You’ve got a folder full of photos and you want to play them as a slideshow on your Mac - but not in the same predictable order every time. You want them shuffled, randomized, mixed up. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, macOS doesn’t make it easy.

Whether you’re running a photo slideshow at a party, reviewing a large photo collection, or just want a randomized screensaver-like experience on your Mac, shuffling your photos makes a huge difference. Here’s every way to do it - from quick workarounds to a proper solution.

Why Shuffling Matters

Playing photos in the same order every time gets predictable fast. Shuffling keeps things fresh and surprising - you rediscover forgotten photos, the flow feels more natural, and audiences at events stay more engaged because they never know what’s coming next.

The problem? Most built-in macOS tools either don’t support shuffle at all, or require clunky workarounds.

Method 1: Rename Files Randomly in Finder (Workaround)

Since most Mac slideshow tools play photos in filename order, you can technically “shuffle” by randomizing your filenames. This is a hack, but it works in a pinch.

How to do it:

1. Duplicate your photo folder (so you don’t mess up your originals)
2. Open Terminal
3. Navigate to your duplicated folder: cd ~/path/to/your/folder
4. Run this command to add random prefixes to all JPEGs:

for f in *.jpg *.jpeg *.png; do mv "$f" "$(openssl rand -hex 4)_$f"; done

5. Now play the folder as a slideshow using Preview or Quick Look - the randomized filenames produce a shuffled order

Pros:

• Works with any slideshow tool that sorts by filename
• No extra software needed

Cons:

• Destructive to filenames (always work on copies!)
• Not truly random each time - same “shuffled” order on every playback
• Tedious to repeat when you want a different order
• Doesn’t work well with subfolders or mixed media
• Requires comfort with Terminal

Best for: A one-time shuffle when you have no other options.

Method 2: Create a Smart Album in Photos App (Limited)

The Photos app has a sort option that can approximate shuffling, though it’s not true randomization.

How to do it:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Import your photos (yes, you have to import them first)
3. Create a new album with your selected photos
4. In the album view, click the sort icon and try different sort orders

Pros:

• Built into macOS
• Simple interface

Cons:

• No actual shuffle/random option - you can sort by date, title, or manually, but there’s no “randomize” button
• Must import photos into the Photos library first
• Limited slideshow controls
• No way to include video clips in the slideshow
• Can’t play directly from a folder

Best for: If your photos are already in the Photos app and you just want a different sort order (not true shuffle).

Method 3: Use Slideshower’s Built-In Shuffle Mode (Recommended)

This is the straightforward solution. Slideshower is a Mac app built specifically for playing photo slideshows from folders - and it has a proper shuffle mode that truly randomizes your photos on every playback.

How to shuffle photos in Slideshower:

Step 1: Add your photos

1. Open Slideshower
2. Drag and drop any folder into the app - or click “Select files or folders”
3. All photos and videos in that folder (including subfolders) are loaded instantly

No importing, no library management. Your files stay right where they are.

Step 2: Enable shuffle

1. In the sidebar, check the Shuffle checkbox
2. That’s it - your photos will play in a completely random order

Every time you start the slideshow, the order is different. True randomization, not just a re-sort.

Step 3: Customize your slideshow (optional)

While you’re at it, you can fine-tune the experience:

• Timing - set how long each photo displays (1 second to whatever you want)
• Transitions - choose cross-fade or Ken Burns (cinematic zoom and pan)
• Display mode - single photo, side-by-side, or grid layouts (2x2 or 3x3)
• Background music - add audio tracks that play during the slideshow
• Loop mode - keep it running continuously

Step 4: Hit Start

Full-screen, shuffled slideshow from your folder. Done in seconds.

Why Slideshower’s shuffle is better

• Truly random - different order every time, not just a filename sort trick
• Works on any folder - no importing, no duplicating, no Terminal commands
• Handles everything - photos, videos, subfolders, thousands of files
• One checkbox - enable shuffle and forget about it
• Remembers your settings - save your slideshow config as a .slideshow file and reopen it anytime with shuffle already enabled

Comparison: Shuffling Photos on Mac

Great Use Cases for Shuffled Slideshows

Family movie night - Load up your vacation or holiday photos, enable shuffle, and enjoy a randomized trip down memory lane on your TV.

Parties and events - A shuffled slideshow keeps the display fresh and surprising. Combine it with Live Mode to show guest-uploaded photos in real-time.

Digital photo frame - Turn an old Mac or monitor into a shuffled photo display. Enable loop mode and shuffle for a constantly changing photo wall.

Photography portfolio review - Shuffle your portfolio to see your work with fresh eyes. Sometimes a random sequence reveals connections you didn’t expect.

Wedding photo slideshows - A shuffled mix of photos from different moments of the day creates a beautiful, organic flow.

Get Started

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

Have questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@slideshower.com.

Happy shuffling!

Best, Pawel