How to View JPEG XL (JXL) Images on Windows 11: Quick & Easy Solutions

Mar 11 ·

11 Min Read

Have you ever stumbled upon a new image format and been completely stumped on how to open it? It’s a frustrating experience, especially when you need to view or edit that image. One such image format making waves is JPEG XL (JXL). It promises superior compression and image quality, but the path to viewing these images on Windows 11 isn’t entirely straightforward. I will provide you with some quick and easy solutions so that you can view these JXL images on your Windows 11 device!

JPEG XL (JXL) is a modern, royalty-free image format designed to surpass existing formats like JPEG, PNG, and WebP. It boasts impressive features such as better compression efficiency (meaning smaller file sizes for the same image quality), support for both lossy and lossless compression, wide color gamut, and animation. It’s positioned to potentially replace the older image formats we’re so familiar with, making it important to understand how to work with JXL files.

While Windows 11 has taken steps to support JXL images, it isn’t as simple as double-clicking and viewing. The operating system doesn’t natively support viewing JXL images in common apps like Photos or Paint. You might be wondering, “How do I actually view these files then?” Don’t worry; there are effective workarounds. This post will guide you through a few options: using Windows Media Player Legacy, installing IrfanView with a plugin, and utilizing a Chrome extension. Each method has its own pros and cons, but I’ll help you find the best fit for your needs.

Understanding JPEG XL (JXL)

So, what exactly makes JXL such a promising image format? Let’s take a closer look at its key characteristics:

Superior Compression: One of the primary advantages of JXL is its compression efficiency. It can achieve significantly smaller file sizes compared to JPEG, PNG, and even WebP, without sacrificing image quality. This is especially beneficial for web developers and content creators who need to optimize images for faster loading times and reduced bandwidth consumption.
Lossy and Lossless Compression: JXL supports both lossy and lossless compression methods. Lossy compression reduces file size by discarding some image data, which can result in a slight loss of quality. Lossless compression, on the other hand, preserves all image data, ensuring perfect reconstruction of the original image. This flexibility allows you to choose the compression method that best suits your needs, depending on the specific image and its intended use.
Wide Color Gamut: JXL supports a wide color gamut, which means it can represent a broader range of colors compared to older formats like JPEG. This results in more vibrant and realistic images, especially on devices with high-quality displays.
Animation Support: JXL isn’t just for static images; it also supports animation, similar to GIF or WebP. This makes it a versatile format for creating animated content, such as short videos or looping animations.
Progressive Decoding: JXL supports progressive decoding, which means that the image gradually appears as it downloads. This provides a better user experience, especially on slow internet connections, as users can start seeing the image even before it’s fully loaded.
Royalty-Free: Unlike some other image formats, JXL is royalty-free, meaning that anyone can use it without paying licensing fees. This encourages widespread adoption and innovation, making it a viable alternative to proprietary formats.

These features combine to make JXL a truly next-generation image format with the potential to become a standard for image storage and distribution in the future.

Windows 11 and JPEG XL Support: The Current State of Affairs

As of the latest Windows 11 updates, Microsoft has introduced partial support for JPEG XL through the “JPEG XL Image Extension” available on the Microsoft Store. You can head over to the Microsoft Store and download the extension without paying.

Now, what does this extension actually do? After installing the extension, you’ll gain some basic functionality:

JXL Thumbnails in File Explorer: The extension allows you to see thumbnails of JXL images directly in File Explorer. This makes it easier to identify and manage your JXL files.
Set JXL as Desktop Background: You can set a JXL image as your desktop background. This is a fun way to showcase your favorite JXL images.

However, and this is a crucial point, the extension does not automatically enable JXL viewing in Photos, Paint, or other core Windows applications. That’s where the problem lies. When you try to open a JXL image in these apps, you’ll likely encounter an error message or the app simply won’t recognize the file format.

