Choose the source you actually need to inspect
Private media on a Mac is not always confined to Photos. It can be stored in exported folders, old phone backups, downloads, project archives, or a Photos library synchronized through iCloud.
Sensitivity for Mac supports two focused starting points:
- Photos Library: review likely sensitive media managed by Apple Photos.
- Finder folder: choose a folder when the files live outside Photos.
Keep scanning local
Sensitivity runs its classification models on the Mac. Photos and videos are not uploaded to Sensitivity servers for analysis or review, and you do not need to create an account.
Local processing is especially important for this category because the images being inspected may be more private than ordinary app data. A useful privacy policy should distinguish media handling from anonymous product analytics rather than making a vague “private” claim.
A safer review sequence
- Select the Photos library or a specific folder.
- Run the photo scan first and allow it to complete.
- Open the protected review and inspect each likely match.
- Keep false positives and retain any item you still want.
- Delete only selected items, then confirm the relevant trash or Recently Deleted location if permanent removal is your goal.
Artwork, screenshots, skin tones, crops, and unusual compositions can be classified incorrectly. Review is part of the workflow, not an optional afterthought.
Before sharing a Finder folder
- Make a separate copy of the photos and videos you intend to share. Keep your original archive separate.
- Open Sensitivity on your Mac and choose the copied folder as the scan source. Scan the photos, then inspect each suggestion.
- Review the rest of the folder yourself. Documents, addresses and personal conversations can be private without containing explicit content.
- If you scan videos, review the videos themselves too. A sampled scan can miss a brief scene.
- Open the exact folder you will send and check it once more before sharing.
An empty scan result does not certify that a folder is safe to share. A Finder folder and a Photos library have different controls; a folder scan does not create a Photos Hidden collection.
What “works offline” means
Local files can be analyzed without uploading media. An item stored only in iCloud may still need Apple Photos to download it to the Mac before a local app can inspect it. That is a download from Apple’s infrastructure, not an upload to Sensitivity.
If you want to test the architecture yourself, use a small folder of safe test images, disconnect from the internet after the files are local, and run a scan. Do not use irreplaceable originals for a first test.
Before selling, repairing, or handing off a Mac
A selective media scan can help find files you overlooked, but it does not replace Apple’s full backup, sign-out, and erase process before a permanent handoff. For a temporary repair, follow the service provider’s current security instructions and protect the entire user account—not only Photos.
Why a Mac can be the better review device
A desktop layout gives thumbnails more space, makes longer reviews less cramped, and lets you inspect exported folders that are not available through the iPhone Photos library. If the same Photos library is synchronized across devices, remember that deleting an item may synchronize through iCloud Photos.