Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Rando

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Compatibility & Storage

Supported formats and devices

Features & Usage

What you can do with Rando

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Pricing & Subscriptions

Cost and billing information

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Privacy & Security

Learn how we protect your photos

🛠️

Technical Support

System requirements and help

💾 Compatibility & Storage

Will this work with my external drives?

Yes! Absolutely.

Rando works perfectly with:

  • External USB drives (USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt)
  • External SSD and HDD drives
  • Network-attached storage (NAS) - Synology, QNAP, Western Digital, etc.
  • USB sticks and memory cards - Perfect for previewing what's on mystery drives
  • Network drives and shared folders - Windows file shares, SMB/CIFS mounts
Pro tip: You can mix photos from multiple sources (internal drive + external drive + NAS) into one randomized pool! Perfect for users with photos scattered across different storage devices.
What about iCloud Photos / Photos Library?

Yes! Photos Library integration is now available on macOS.

You can browse and select albums directly from your Mac's Photos Library:

  • Click "Select Source" then "Photos Library" to browse your albums
  • Select multiple albums and mix them with local folders (Pro feature)
  • Recently selected albums appear in the Recents menu for quick access
  • Hidden album access available via Preferences (requires macOS privacy setting)
  • Recently Deleted is automatically filtered out for safety
  • Full slideshow support with proper sorting and filename display

Privacy note: Rando requests read-only access to your Photos Library. Your photos never leave your Mac - we can't see them.

Note: Photos Library integration is macOS only. Windows users can access local folders and external drives.

What file formats does Rando support?

Rando supports all common image formats:

  • Photos: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, HEIF, TIFF, BMP
  • Animated images: GIF (with full animation playback in slideshow)
  • RAW formats: Nikon NEF, Canon CR2/CR3, Sony ARW, Adobe DNG, Olympus ORF, Panasonic RW2, Pentax PEF, Fujifilm RAF

macOS: Most RAW formats work natively through the system's built-in support.

Windows: HEIC and RAW formats are supported natively using the built-in Magick.NET library. No additional codec extensions required!

Your iPhone photos and professional camera RAW files work out of the box.

How many photos can Rando handle?

A lot. Rando scans at the filesystem level, not EXIF, so it loads tens of thousands of photos in seconds, not minutes. Even faster on Apple Silicon.

  • Successfully tested with 100,000+ photos
  • Smart caching and off-thread processing prevent freezing
  • Fast indexing even on network drives
  • Adjustable scan performance settings for slower systems

Whether you have 500 photos or 50,000, Rando handles it smoothly.

✨ Features & Usage

Why not just use Google Photos or iCloud Photos?

The randomization experience and privacy.

They don't shuffle. Google Photos and iCloud Photos don't offer true randomization. Their "Memories" features use algorithms to surface photos based on dates, people, and places - predictable and curated, not random. You see the same highlights over and over.

Rando gives you genuine surprise and control. Every click delivers something unexpected from your entire collection. When something catches your eye, you can drill into that folder and explore that moment. Then zoom back out to random. You'll rediscover photos you'd never have browsed to manually.

Plus, there's the privacy advantage: Cloud services require uploading everything to their servers, which means:

  • Your photos live on someone else's computers
  • AI scanning analyzes every image (even your private ones)
  • Ongoing monthly costs for large libraries (often $10-20/mo)
  • Privacy policies can change without your control
  • Requires constant internet connection

Rando keeps everything local. Your photos stay on YOUR drives. We literally cannot see them - there are no servers to upload to.

Bottom line: If you want to be genuinely surprised by your own photo collection (and keep it private), Rando is for you. If you need cloud backup and automatic organization, stick with cloud services.
What's the difference between the free trial and Pro version?

Rando offers a lot for free, forever.

Free version includes:

  • Unlimited random photo picks from any folder
  • Navigation history (Previous/Next buttons)
  • Full image viewing with zoom and pan
  • Keyboard shortcuts for fast browsing
  • Limited slideshow sessions - experience the magic before upgrading
  • 100% privacy - your photos never leave your device

Everyone gets a 7-day free trial of Pro features.

Pro unlocks the full experience:

  • Multi-display slideshows - Different photos on every screen. Independent, Linked, or Mirror mode. Zero setup.
  • Multi-source mixing - Combine local folders, Apple Photos Library albums, and external drives into one random pool
  • Quick delete/culling - Remove bad shots directly from the slideshow without switching apps
  • Cross-fade transitions - Cinematic slideshows with smooth blending between photos
  • Custom tagging - Organize photos across ANY folders with custom colored tags, create tag-based slideshows
  • Animated GIF and WebP support - Full animation playback

Pro subscription: $4.99/month, $49.99/year, or $109 lifetime.

Can I sort my photos instead of randomizing?

Yes! Use Grid Sort Mode to switch between Random and sequential order.

