FAQ
Installation and updates
How do I check for updates?
The app checks automatically at startup; you can also check manually in the About window. The download page always offers the latest version.
Where does the portable edition store its settings?
In the extracted folder (config.ini, next to GuoheView.exe). When you move to another computer, copy the whole folder and your settings come with it.
How do I uninstall completely?
Uninstall the installer edition from Windows "Apps & features". For the portable edition, just delete the extracted folder — nothing is left behind on the system.
My antivirus flags it. What should I do?
GuoheView does nothing malicious: it uploads no data (network access is only used to check for updates), bundles no other software, and does not change system settings. All program files are digitally signed (right-click → Properties → Digital Signatures). Detections are almost always false positives, usually because:
- The app is small and fairly new, so it has not yet built up enough "reputation" with antivirus vendors; some engines warn about any new program
- Traits such as an in-house decoding engine and a no-install portable edition can trigger heuristic false positives
If this happens, we suggest:
- Make sure the installer came from the official download page; you can compare it with the MD5 checksum shown there
- Add the install folder to your antivirus trust zone / allow list
- Report the false positive to the antivirus vendor (most have an online form)
Usage
RAW / HEIC files have no thumbnails in Explorer?
You need the installer edition with the thumbnail extension enabled in Settings. If it still doesn't work after enabling it, restart Explorer (or sign out and back in).
Double-clicking an image doesn't open GuoheView?
Check the formats you want under Settings → File association. Alternatively, right-click an image → Open with → choose GuoheView and tick "Always use this app".
Image colors look wrong?
Check whether the image has an unusual ICC profile or uses CMYK mode — GuoheView applies color management automatically. If it looks different from other software, please send us feedback with the original image.
Why does a RAW photo look different when I switch between "Original" and "Preview"?
When you open a RAW file (CR3 / NEF / ARW / DNG, etc.), the toolbar shows an extra Original / Preview button. When the button is lit (blue), the original is shown; when it is not lit, the preview is shown. Your choice is remembered for all RAW photos you open afterwards. The two come from different sources, so differences are normal:
- Preview: a JPEG generated by the camera at capture time and embedded in the RAW file. It already has the camera's processing applied, so it looks essentially the same as what you saw on the camera screen or in a JPEG shot at the same time.
- Original: GuoheView reads the raw sensor data directly and develops it into a photo on the spot. It only does a neutral development: the white balance recorded by the camera, a standard color conversion, plus automatic brightness stretching. None of the camera's stylized processing is applied.
So the common differences are:
| What you see | Why |
|---|---|
| The original has flatter colors, lower contrast or different brightness | The preview has the camera's picture style or film simulation applied (vivid, portrait, monochrome, etc.); the original does not |
| The original has darker corners or slightly curved straight lines near the edges | The camera applied lens corrections (vignetting, distortion, chromatic aberration) to the preview, but not to the original |
| The original shows more noise when zoomed in and looks less "sharp" | The preview went through the camera's noise reduction and sharpening |
| The framing or aspect ratio differs | If the camera was set to a 16:9 or 1:1 crop, or used in-camera cropping, it only applies to the preview |
| The preview is not sharp enough at 100% | Some cameras embed a preview with a lower resolution than the sensor, while the original is full resolution |
| Switching to the original takes a moment | The original requires fully decoding the RAW data; the first time is slower, and viewing the same image again is much faster |
Which to use: for quick everyday browsing, or to see "how it looked the moment you shot it", the preview is enough (it is also the default). Switch to the original when you need to check focus, noise or other detail, or need full resolution.
Neither view modifies the RAW file itself. Also note that the original is not the same as what Lightroom, the camera maker's software or other editors show: those apply their own default profiles and lens corrections, so colors will differ.
Large images open slowly or stutter?
Very large TIFF files and panoramas load in tiles on demand, so you can browse right away. If a particular file stutters badly or crashes, please mention its size and format when reporting.
Feedback channels
- Roadmap page: search for existing feedback, vote for it, or submit new feedback
- QQ group: 1075284401, good for quick discussion and sharing sample files