Download CachePix for your computer
CachePix is a photo catalog app for Apple silicon Macs and 64-bit Windows. The desktop app builds the catalog: it keeps a 512px thumbnail and an HD preview of each JPEG, PNG, WebP and RAW photo you catalog, then syncs the catalog to your phone. Install it first.
CachePix for Mac (Apple silicon)
Download for Mac (Apple silicon), about 11 MB
Needs a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) on macOS 12 Monterey or later. Signed and notarized. On Mac, CachePix tracks each drive by its volume ID, so a renamed drive re-links the next time you connect it. More detail on CachePix for Mac.
CachePix for Windows (64-bit)
Download for Windows (64-bit), about 12 MB
Needs 64-bit Windows (x64). The installer sets CachePix up for your user account and downloads Microsoft WebView2 if it's missing.
Version 0.2.1, released .
Your files stay put. Cataloging never modifies, moves, renames or deletes your files. CachePix writes metadata only when you edit it, and only the fields you changed, as standard XMP in the file or in a sidecar next to RAW files.
For your phone
The iPhone and Android apps show the catalog your computer builds. The catalog syncs one way, from your computer to your phone, over your local network. Pair once by scanning a QR code. Both apps are free to download, and your CachePix plan covers them.
Full-size originals stay on your drives. The phone carries thumbnails and HD previews, so you can browse with the drives unplugged. See how to view external hard drive photos on your phone.
CachePix iPhone and iPad app
Needs iOS or iPadOS 18 or later.
CachePix Android app
Needs Android 9 or later. The current Android app also needs a device with a camera.
One account, one plan. Choose a plan on this site or in the desktop app, and Stripe handles payment in your browser. One plan covers your computer and your phone when you sign in with the same email. Compare plans.
Set it up in four steps
- Install. Download CachePix for your computer from this page and open it.
- Sign in. Enter your email and the 6-digit code we send you. Choose a plan or start your 14-day free trial in Stripe Checkout, which opens in your browser.
- Catalog. Open Drives & Folders, choose Catalog a Folder… and pick a folder or a drive. CachePix samples about 24 photos first and estimates how much disk space the previews will need.
- Pair. Install the CachePix app on your phone and sign in with the same email. On your computer, open Pair Phone…, click Turn On, then scan the QR code with the phone app. Keep the phone and computer on the same network.
If pairing or sign-in gets stuck, our setup help walks through the fixes.
What CachePix catalogs
| File type | Cataloged and searchable | Thumbnail and HD preview |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG, PNG, WebP | Yes | Yes |
| RAW: CR2, CR3, NEF, NRW, ARW, SR2, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF, SRW, X3F, IIQ, 3FR | Yes | Yes, from the camera's embedded JPEG |
| HEIC, HEIF, TIFF | Yes | No, the tile shows the filename |
| GIF, BMP | No | No |
| Video (MOV, MP4 and others), Live Photo motion | No | No |
HEIC and TIFF photos are cataloged and searchable, and previews for them are coming to the Mac app. Video isn't supported.
CachePix has no facial recognition, face detection or AI tagging. People names come from metadata in your files, or names you type in CachePix. Read about the photo cataloging software features that search that metadata.
Not supported
CachePix has no build for these:
- Intel Macs. The Mac app runs on Apple silicon only.
- Linux.
- Windows on ARM.
Need one of these? Compare photo catalog software.
Updates
The desktop app checks online for updates. When a new version is out, download it from this page and install it the same way you did the first time. The iPhone and Android apps update through the App Store and Google Play.
Common questions
What are the system requirements for CachePix?
CachePix runs on a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) on macOS 12 or later, and on 64-bit Windows (x64). The phone apps need iOS 18 or later on iPhone and iPad, or Android 9 or later on a device with a camera. The Mac download is about 11 MB and the Windows installer about 12 MB.
Is there a Linux version of CachePix?
No. CachePix has no Linux build. The desktop app runs on Macs with Apple silicon and on 64-bit Windows, and there's no Intel Mac or Windows on ARM build either. The iPhone and Android apps show a catalog that CachePix builds on your computer, so they can't stand in for the desktop app.
How do I update CachePix?
Download the latest version from this page and install it the same way you did the first time. The current desktop release is CachePix 0.2.1, from October 2026, and the app checks online for updates. Update the iPhone and Android apps through the App Store or Google Play.
Do I need the desktop app to use the phone app?
Yes, for your own photos. The phone apps don't catalog anything. They show the catalog CachePix builds on your computer, which syncs one way to your phone over your local network. Catalog a folder, sign in on your phone with the same email, then scan the pairing QR code. A built-in sample catalog works with no account and no computer.
More answers in the CachePix FAQ.