Mac/iCloud Users: Make 'Backing up Apple photos library' your first New Year's resolution.
If you diligently follow the 3-2-1 backup rule for your Photos library, you’re good. If not, a reminder that your digital memories are at risk. iCloud Photos is not a backup. You need an offline copy of your photos. Make it a New Year’s resolution to do this.
Here's a quick primer to make it easy:
**Choose external storage**: Either an external hard drive (Mac OS Extended / Journaled) or an SSD (APFS). The Apple Photos library must not be stored on a NAS, but it's OK to export photos into regular folders and store those on a NAS. Ensure the drive has free storage at least 1.5x your current Photos library size.
**For originals stored locally:** If you don’t use iCloud Photos, or use it with “Download Originals to this Mac”, you can use Time Machine, or periodically copy your Photos Library file to an external drive (drag and drop). No sweat.
**When using Optimize Mac Storage:** Since this stores your full-resolution originals in iCloud, Time Machine and direct copy methods can’t be used. Three options:
* **Apple’s native method:** Create a new Photos library on external drive > Set it as the system photo library > Turn on iCloud Photos and select Download Originals. This downloads your entire library to (can take hours or days). Afterwards, switch back to your original library and re-sync everything. Tedious but doable.
* **Apple Privacy portal method**: Log in to [privacy.apple.com](http://privacy.apple.com) \> select "Get a copy of your data" > select iCloud Photos. After a few days, Apple will send you download links to several zip files containing your photos. Download, merge and organize.
* **Photos Takeout** **method** (Disclosure: Our macOS app): Exports your Photos library to EHD, SSD or NAS as folders by year, month, or album. Preserves image resolution, formats and metadata. Supports incremental exports, making repeat backups very fast. [Website](http://www.photostakeout.com). Mac [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1500714691) (One-month: $8.99, One-time: $49.99)
Whichever method you choose, do back up. It's a very worthwhile (and very achievable) New Year Resolution.
Happy New Year! 🥳
https://redd.it/1pymzx3
@macappsbackup
If you diligently follow the 3-2-1 backup rule for your Photos library, you’re good. If not, a reminder that your digital memories are at risk. iCloud Photos is not a backup. You need an offline copy of your photos. Make it a New Year’s resolution to do this.
Here's a quick primer to make it easy:
**Choose external storage**: Either an external hard drive (Mac OS Extended / Journaled) or an SSD (APFS). The Apple Photos library must not be stored on a NAS, but it's OK to export photos into regular folders and store those on a NAS. Ensure the drive has free storage at least 1.5x your current Photos library size.
**For originals stored locally:** If you don’t use iCloud Photos, or use it with “Download Originals to this Mac”, you can use Time Machine, or periodically copy your Photos Library file to an external drive (drag and drop). No sweat.
**When using Optimize Mac Storage:** Since this stores your full-resolution originals in iCloud, Time Machine and direct copy methods can’t be used. Three options:
* **Apple’s native method:** Create a new Photos library on external drive > Set it as the system photo library > Turn on iCloud Photos and select Download Originals. This downloads your entire library to (can take hours or days). Afterwards, switch back to your original library and re-sync everything. Tedious but doable.
* **Apple Privacy portal method**: Log in to [privacy.apple.com](http://privacy.apple.com) \> select "Get a copy of your data" > select iCloud Photos. After a few days, Apple will send you download links to several zip files containing your photos. Download, merge and organize.
* **Photos Takeout** **method** (Disclosure: Our macOS app): Exports your Photos library to EHD, SSD or NAS as folders by year, month, or album. Preserves image resolution, formats and metadata. Supports incremental exports, making repeat backups very fast. [Website](http://www.photostakeout.com). Mac [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1500714691) (One-month: $8.99, One-time: $49.99)
Whichever method you choose, do back up. It's a very worthwhile (and very achievable) New Year Resolution.
