Keep your Live Photos alive
Package supported Live Photos and their paired videos into one motion-photo file, so Google Photos can play the movement behind the moment.
HEIC / JPEG Live Photos A macOS tool for Apple Photos
Precious memories.
Worth another copy.
Keep capturing life on iPhone and organizing it in Apple Photos.
PixelBridge sends another copy to Google Photos through your Mac and an original Pixel.
Apple Silicon · macOS 14+ · Original Pixel / Pixel XL
Live Photos that move. Burst moments kept together.
Every moment worth keeping
6 sample items · Photos and motion photos
Transferring to PixelKeep the story in your photos, and the movement too.
File verification Native macOS app Incremental, resumable transfers File integrity checks Automatic Mac cache cleanup
WHY PIXELBRIDGE
Keep living.
Back up with less effort.
As your library grows, exporting, converting and copying take more work.
PixelBridge connects those steps to keep another copy of your existing library.
Keep the whole burst together
Preserve grouping and cover information on burst transfer copies for Google Photos. Each frame is transferred and verified individually, while Apple originals stay untouched.
Every frame kept · Originals untouchedKeep your photo habits
Keep using iPhone, Apple Photos and iCloud. When new photos reach the system library, the app discovers them and schedules transfers in automatic mode.
Downloads iCloud originals on demandPick up where you left off
Completed items are skipped. Progress survives interruptions, and failed items retry according to the queue’s rules.
Recoverable local progress recordsONE LIBRARY. ANOTHER COPY.
A clear path for your backup.
PixelBridge delivers files to the phone. Google Photos handles the cloud upload.
Apple Photos / iCloud
Your originals and everyday library
Originals retained
Mac · PixelBridge
Download, prepare and track progress
Manage staging files automaticallyOriginal Pixel
Receive and verify files over USB
Keep the phone connectedGoogle Photos
The phone app uploads to the cloud
Handled by Google’s serviceSent to Pixel and backed up to the cloud are different states. The app verifies that the phone received matching files. Check Google Photos to confirm cloud backup.
GET STARTED
Get ready.
Start with a small batch.
A Mac, a first-generation Pixel,
and the photo library you already use.
What you’ll need
Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later Original Pixel / Pixel XL (2016) A USB cable that supports data transfer A connection to iCloud and Google Photos- 01
Install the app and allow photo access
Download the beta, unzip it and move it to Applications. Allow Apple Photos access and make sure the system library is syncing with iCloud. Optimize Mac Storage can stay on.
- 02
Connect Pixel and enable Google Photos backup
Enable Developer options and USB debugging on Pixel, connect it over USB, and authorize the computer on the phone. If ADB is missing, the app can guide its installation. Sign in to Google Photos and enable backup.
- 03
Try Back up once with a small batch
Start with a few photos, Live Photos, videos and one complete burst. Check backup, motion playback and burst grouping in Google Photos.
- 04
Turn on automatic backup at your own pace
Set a batch size, check interval and cache budget. Keep the Mac awake and Pixel connected. The app keeps running in the menu bar after you close its window.
Default: 10 items per batch · 5 minutes between rounds
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Let it keep working.
Know its limits.
Automation handles repetition. You stay in control of backup confirmation.
Mac cache can be reclaimed
After progress is saved and Pixel files are verified again, eligible Mac staging files are reclaimed. Files are kept if verification fails. Large files still need enough working space.
Pixel storage needs attention
Use Google Photos’ Free up space, or enable automatic freeing of space in Experimental Features. It only handles device copies that Google Photos confirms are backed up.
Temperature and storage limits
Defaults: pause at 40°C, reserve 8 GB on Mac and 4 GB on Pixel. Adjust these in Settings. Transfers pause at a protection limit and are checked again later.
Keep originals and progress
PixelBridge reads unmodified Apple originals. Live Photos are packaged with motion content and burst copies receive grouping information; Apple originals stay untouched. Edits and album structure are not synced. Keep your local progress records.
Mac cache cleanup is automatic. Automatic Pixel space recovery is available in Experimental Features.
GOOD TO KNOW
A few things to know.
From storage benefits to space management,
here are the details that matter.
YOUR PHOTOS. A SECOND HOME.
Give your memories another home.
Start small and build a second backup path for your photos.
Get the latest releaseFree beta. Ad hoc signed; not notarized by Apple.
For people willing to verify their backups. Unattended operation across a full large library still needs validation.
Move PixelBridge to Applications and try opening it. If macOS blocks this trusted download, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway, then confirm. You may need to grant Photos access again after updates.