If you’ve ever tried to run a simple photo slideshow on your Mac, you’ve probably hit the same wall: the built-in Photos app forces you to import everything into its library first, offers almost no control over playback, and doesn’t even let you shuffle your photos properly. There has to be a better way - and there is.

Here’s a look at the different ways to create slideshows on Mac, what each option is good (and bad) at, and how to get the most out of your photo presentations without the Photos app headaches.

The Problem with the Mac Photos App

The Photos app is great for organizing your photo library, but when it comes to slideshows, it falls short in several ways:

• You must import photos first - you can’t just point it at a folder and hit play
• No real shuffle mode - you can’t truly randomize the order of your photos
• Limited transition options - only a handful of basic themes
• No video mixing - you can’t combine photos and video clips in one slideshow
• No background music control - limited audio options with no playlist management
• No export to video - you can’t easily save your slideshow as a video file to share
• No multi-monitor support - it runs on one screen only

If you just want to play photos from a folder on your Mac in full screen, the Photos app makes it surprisingly difficult.

Option 1: Quick Look (Spacebar Preview)

The simplest built-in option. Select photos in Finder, press spacebar, and use arrow keys to flip through them.

Pros:

• Zero setup, works instantly
• No app needed

Cons:

• Manual navigation only (no auto-play)
• No transitions, no shuffle, no music
• Not a real slideshow - just a preview

Best for: Quickly flipping through a handful of photos.

Option 2: Preview App

Select your photos in Finder, right-click, and open with Preview. Then use View > Slideshow.

Pros:

• Built into macOS
• Auto-advances through photos
• Full-screen display

Cons:

• No shuffle or randomization
• No background music
• No control over timing or transitions
• No video support
• Very basic - almost no customization

Best for: A quick, no-frills slideshow when you don’t need any control over the experience.

Option 3: Keynote or PowerPoint

You can build a slideshow by inserting photos into presentation slides.

Pros:

• Full control over layout and text overlays
• Supports transitions between slides
• Can add music and video

Cons:

• Extremely time-consuming for large photo collections (one photo per slide)
• Not designed for photo slideshows - it’s a presentation tool
• Manual work to set up each slide
• No shuffle mode
• Impractical for more than 20-30 photos

Best for: Small, carefully curated presentations where you need text and custom layouts alongside photos.

Option 4: iMovie or Final Cut Pro

Video editing software can technically create photo slideshows.

Pros:

• Full creative control
• Professional transitions and effects
• Built-in music and audio editing
• Exports to video

Cons:

• Massive overkill for a simple slideshow
• Steep learning curve
• Very slow workflow - dragging hundreds of photos onto a timeline
• No shuffle mode
• Resource-heavy on your Mac

Best for: When you need a polished, edited video with specific timing and effects - not for everyday slideshows.

Option 5: Slideshower - Built Specifically for This

I built Slideshower because I ran into exactly this problem. I wanted to play a randomized, full-screen slideshow from a folder on my Mac - and nothing on macOS made it easy. So I made an app that does exactly that.

How to Create a Slideshow with Slideshower

Step 1: Add Your Photos

1. Open Slideshower
2. Drag and drop a folder (or multiple folders) directly into the app - or click “Select files or folders”
3. Slideshower automatically finds all photos and videos in your folders, including subdirectories

No importing, no library management. Your photos stay exactly where they are.

Step 2: Configure Your Slideshow

• Shuffle mode - randomize your photo order with one checkbox
• Timing - set the delay between photos (from 1 second to 9999 seconds)
• Transitions - choose between cross-fade or Ken Burns (zoom and pan) effects
• Display mode - single photo, side-by-side, 2x2 grid, or 3x3 grid
• Loop mode - keep the slideshow running continuously

Step 3: Add Background Music (Optional)

1. Click “Audio options” in Settings
2. Add one or more audio tracks (MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF)
3. Adjust volume and enable looping
4. Music plays automatically when the slideshow starts

Step 4: Hit Start

That’s it. Full-screen, randomized slideshow from your folders, with music and transitions. No importing, no timeline editing, no complexity.

What Makes Slideshower Different

Here’s what you get that the built-in macOS options don’t offer:

• True shuffle mode - genuinely randomized photo order
• Folder-based - just point it at any folder, no importing
• Photos and videos together - mix MP4, M4V, MOV files with your photos
• Background music - multiple tracks with playlist management
• Video export - save your slideshow as a video file to share
• Live Mode - monitor a folder in real-time, new photos appear automatically (perfect for events)
• Image and text overlays - add your logo or custom text to any corner
• Save and load - save slideshow configurations as .slideshow files for easy reuse
• Multiple display modes - single, side-by-side, 2x2, or 3x3 grid
• Ken Burns effect - cinematic zoom and pan on still photos
• Lightweight - only 4.2 MB, runs smoothly even with large photo collections

Quick Comparison

Feature	Photos App	Preview	Keynote	iMovie	Slideshower
Play from folder (no import)	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Shuffle / randomize	No	No	No	No	Yes
Auto-advance	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A	Yes
Background music	Limited	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video + photo mix	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ken Burns effect	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Export to video	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Grid display modes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Live Mode (real-time)	No	No	No	No	Yes
Setup time	Minutes	Seconds	Hours	Hours	Seconds

Common Use Cases

Family photo nights - Point Slideshower at your vacation photos folder, enable shuffle, sit back and enjoy on your TV via HDMI or AirPlay.

Events and parties - Set up a continuous slideshow at weddings, birthdays, or reunions. Use Live Mode to display photos in real-time as guests upload them.

Business displays - Run a branded slideshow in your lobby, restaurant, or retail space with image overlays for your logo.

Memorial services - Create a respectful, continuous photo tribute with background music and slow transitions.

Photography review - Quickly flip through a shoot folder with EXIF info overlay (press “i” during playback).

Getting Started

Ready to make a slideshow on your Mac the easy way? Download Slideshower for free (up to 150 photos) and see the difference. For unlimited photos, a one-time license is $19 - no subscriptions.

Have questions? Drop me a line at hello@slideshower.com.

Happy slideshowing!

Best, Pawel