Photo Codex
Discover the best photos in your Apple Photos library — automatically.
Photo Codex analyzes the 27 machine-learning quality scores that Apple Photos assigns to every image. It finds your best shots, marks them as favorites, and helps you make sense of thousands of photos without browsing through them one by one.
How It Works
- Connect — Link to your Apple Photos library (read-only access)
- Analyze — The app reads Apple's built-in quality scores for every photo
- Discover — Your best photos are selected and marked as favorites
- Review — Browse results by category, export reports, or chat with Photo AI
All processing happens on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded.
Key Features
Smart Photo Analysis
Leverage the quality scores Apple already calculates for every photo. Photo Codex reads these scores and uses statistical analysis to surface your best work across your entire library.
Photo AI Assistant
Have a conversation about your photos with a local AI model. Ask questions like "Which of my landscape photos scored highest?" or "Show me my best portraits from last summer." Export the conversation as a Word report.
Peer Group Comparison
Photos are grouped by category (landscape, portrait, macro, etc.) and scored against similar photos — so a great macro shot isn't competing against a landscape panorama.
Duplicate Detection
Find near-duplicate photos and keep only the best version based on quality scores.
Batch Favorites
Mark hundreds of top photos as favorites in one click. They appear instantly in the Favorites album in Apple Photos.
Export & ReportsPhoto Codex
Export analysis results as CSV or generate detailed Word reports through Photo AI.
Privacy First
Photo Codex is a 100% offline application.
- No photos or data are uploaded to any server
- No analytics, telemetry, or tracking
- No user accounts or online registration
- No internet connection required for core features
- AI processing runs locally on your Mac (via Apple Intelligence or Ollama)
- Your license key is verified locally — no activation server
Your photos, your scores, your data — it all stays on your Mac, always.
Read the full Privacy Statement →
Download
Photo Codex 3.0.0 — for macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
Download PhotoQualityPro-3.0.0.dmg (96 MB)
Signed and notarized by Apple. No Gatekeeper warnings.
Installation
- Open the downloaded DMG file
- Drag Photo Codex to your Applications folder
- Launch from Applications
- Grant Photos library access when prompted
Screenshots
[Add screenshots here: Analysis view, Photo AI chat, Manual page]
System Requirements
| macOS | 14.0 (Sonoma) or later |
| Architecture | Apple Silicon and Intel (via Rosetta 2) |
| Photos | Apple Photos library required |
| AI (optional) | Apple Intelligence or Ollama for Photo AI features |
| Disk space | ~300 MB |
Pricing
| Trial | Full License |
|---|---|
| Free | One-time purchase |
| Analyzes 20% of your library | Analyzes 100% of your library |
| All features included | All features included |
| No time limit | Tied to your Mac |
What's New in 1.0.0
- Signed and notarized macOS app — no Gatekeeper warnings
- Privacy & Data section in the built-in manual
- DNG and RAW thumbnail support
- Photo AI with Word report export
- Rosetta 2 compatible (runs on Intel and Apple Silicon)
- Reduced app size from 4.5 GB to 261 MB
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the app modify my photos? No. Photo Codex only reads quality scores from the Apple Photos database. It never modifies your photo files. The only change it makes is marking photos as favorites, which you can undo at any time in Apple Photos.
Do I need an internet connection? No. The app works entirely offline. An internet connection is only used to check for updates (optional).
What are Apple quality scores? Apple Photos uses 27 machine-learning models to evaluate every photo in your library. These scores assess sharpness, exposure, composition, faces, and more. Photo Codex reads these existing scores — it doesn't create its own.
Does it work with iCloud Photos? Yes. As long as your Photos library is accessible on your Mac, the app can read the quality scores. Photos don't need to be downloaded locally — the scores are stored in the local database.
What AI models are supported? Photo Codex supports Apple Intelligence (built into macOS) and Ollama (open-source, runs locally). Both options process everything on your Mac.
Support
- Email: jan@grio.nl
- Website: www.grio.nl
Privacy Statement
Photo Codex is designed with your privacy as a core principle.
Data Collection: None. No personal data, usage statistics, or crash reports are collected or transmitted.
Local Processing: All photo analysis and AI processing happens entirely on your Mac. No photos, metadata, or analysis results are ever sent to any server.
Permissions Used:
- Photos library — to read Apple's quality scores (read-only)
- AppleScript automation — to mark favorites in Photos
- Downloads folder — to save exported reports
No Tracking: No analytics, telemetry, cookies, fingerprinting, or profiling of any kind.
License: Your license key is tied to your Mac's hardware identifier and verified locally. No online activation, no user accounts.
Updates: The app periodically checks for new versions by fetching a small JSON file from grio.nl. No personal data is included in this request.