COSMIC 1.9 finally gets its own image viewer, and it even comes with its own editing tools

Published Sep 25, 2026, 12:10 PM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary COSMIC Viewer debuts in Epoch 1.9.0 as a native image viewer. Offers EXIF-aware details, non-destructive edits, annotations, and a hex color picker. Also adds COSMIC OSK virtual keyboard, Store UI refresh, and many bug fixes. The COSMIC desktop environment hasn't even celebrated its first anniversary of its public release, after it officially entered the scene in December 2025. However, it's already making big waves within the community, with several Linux distros supporting it outside of its home at Pop!_OS. Now, COSMIC fans will be pleased to hear that the desktop environment has its own image viewer, and it does more than just show you your family photos. COSMIC Epoch 1.9.0 introduces COSMIC Viewer into the mix It seems like a solid image viewer despite being brand new Credit: System76 Over on the COSMIC GitHub repo, the System76 team has announced the release of Epoch 1.9.0. My favorite feature from the list is COSMIC Viewer, which finally gives the desktop environment its own unique tool for viewing images without relying on external tools. It comes with all the basics you'd expect from an image viewer, including navigation, zoom, and saving the image. However, it also comes with some very nice tools that some years-old operating systems still haven't managed: EXIF-aware image details Non-destructive editing: crop, rotate, undo/redo, and revert all Annotation: freehand pen, highlighter, shapes (rectangle, ellipse, arrow, line, star, polygon), and text Custom colors via a hex/RGB picker with recent colors Clipboard: copy the image or its file path Set as wallpaper on the current or all displays Move to trash from within the viewer If you're not interested in image viewers, COSMIC Epoch 1.9.0 also adds COSMIC OSK, a virtual keyboard that accepts touch and gamepad inputs. The COSMIC Store got a new coat of paint, which mainly focuses on better showing who developed each app. Plus, there's a ton of bug fixes for all the apps you know and love already.