To clarify this limitation, let’s look at what Microsoft itself states on the extension’s Microsoft Store listing: “You can set JPEG XL images as a desktop background and open JPEG XL images in Windows Media Player Legacy. Support for JPEG XL is coming to additional apps.” This clearly indicates that the support is not yet complete and that Microsoft is planning to add JXL support to more apps in the future.

The current state of JPEG XL support on Windows 11 can be a bit frustrating. The extension provides a glimpse of what’s to come, but it’s not a fully functional solution for viewing JXL images. That’s why you need to rely on the workarounds.

Solution 1: Using Windows Media Player Legacy (Simplest, but Limited)

One of the quickest ways to view JXL images on Windows 11, after installing the extension, is to use Windows Media Player Legacy. This is the older version of Windows Media Player, which is still available on Windows 11.

Here’s how to open a JXL image with Windows Media Player Legacy:

Locate the JXL image you want to view in File Explorer.
Right-click on the image.
Select “Open with” from the context menu.
Choose “Windows Media Player Legacy” from the list of applications. If you don’t see it, click “Choose another app” and find it in the list.

Windows Media Player Legacy should then open the JXL image.

While this method is simple and doesn’t require installing any additional software, it has some significant drawbacks. Windows Media Player Legacy is an outdated application that lacks many of the modern features and enhancements found in more recent image viewers. It’s primarily designed for playing audio and video files, and its image viewing capabilities are basic at best. Additionally, it lacks features that many modern image viewers support, such as zoom, rotate, and advanced editing features.

For these reasons, using Windows Media Player Legacy is not an ideal solution for general image viewing. It’s more of a temporary workaround until Microsoft provides full JXL support in its core apps.

Solution 2: IrfanView with the JPEG XL Plugin (Recommended)

For a more robust and feature-rich solution, I recommend using IrfanView with the JPEG XL plugin. IrfanView is a free, lightweight, and incredibly versatile image viewer that has been around for many years. It’s known for its speed, support for a wide range of image formats, and user-friendly interface.

Here’s why IrfanView is a great choice for viewing JXL images:

Fast and Lightweight: IrfanView is designed to be fast and efficient, even when opening large or complex images.
Wide Format Support: It supports a huge variety of image formats, including JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and, with the plugin, JPEG XL.
User-Friendly Interface: The interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate.
Advanced Features: IrfanView offers a range of advanced features, such as batch conversion, image editing, screen capture, and more.
Free for Non-Commercial Use: IrfanView is free for non-commercial use, making it an excellent option for home users and students.

To view JXL images with IrfanView, you’ll need to install the JPEG XL plugin. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Download and Install IrfanView: First, download and install IrfanView from the Microsoft Store or the official IrfanView website. Make sure to download the correct version for your operating system (32-bit or 64-bit).
Download the JPEG XL Plugin: Next, download the JPEG XL plugin from the IrfanView website. Navigate to the “Plugins” section and look for the “JPEG XL” plugin. Download the appropriate version for your IrfanView installation.
Locate the IrfanView Installation Directory: Once you’ve downloaded the plugin, you need to locate the IrfanView installation directory. By default, it’s usually located at C:\Program Files\IrfanView.
Copy the Jpeg_XL.dll File: Open the downloaded plugin archive (usually a ZIP file) and extract the Jpeg_XL.dll file.
Paste the DLL File into the Plugins Folder: Navigate to the Plugins subfolder within the IrfanView installation directory. Paste the Jpeg_XL.dll file into this folder.
Restart IrfanView: Restart IrfanView to load the new plugin.

Now, you should be able to open and view JPEG XL (JXL) images with IrfanView without any issues. Simply open IrfanView, go to “File” -> “Open,” and select the JXL image you want to view.

I recommend IrfanView as the most versatile solution because it offers a balance of speed, features, and ease of use. It’s a reliable and powerful image viewer that can handle JXL images with ease.