Happy New Year! 🥳
https://redd.it/1pymzx3
@macappsbackup
Apple
Data & Privacy
I built an app that lets AI assistants control native Mac apps
A few months ago, I launched Macuse, an app that connects AI assistants to your native Mac apps. After months of feedback, bug fixes, and new features, we just shipped v1.0.
If you missed the original post: Macuse lets Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible AI read and control your Mac's built-in apps.
The video below shows Raycast connecting to Macuse to summarize emails in Mail.
https://reddit.com/link/1pynalk/video/imm0bfm3i5ag1/player
# What can it do?
You talk to Claude (or Cursor, or any MCP-compatible AI), and it can:
Read and search your emails: "Show me unread emails from the past week and summarize anything urgent"
Manage your calendar: "What's on my schedule tomorrow? Block 2 hours for deep work"
Handle reminders and notes: "Add a reminder to call mom on Sunday"
Check messages and contacts: "What did John message me about last week?"
Get directions and travel times: "How long will it take to drive to the airport?"
Control any app: Through UI automation, your AI can click buttons, fill forms, navigate menus
The magic is when you combine these: "Check my calendar for tomorrow, find any related emails, and draft a summary note", all in one request.
# Authorization
This was a big focus for v1.0. Most tools in this space give connected AI clients full access to everything, no questions asked. That felt wrong to me.
Macuse implements OAuth 2.1 following the official MCP authorization spec. When an AI client connects, you'll see a consent screen showing exactly what it wants to access. You approve, deny, or revoke access anytime.
It might sound like overkill for a local app, but as we connect more AI tools to our personal data, proper permission control matters.
# Privacy
Everything stays on your Mac. Your emails, calendar, messages never leave your computer. When Claude asks to read your emails, Macuse fetches that data locally and sends it directly to your AI client. We never see, store, or upload your personal content.
# Pricing
Free: 100 tool calls/day, all features
Lifetime: $29 one-time (Earlybird), unlimited everything, forever
No subnoscriptions. I hate them too.
# Giveaway
As a thank you to this community, I'm giving away 10 free lifetime licenses to r/macapps members.
Just head to macuse.app/pricing and enter the code MACAPPS at checkout. First 10 to use it get a free license key.
Would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or feature requests. What would make this more useful for you?
https://redd.it/1pynalk
@macappsbackup
A few months ago, I launched Macuse, an app that connects AI assistants to your native Mac apps. After months of feedback, bug fixes, and new features, we just shipped v1.0.
If you missed the original post: Macuse lets Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible AI read and control your Mac's built-in apps.
The video below shows Raycast connecting to Macuse to summarize emails in Mail.
https://reddit.com/link/1pynalk/video/imm0bfm3i5ag1/player
# What can it do?
You talk to Claude (or Cursor, or any MCP-compatible AI), and it can:
Read and search your emails: "Show me unread emails from the past week and summarize anything urgent"
Manage your calendar: "What's on my schedule tomorrow? Block 2 hours for deep work"
Handle reminders and notes: "Add a reminder to call mom on Sunday"
Check messages and contacts: "What did John message me about last week?"
Get directions and travel times: "How long will it take to drive to the airport?"
Control any app: Through UI automation, your AI can click buttons, fill forms, navigate menus
The magic is when you combine these: "Check my calendar for tomorrow, find any related emails, and draft a summary note", all in one request.
# Authorization
This was a big focus for v1.0. Most tools in this space give connected AI clients full access to everything, no questions asked. That felt wrong to me.
Macuse implements OAuth 2.1 following the official MCP authorization spec. When an AI client connects, you'll see a consent screen showing exactly what it wants to access. You approve, deny, or revoke access anytime.
It might sound like overkill for a local app, but as we connect more AI tools to our personal data, proper permission control matters.
# Privacy
Everything stays on your Mac. Your emails, calendar, messages never leave your computer. When Claude asks to read your emails, Macuse fetches that data locally and sends it directly to your AI client. We never see, store, or upload your personal content.
# Pricing
Free: 100 tool calls/day, all features
Lifetime: $29 one-time (Earlybird), unlimited everything, forever
No subnoscriptions. I hate them too.
