Native SwiftUI app macOS 14+

Your folders. Your photos. No import ceremony.

Photo Shelf turns any folder into a clean, full-window photo library on macOS. Browse instantly, move through images with the keyboard, manage folders in place, and stream the same library to DLNA devices on your network.

See the app How it works

Browsing: Folder-first sidebar and lazy thumbnail grid
Playback: Fullscreen photos and inline video playback
Sharing: Built-in DLNA streaming for local devices

Photo Shelf showing a sidebar-based folder browser and image grid

Instant library

Open a folder and browse without importing, indexing, or changing your file structure.

Live updates

Photo Shelf watches the library tree and refreshes when files or folders change.

Why Photo Shelf

Built for people who keep their photo library in folders, not in a black box.

The app is based on the repository’s actual capabilities: hierarchical folder navigation, QuickLook thumbnails, keyboard-driven fullscreen viewing, drag and drop file management, and an optional DLNA media server.

Folder navigation

Browse like Finder, not like an import queue

The sidebar mirrors your directory structure and keeps subfolders visible, collapsible, and easy to reorganize.

Photo detail

Fullscreen viewing with keyboard control

Open any image or video into a full-window viewer, move with the arrow keys, and jump back to the grid with Escape.

Local streaming

Share the same library over DLNA

Start the built-in server and compatible TVs, media players, and apps on your network can discover and stream your media.

Immersive viewing

From grid to fullscreen in one click.

The viewer fills the window for photos and videos, keeping the experience focused and lightweight. The repository also shows support for metadata popovers and inline AVPlayer playback.

Keyboard flow

Left and right arrows move between media. Escape returns to the grid.

Mixed media

Photos and videos live in the same browser instead of separate tools.

Metadata panel shown over a photo in Photo Shelf — Inspect image details without leaving the viewer.

Photo Shelf browsing a folder of gymnastics competition photos — QuickLook-powered thumbnails keep dense folders readable.

Folder rename interaction in the Photo Shelf sidebar — Rename and reorganize folders directly from the sidebar.

Workflow

Simple by design.

1

Open any photo folder

Choose a directory from the toolbar, drag it onto the window, or open it from the dock.
2

Browse and manage in place

Navigate subfolders, drop files into the grid or onto sidebar folders, and keep the original folder structure intact.
3

Optionally stream everywhere

Enable the built-in DLNA server and browse the same library from compatible TVs and local media players.

Photo Shelf browsing another folder with the toolbar actions visible

Contacts

Get in touch

For support, product questions, or licensing enquiries, contact:

fastphotos@grok.pt

Privacy

Your library stays yours

Photo Shelf is built around user-selected folders. According to the repository, the app uses macOS sandbox permissions so it can only access folders the user explicitly chooses.

The selected library is restored using a security-scoped bookmark saved in `UserDefaults`, and the README states that no `index.json` or other metadata files are written into the library.

In normal use, your files remain in their existing folders instead of being imported into a proprietary library package.

Security

Scoped access and local-network sharing

The app is sandboxed and uses `com.apple.security.files.user-selected.read-write`, which means file access is tied to folders the user selects.

The optional DLNA feature uses additional network entitlements for local discovery and streaming. When enabled, compatible devices on the same network can discover the server and browse the selected library.

If DLNA sharing is not turned on, the app functions as a local desktop browser for your folder-based media library.

FAQ

Common questions

Does Photo Shelf import or reorganize my library automatically?

No. Photo Shelf opens an existing folder as your library. It browses your current structure and does not require an import step.

Does the app write metadata files into my photo folders?

The README explicitly says no `index.json` or other metadata files are written into the library.

Can I browse videos too, or only photos?

Both. The project includes photo browsing, fullscreen viewing, and inline video playback with AVPlayer controls.

Can I move or rename folders from inside the app?

Yes. The repository documents folder rename support and moving folders by dragging them onto another folder in the sidebar.

What happens when files change on disk?

Photo Shelf watches the library tree with FSEvents and refreshes automatically, with a debounce to avoid excessive reloads.

Can I stream the library to a TV or another player?

Yes, if you enable the built-in DLNA server. Compatible devices on the same local network can discover and stream the shared media library.

Photo Shelf

A photo browser for people who already know where their files live.

Native macOS UI, real folder management, no hidden library format, and optional network streaming when you want your archive beyond the Mac.

Built with SwiftUI and AVKit