# FramePilot for Mac — 7.4.4 beta

Open the PKG installer, then open FramePilot from Applications (the existing bundle remains named Pixel Photo Batch Uploader.app).
Python and the required libraries are included. macOS 12 or later, Intel or Apple silicon.

## Direct Apple Photos review

Choose Duplicate review → Apple Photos. Grant full Photos access when asked.
The System Photo Library is scanned directly; no library export is required.
For a different managed library, choose it as the System Photo Library in Apple Photos first.
Ordinary folders can also be scanned using the folder workflow.

- Drag a panel title to move it. Drag an edge or corner to resize that panel independently.
- Reset panels restores the starting arrangement. Customized panels may overlap; click one to bring it forward.
- Auto-add duplicates checks all groups matching the current filters, then adds byte-identical extra copies to the right-hand list.
- Preferences controls original filename/date priority and favorite/album protection. Unknown album membership is protected by default too.
- Verify all selected checks the right-hand list. Stop pauses verification; Resume verification reuses completed, unchanged fingerprints.
- Retry failed previews retries only unavailable still-photo previews from the saved scan.
- Compare provides linked zoom and a Photos metadata differences filter. Open originals in Photos for full-resolution inspection.
- Review history records removals and kept copies, with thumbnails for photos previously previewed in the app.
- Undo reverses queue and keep-both decisions. Recover deleted photos through Photos → Recently Deleted.

Preview similarity is only a candidate hint. The app rechecks original resources and requires a kept byte-identical copy before requesting deletion. Apple Photos may sync deletions through iCloud. Album membership and metadata are not merged.
Videos and hidden items are excluded from this still-photo scan. Preview matching can miss duplicates.

## Updates

In 7.4.0 and later, Check for updates downloads the Mac package and verifies its SHA-256. Install Mac update saves the review workspace, opens Apple Installer and closes FramePilot. Pause active photo jobs first. After installation, reopen FramePilot from Applications. No need to delete the old app or its saved data.
Earlier versions can download this installer from the website and run it after closing the app.

This beta is unsigned and not notarized. Automated checks cover the workflow and package contents; the 7.4.0 interface and PhotoKit behavior still need testing on a Mac.

## Phone companion certificate
Connect one phone by USB, unlock it and approve USB debugging. In FramePilot, choose Help → Check phone companion certificate → Check connected phone. Copy the result or save the report. This is a read-only check; it does not reinstall the companion or change its settings or photos.