# Giveaway
As a thank you to this community, I'm giving away 10 free lifetime licenses to r/macapps members.
Just head to macuse.app/pricing and enter the code MACAPPS at checkout. First 10 to use it get a free license key.
Would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or feature requests. What would make this more useful for you?
https://redd.it/1pynalk
@macappsbackup
Macuse
Macuse — Give Your AI Superpowers on macOS
Let your AI assistant manage calendar, email, notes, and control any Mac app. Works with Claude, Cursor, Raycast. Runs locally, privacy first.
SupaSidebar - Arc-like sidebar for all browsers (New Year giveaway)
https://redd.it/1pypxnm
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1pypxnm
@macappsbackup
Three best Apps
You can recommend three apps, and only three apps. Difficulty: they must be regularly updated.
UpNote cross platform notes with great markdown support and community.
iA Writer the gold standard markdown word processing tool.
Things personal task management. The best option for reminders.
What are your best three?
https://redd.it/1pyrc65
@macappsbackup
You can recommend three apps, and only three apps. Difficulty: they must be regularly updated.
UpNote cross platform notes with great markdown support and community.
iA Writer the gold standard markdown word processing tool.
Things personal task management. The best option for reminders.
What are your best three?
https://redd.it/1pyrc65
@macappsbackup
Getupnote
Best Notes App - Write and Organize with UpNote
UpNote is a clean and beautiful app for writing and organizing notes. It’s easy to use with rich features and delightful experience. Available on Mac, iOS, Android, Windows and Linux.
Need a Mail alternative
I am having significant problems with the mail app. I use gmail workspace for my business and the lag is ridiculous. Mac support on the phone blamed gmail.
Is this something that can be fixed or is there a better app to use for email?
https://redd.it/1pyt4uf
@macappsbackup
I am having significant problems with the mail app. I use gmail workspace for my business and the lag is ridiculous. Mac support on the phone blamed gmail.
Is this something that can be fixed or is there a better app to use for email?
https://redd.it/1pyt4uf
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
5 useful apps not many people know about 2025
Fabric.so 📁
Fabric is like a second brain that can store basically anything on the internet. It can connect to other apps like google drive and ask the Fabric AI questions about your saved info.
Granola 👂
Granola is an AI meeting + notes application on steroids. It has the most accurate meeting trannoscriptions without an annoying bot that joins. It turns your trannoscriptions and jot downs into clean notes that also look good.
Martin AI 🤖
Martin is a personal productivity agent that can connect to all your calendars, emails, etc. It can call or text you reminders and emails and claims to be the closest thing real life Jarvis.
Akiflow ✅
Save time having your calendar and to do list in the same app with a personal agent. Akiflow is a pricier daily planner app but works well with great UI.
Origin 💵
Origin is a finacial planning and tracking app where you can safely connect all your accounts. The AI can then give you suggestions and help with budgeting, credit score, and even networth.
If you want to find more useful tools and stay up to date check out toolclarity.co
https://redd.it/1pyynw4
@macappsbackup
Fabric.so 📁
Fabric is like a second brain that can store basically anything on the internet. It can connect to other apps like google drive and ask the Fabric AI questions about your saved info.
Granola 👂
Granola is an AI meeting + notes application on steroids. It has the most accurate meeting trannoscriptions without an annoying bot that joins. It turns your trannoscriptions and jot downs into clean notes that also look good.
Martin AI 🤖
Martin is a personal productivity agent that can connect to all your calendars, emails, etc. It can call or text you reminders and emails and claims to be the closest thing real life Jarvis.
Akiflow ✅
Save time having your calendar and to do list in the same app with a personal agent. Akiflow is a pricier daily planner app but works well with great UI.
Origin 💵
Origin is a finacial planning and tracking app where you can safely connect all your accounts. The AI can then give you suggestions and help with budgeting, credit score, and even networth.
If you want to find more useful tools and stay up to date check out toolclarity.co
https://redd.it/1pyynw4
@macappsbackup
Tool Clarity
Subscribe | Tool Clarity