Your entire photo library, copied to real folders you can use anywhere.
Sync for iPhoto copies the photos and videos from your Photos library into plain folders — on an external drive, a NAS, a USB stick or any folder you choose. No database, no special software on the other side: just your photos, neatly organized, readable from Windows, TVs, media players and any backup tool.
Getting started takes three clicks: press "Use Default Library" to connect the Photos library on your Mac, drag in a destination folder, and press START. The app asks for permission to read your photos once, exactly when you connect the library — never before.
Synchronization is one-way and incremental: your library is only ever read, and after the first copy only new and changed photos are transferred. Add photos in Photos, run the app, done.
ORGANIZE YOUR WAY
▪ By date: photos grouped into folders by year, month or day — you design the folder and file names with simple tags.
▪ By album: your albums and album folders recreated as real folders.
▪ Copy the edited photos as you see them in Photos, or the untouched originals.
▪ Convert photos to JPEG — perfect when the destination can't display HEIC.
▪ Resize photos to a maximum width and height.
▪ Photos only, videos only, or both.
▪ Filters by date, name, country or city choose exactly what gets copied.
SET IT AND FORGET IT
▪ 14 independent sync setups, each with its own source, destination and options.
▪ Scheduled synchronizations: weekly, or repeating every few minutes.
▪ Optional mirror mode ("Delete on Destination") removes copies of photos you deleted from the library.
▪ Queue syncs to run one after another, or run them at the same time.
▪ Safe to cancel at any time — continue later from where it stopped.
▪ Every operation can be written to a log file.
▪ Fully scriptable with AppleScript.
OLD LIBRARIES WELCOME
Still have an iPhoto library, or a Photos library from an older Mac? Drag it in — Sync for iPhoto reads iPhoto and classic Photos libraries directly, including extras like embedding comments, faces and keywords into the copied files' EXIF/IPTC metadata.
FAQ
• Does the app change my Photos library?
Never. The library is only read; photos are copied out of it.
• What happens when I delete photos in Photos?
Your choice: with "Delete on Destination" enabled, their copies are removed on the next sync, keeping a perfect mirror. Leave it off to keep everything that was ever copied.
• My photos are in iCloud — does this work?
Yes. If "Optimize Mac Storage" is enabled, photos are downloaded automatically as they are copied.
• Is it safe to cancel an ongoing synchronization?
Yes, at any time. The next sync can continue right where it stopped.
Sync for iPhoto requires macOS 11 or later and syncs the library currently set as the System Photo Library. iPhoto and classic Photos libraries can be synced from any location.
This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
682 Pages of text identifying Errors and a backup of random photos
Tamz Dezignz
Not exactly matching the other reviews. I figured if it was that good 2 years ago it would be amazing now. Never expected the last update to be 2 years ago as well. I can't believe you still sell this in the store. What a rip off
Developer Response
You were right that the app had gone too long without an update. That has changed: version 4.0 is a full rebuild on Apple's official Photos framework, organizing your photos and videos cleanly by album or date on current macOS. If you still have it, it's a very different app now — and we're glad to help at info@oktoid.org.
Just what I needed, great software!
TheF150
I like to go through yearly and drop my iPhoto libraries onto external drives for backup and in the past used an elaborate script to export files from iPhoto into a directory by year, month and file for access by non-Mac machines. Unfortunately that script no longer worked and rather than reworking it I decided to see what was available on the AppStore. To my delight I found this application and figured I’d give it a try. I am very pleased! There are so many ways this application allows you to build out the directory structure and file names that are output when using the ‘organize files’ option. In addition it has multiple ‘slots’ so I can have all my exports going on at the same time since I have multiple iPhoto libraries. If you organize your photos at all this is an excellent tool to add to your tool belt and well worth it.
Exactly what i was looking for!
glukow
I always wanted to take my iPhoto/Photos collection and keep it in sync with a folder structure for backup purposes and in case iPhoto/Photos ever became corrupted (it’s happened before). I knew you can export from iPhoto/Photos but it was a manual process and I would either have to know which changes I made and only export those, or export everything again (over 300gb of photos). So when i found this program i was hoping it would be what i was looking for and it is exactly what i was looking for. I can now setup multiple sync connections and have only the changes sync. If your looking to keep your iPhoto/Photos collection in sync with a file structure, this is the program for you. FYI, its a one way sync, from iPhoto/Photos to your file structure.
Iphotos Backup simplified
Cosmaracoare
I have an older mac and use an external drive as my primary library for I photos. While Time machine does a good job baccking up the main HDD I prefer to have extra copies of my pictures. This application automatize this process. It took a little trial an error to figure how it works but overall its a solid product. I emailed the deveoper with questions and they were very fast to respond and help out.
Version 4.0 is a complete modernization of Sync for iPhoto:
▪ Works with the Photos app on modern macOS, using Apple's official photo library technology.
▪ Connect your library with one click using the new "Use Default Library" button — the app asks for permission only when you click, never at launch.
▪ New option: Convert photos to JPEG, for destinations that can't display HEIC photos.
▪ Redesigned Options panel with a cleaner, resizable layout.
▪ iPhoto libraries and Photos libraries from older Macs can still be dragged in and are read directly, as before.
▪ Faster, more reliable incremental synchronization.
▪ Now requires macOS 11 or later.
Version 4.0
The developer, Oktoid, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
