> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.memorystring.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.memorystring.app/get-started/faq.md).
# FAQ
Common questions about MemoryString, the free slideshow app for Mac: importing from Photos, music, export, the screensaver, and more.
What is the best free slideshow app for Mac?
MemoryString is a free slideshow app for Mac that turns your photos and videos into a polished movie in minutes. It has no account, no subscription and no ads, and everything runs on your Mac. Get it on the [Mac App Store](https://www.codebyz.com/api/go/memory-string-app-store?from=gitbook-faq-best).
How do I turn thousands of trip photos into a short movie on my Mac?
Open MemoryString, pick an album from Photos or a folder on your Mac, and use Long story short. It goes through hundreds or thousands of photos and videos, keeps the best shots, drops duplicates and near-duplicates, and trims long clips down to a short highlight. Then add music and a Look and export the movie.
Can I make a slideshow from my Photos library without uploading anything?
Yes. MemoryString works entirely on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded, there is no cloud account, and your original photos and videos are never changed.
How do I make a Mac screensaver from my photos?
Build a show in MemoryString, then export it as a Mac screensaver instead of a movie. Your slideshow then plays whenever your Mac is idle.
In the Export Movie dialog, check **Screensaver**, then export. You get a silent movie that loops: no music, no opening card, and no Created with MemoryString credit at the end.
To use it, drop the file into **System Settings → Wallpaper**, then add that folder as a screensaver.
Is there an iMovie alternative for photo slideshows?
iMovie is great for editing video, but building a slideshow from hundreds of photos takes a lot of manual work. MemoryString is made just for slideshows: it picks the best shots, adds music, place and date captions and transitions, and exports a finished movie.
Can I add my own music to a slideshow?
Yes. Use a track from MemoryString's built-in royalty-free library or add your own. Built-in tracks are CC0 / public domain, free to use, no credit needed. If a bundled track looks misattributed, **Help → Send Feedback…** and we will pull it quickly. Noisy video sound (wind, hiss, room noise) can mute so the music leads, while talking, music, and sharp hits stay. Only add music you have the rights to use.
Can the slideshow end with the song?
Yes. On the **Audio** tab, **Fit Show to Music** sets the pace so the song covers the whole film, including the end card, and fades across the credit. Videos keep their length. The opening card follows the new **Energy**, unless you set its length by hand. See [Music](/build-your-movie/music.md#length).
Can I export a slideshow for Instagram or TikTok?
Yes. Export in 16:9 for TV and computer screens, or in a tall social size for phones.
Does MemoryString need an account or a subscription?
No. MemoryString is free, with no account, no subscription and no sign-in.
Is MemoryString free?
Yes. MemoryString is free on the Mac App Store, with no subscription, no account and no ads. All current features are included.
Which Macs does MemoryString run on?
MemoryString runs on macOS 14 or later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. There is no Windows app and no iPhone app.
## More questions
Does MemoryString connect to Lightroom, Google Photos, or other libraries?
No. Export or download the photos to a folder on your Mac, then drop that folder into MemoryString.
**Import from Photos** reads the Photos library on your Mac. The app does not sign in to a cloud library.
This stays on your Mac. A live Google Photos or Lightroom connection would send your pictures through someone else's account. That does not fit a private, local app.
[MCP](/more/mcp.md) can automate the steps on your Mac. It is not a connection to those libraries.
Why did you make MemoryString?
I built it for myself. I used DaVinci, After Effects, ProShow, iMovie, and more. That is how I learned what I like and what I don't.
I was tired of apps that nag you to pay more after you already paid, and still give you a mediocre movie. Wondershare Filmora is one example.
Then I thought: why not let everyone use it?
Who is it for?
Two people.
One wants a cinematic slideshow tonight, on their Mac, with the photos staying on the Mac. No account. No one else looking through the pictures.
The other wants more control. A trip, or a photo shoot shown to the people in it, cut to music. That person is still the target. Use Studio. It opens the choices the simple path makes for you.
What it is not: a replacement for DaVinci or After Effects. If the job is a full edit, use those. MemoryString is for the slideshow you would otherwise skip, because those tools take too long and are too complicated.
The movie looks too busy. Can I calm it down?
Yes. Start from **Clean** and set **Energy** to **Calm**. In **Studio**, also drop **Stage Intensity** to 0. That leaves one picture on a plain background.
A new show already starts on **Clean**. Other Looks are busier. In **Studio**, open **Motion** and turn off the transitions you don't want.
Do my photos get uploaded?
No. Files you add from a folder stay where they are. The show remembers their location.
Photos you import from the Photos app are copied onto your Mac, so the show can still open them. Nothing is sent to a server.
Is there a limit on how many photos? Can I import 1,000?
There is no fixed limit. Very large imports work, but importing several hundred files at once can use a lot of memory, and very long shows can feel heavy to edit. See [Known Issues](/more/known-issues.md).
A show that long does not make sense. For most people, anything over about 10 minutes is already too long to watch.
If you have a whole trip and you do not want to pick the shots yourself, that is what [Long story short](/build-your-movie/long-story-short.md) is for. It builds a watchable movie from the best of the pile, limited by how much the photos can fill, and leaves the rest in Outtakes. When an import would put more than 150 photos and videos on the show, MemoryString offers it first.
Is there a download that isn't the App Store?
The usual way is the [Mac App Store](https://www.codebyz.com/api/go/memory-string-app-store?from=gitbook-faq). Updates come from there, and you can rate the app.
If the Store is not an option, [download the Mac installer](https://github.com/zackypick/memorystring-downloads/releases/download/v1.2.6/MemoryString-1.2.6.dmg).
Why doesn't it reopen my last show?
On purpose. If a show crashes the app, reopening it would crash again. Use **File → Open** for a saved show.
Where did my exported movie go? It did not start playing.
MemoryString shows the file in Finder. It does not open a video player.
Can I remove "Created with MemoryString" at the end?
The MemoryString signature stays at the end of the movie you share. The app is free, and that signature is how someone watching it finds MemoryString and can download it too. There is no plan to let you change it or take it off.
Is this a photo editor?
No. It makes the movie. Looks change the feel of the show. They are not a catalog where you retouch each photo.
What happens to photos that are not in the movie?
They can sit in **Outtakes**. Nothing is deleted. Double-click one to **Peek** at it over the preview without adding it, and drag it back when you want it in the show.
Can I automate it?
Yes. The [MCP server](/more/mcp.md) runs on your Mac and can drive the app. Use it for scripts and assistants. It does not connect cloud photo libraries.
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