Solution 3: Using a Chrome Extension for Web Viewing

Sometimes, you might encounter JXL images while browsing the web. In this case, you’ll need a way to view these images directly in your web browser. A Chrome extension can provide a convenient solution.

Several Chrome extensions are available that can render and display JXL images on websites. One popular option is the “JPEG XL Viewer” extension. These extensions work by automatically detecting JXL images on web pages and displaying them correctly.

To use a Chrome extension for viewing JXL images:

Install the Extension: Open the Chrome Web Store and search for “JPEG XL Viewer” or a similar extension. Install the extension by clicking the “Add to Chrome” button.
Browse the Web: Once the extension is installed, you can browse the web as usual. When you encounter a JXL image on a website, the extension will automatically render and display it.

While this solution is convenient for viewing JXL images on the web, it’s important to remember that it only applies to web viewing and not to local files stored on your computer. For viewing local JXL files, you’ll still need to use one of the other solutions.

Troubleshooting and Common Issues

While the solutions I’ve presented are generally straightforward, you might encounter some issues along the way. Here are a few common problems and troubleshooting steps:

Plugin Installation Issues with IrfanView:
- Permissions: Make sure you have the necessary permissions to copy files into the IrfanView Plugins folder. You might need to run File Explorer as an administrator.
- Incorrect Folder: Double-check that you’re copying the Jpeg_XL.dll file into the correct Plugins subfolder within the IrfanView installation directory.
- Conflicting Plugins: If you have other image plugins installed in IrfanView, they might conflict with the JPEG XL plugin. Try temporarily disabling other plugins to see if that resolves the issue.
Extension Not Working in Chrome:
- Conflicting Extensions: Some Chrome extensions can conflict with each other. Try disabling other extensions to see if that resolves the issue.
- Extension Permissions: Make sure the extension has the necessary permissions to access web pages. You can check and modify extension permissions in the Chrome settings.
- Corrupted Extension: Try uninstalling and reinstalling the extension to see if that fixes the problem.

If you encounter any other issues, don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comments section. I’ll do my best to help you troubleshoot the problem.

The Future of JPEG XL on Windows 11

As I’ve mentioned, the current support for JPEG XL on Windows 11 is partial and requires workarounds. However, the fact that Microsoft has released the “JPEG XL Image Extension” is a positive sign. It indicates that Microsoft is committed to supporting this new image format and is likely to improve JXL support in the future.

I am hopeful that Microsoft will fully integrate JXL support into core Windows apps like Photos and Paint in future updates. This would make viewing and editing JXL images much more seamless and convenient.

Full JXL support in native apps would bring several benefits:

Seamless Viewing: You would be able to open and view JXL images directly in Photos and Paint without having to install any additional software or plugins.
Editing Capabilities: You would be able to edit JXL images in Paint and other image editing apps, allowing you to crop, resize, and apply filters to your JXL images.
Saving JXL Images: You would be able to save images in the JXL format, allowing you to take advantage of its superior compression and image quality.
Broader Adoption: Full JXL support in Windows would likely lead to broader adoption of the format, as more users would be able to view and share JXL images.

I encourage you to provide feedback to Microsoft regarding JXL support. The more feedback Microsoft receives, the more likely it is to prioritize full JXL integration into its core apps. You can provide feedback through the Feedback Hub app in Windows 11.

Additionally, keep your extensions up to date so they are compatible with any updates to first-party apps from Microsoft.

Conclusion

JPEG XL (JXL) represents a significant step forward in image compression and quality. While Windows 11’s support for JXL is currently limited, there are several ways to view JXL images on your computer. Whether you choose to use Windows Media Player Legacy, IrfanView with a plugin, or a Chrome extension, you can access and enjoy the benefits of this new image format.

I recommend using IrfanView as the most versatile and feature-rich solution. Its speed, wide format support, and user-friendly interface make it an excellent choice for viewing JXL images and other image formats.

Last edited Mar 16