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 any album to add it to your random pool
  • Mix Photos albums with local folders for the ultimate experience
  • Hidden album requires confirmation before viewing (for privacy)
  • Recently Deleted is automatically filtered out for safety

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

Coming soon: Google Photos and Dropbox integration while maintaining our privacy-first approach (read-only access, no uploads).

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 is designed for massive libraries.

  • 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 is like a slot machine for your memories. Every click delivers a genuine surprise from your entire collection. You'll rediscover forgotten moments you'd never have browsed to manually. It's addictive, joyful, and completely unpredictable.

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:

  • Unlimited slideshow - The heart of Rando. Full-screen immersive experience with gaming-style hotkey controls, zoom/pan, and customizable playback. Turn your photo collection into an endless stream of surprises.
  • Advanced tagging system - Organize photos across ANY folders with custom colored tags
  • Multi-folder mixing - Combine photos from different drives into one random pool
  • Tag-based slideshows - Create slideshows from specific tags
  • Animated GIF support - Full animation playback
  • Export/import tag libraries - Backup or share your tags

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

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.

Screensavers are passive, wallpaper tools don't let you navigate, and presentation software costs ~$100/year. Rando gives you interactive multi-display slideshows with full keyboard control.

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