fullscreen, ENTER stops working. It doesn't bring me back to browser or do anything. I don't even have to change the image from the thumbnails, just bring up the strip for a moment. I can leave fullscreen with double click still. After this ENTER mostly doesn't work (in leaving the fullscreen) but occasionally does.

This happens every time, restart fixes it. But sometimes it seems that ENTER stops working even without bringing up the thumbnail strip. I can't figure out why.

My solution was to disable the "Floating views" from Fullscreen settings and it seems to work now. I didn't use the fullscreen thumbnails very often so it's workable for me.

EDIT: I'm using 1.7.1 right now for testing this, 1.7.2 had the same problem but it also forgot the shortcut key to settings constantly so I downgraded.

Bunnier wrote: Tue Jul 23, 2024 4:20 pm EDIT: I'm using 1.7.1 right now for testing this, 1.7.2 had the same problem but it also forgot the shortcut key to settings constantly so I downgraded.

what do you means? settings are not saved with 1.7.2?

xnview wrote: Wed Jul 24, 2024 8:36 am

Bunnier wrote: Tue Jul 23, 2024 4:20 pm EDIT: I'm using 1.7.1 right now for testing this, 1.7.2 had the same problem but it also forgot the shortcut key to settings constantly so I downgraded.

what do you means? settings are not saved with 1.7.2?

1.7.2 - settings - shortcuts - F12 unassigns until restart

Bunnier wrote: Tue Jul 23, 2024 4:20 pm My solution was to disable the "Floating views" from Fullscreen settings and it seems to work now. I didn't use the fullscreen thumbnails very often so it's workable for me.

So no more problem if you disable the 'floating views'?

The program (while running) 'forgot' the shortcut key for settings (F12) constantly. Restarting brought it back.
I could enter Settings from Tools > Settings and toolbar button, but it was awkward especially when I was troubleshooting other things

I switched to 1.7.1 and the problem went away.

So no more problem if you disable the 'floating views'?

Right, no problem after that.

Bunnier wrote: Wed Jul 24, 2024 8:50 am

So no more problem if you disable the 'floating views'?

Right, no problem after that.

ok i'll check why focus change when 'float views' is enabled...

do you have always the problem in 1.8.8?

xnview wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 7:00 am do you have always the problem in 1.8.8?

Apologies for the slightly delayed response but, no, I do not seem to - the issue does appear to be fixed now.