The sort button in the toolbar (the ↑↓ icon) lets you browse your entire scanned library sorted by:

  • Filename - Alphabetical order (A → Z or Z → A)
  • Folder Name - Group photos from the same folder together
  • Date - Chronological order (Oldest or Newest First)
  • File Size - Smallest or Largest First

Click the same sort mode again to flip between ascending and descending. You can also right-click any image and use the "Sort Grid" submenu. Click Randomize anytime to return to random discovery.

How it works: Sort modes show ALL your scanned images in order. Random mode shows a batch. Click Randomize to return to your random batch anytime.

Platform availability: Available on macOS (v4.2.0+). Windows support planned for a future update.

Can I select specific photos or folders to exclude?

Yes, through folder selection.

When you select a folder, Rando only randomizes photos within that folder (and subfolders). Simply don't select folders you want to exclude.

Pro tip: Organize sensitive photos into separate folders and don't select those folders. This gives you complete control over what Rando can access.

Does Rando work offline?

Yes! 100% offline.

Rando never requires an internet connection. All processing happens locally on your device. Perfect for:

  • Traveling without internet
  • Privacy-focused users who disconnect networks
  • Air-gapped systems
  • Rural areas with unreliable connectivity
How do multi-display slideshows work?

Different random photos on each screen. Turn any room into an immersive memory experience.

Not a screensaver. You're actively engaged: keyboard control, zoom, and the ability to drill into any folder. One monitor can run random discovery while another explores a specific event or year.

Three control modes:

  • Independent - Each slideshow operates on its own timing
  • Linked - Slideshows advance together, but show different photos
  • Mirror - All screens show the same photo (great for presentations)

To start: Go to Slideshow → Start Slideshow on Monitor and select which screen.

Platform availability: Available on macOS and Windows.

Perfect for events: Class reunions, trade shows, corporate events, and celebrations. See our Events page for setup tips.

💳 Pricing & Subscriptions

How much does Rando cost?

7-day FREE trial, then:

  • Monthly: $4.99/month (cancel anytime)
  • Annual: $49.99/year (save 17% - that's 2 months FREE!)
  • Lifetime: $109 one-time (never pay again!)

Both plans unlock all Pro features. No credit card required for the free trial.

Compare to cloud services: Google Photos costs $9.99/mo for 2TB. Rando costs $4.99/mo and uses your existing storage - potentially saving you $84/year.
Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Subscriptions are managed through the Mac App Store or Microsoft Store. Cancel anytime from your account settings.

If you cancel, Pro features remain active until the end of your current billing period.

I already purchased Rando before subscriptions. Do I need to subscribe?

No! Early adopters who purchased before we switched to subscriptions have lifetime access to all Pro features - no subscription needed. Our way of saying thank you for supporting us early.

What is "Unlock Lifetime Access" in the Help menu?

Special access for beta testers and partners.

The "Unlock Lifetime Access" feature in the Help menu allows select users (beta testers, reviewers, press, special partners) to unlock permanent Pro access using special access codes without requiring a subscription.

This feature is not publicly available but may be offered to select users for testing, reviews, or promotional purposes. If you've been provided an access code, you can use this feature to unlock Pro features permanently.

For regular users: Start your 7-day free trial to experience all Pro features, then choose monthly or annual billing.

Can I use Rando on multiple devices?

Yes! Your subscription works on all devices signed into your App Store or Microsoft Store account.

For example: One subscription covers your MacBook, iMac, and Mac Mini (or multiple Windows PCs).

Family Sharing (Apple): Rando supports Apple Family Sharing, so your subscription can be shared with up to 5 family members on their own devices.

🔒 Privacy & Security

How private is Rando really? Can you see my photos?

We literally cannot see your photos. Here's why:

  • No servers: Rando has no backend infrastructure. There's nowhere for your photos to go.
  • No network calls: All processing happens entirely on your Mac or PC. The app works completely offline.
  • No accounts: You never create a login or provide personal information.
  • No AI scanning: Your photos are never analyzed by cloud AI services.
  • Opt-in analytics only: Usage statistics are disabled by default. If you opt in, we only track anonymous feature usage (never photo content).

Your photos stay exactly where you put them - on your drives, under your control, accessible only to you.

Does Rando modify my original photo files?

No. Rando never modifies your original files.

When you tag photos or create slideshows, all metadata is stored in a separate local database. Your original images remain untouched and unmodified. You can delete Rando at any time without affecting your photo collection.

🛠️ Technical Support

What are the system requirements?

macOS:

  • macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later
  • Any Mac from 2018 or newer
  • 4GB RAM recommended

Windows:

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • 4GB RAM recommended
  • .NET 8.0 (automatically installed)
I'm having an issue. How do I get help?

We're here to help! Reach out via:

We typically respond within 24-48 hours.

Still Have Questions?

We're happy to help! Send us a message and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Contact Support