Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about setting up and using Pixette.
General #
What is Pixette?
Pixette is an iOS and Android app that creates random slideshows from your photos and videos stored on a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device. It connects via the WebDAV protocol and works with any compatible NAS or server, including Synology, QNAP, Nextcloud, and TrueNAS.
Is Pixette free?
Pixette is free to download and use. A Premium upgrade is available for less than $5/year, unlocking additional features.
Which devices are supported?
Pixette works on iPhones and iPads running iOS 13 or later, Android phones and tablets running Android 7.0 or later, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple Silicon Macs. It's especially great on old tablets repurposed as digital photo frames.
Setup & Connection #
How do I connect to my NAS?
You need to enable the WebDAV server on your NAS, create a dedicated user with read-only access to your photo folders, then enter your NAS URL, username, and password in Pixette. Detailed guides are available for each NAS brand in the Getting Started section.
What is WebDAV?
WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) is a communication protocol that allows apps to read files from a server over your local network. Most NAS devices support it and it can be enabled in a few clicks.
Which NAS brands are supported?
Pixette works with any NAS or cloud storage that supports WebDAV, including Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, Nextcloud, and Western Digital. Check the setup guides for step-by-step instructions.
Features #
How does the randomisation work?
Pixette uses a mathematical shuffle algorithm (Feistel network) to create a unique viewing order without storing a huge list in memory. Every photo is mapped to exactly one position (no duplicates, no gaps) so your entire collection plays exactly once in a scrambled order. The shuffle is refreshed each time the app is restarted, when shuffle-sensitive settings are changed, or after reindexing. You can check your current position by tapping the Info button during the slideshow.
Does Pixette work offline?
Yes. When the NAS connection is lost, Pixette generates slideshows from locally cached files. The app attempts reconnection approximately every minute.
Can I filter pictures by EXIF metadata?
Yes! EXIF filtering is now available in beta. The app downloads the header of each file in advance to build a local database of all EXIF data. Once indexed, you can filter your slideshows based on selected EXIF metadata such as camera model, date, or lens.
When is re-indexing required?
Re-index whenever you add or remove files in your NAS folder. You can enable 'Automatic reindex' to handle this automatically at your preferred daily time.
Troubleshooting #
Why does the app sometimes crash on older devices?
Three factors can contribute: limited RAM on older devices, limited storage capacity, and uncommon picture or video formats that aren't supported on older hardware. Pixette resizes images to minimize memory usage, but very old devices may still struggle with large collections.
Why does Pixette create a local cache?
The cache serves three purposes: it protects older devices from memory crashes by storing resized versions, it enables smooth navigation by pre-downloading the next images, and it allows offline playback when the NAS connection drops.
I can't connect to my NAS. What should I check?
Verify that URLs are entered correctly (they are case-sensitive), test your WebDAV connection from a computer first, check that your device IP isn't blocked in your NAS security settings, and try using simple credentials (letters and numbers only) for initial testing.
Date & Time Formats #
Pixette lets you customize the text overlay on your slideshow. Use these variables in Settings → Overlay to display the current time, photo metadata, or folder names.
Current Time: $(pattern) #
Displays the current device time. You can use any ICU DateFormat pattern inside $(…).
| Variable | Example |
|---|---|
| $(HH:mm) | 14:30 |
| $(h:mm a) | 2:30 PM |
| $(HH:mm:ss) | 14:30:45 |
| $(EEEE) | Monday |
| $(EEE) | Mon |
| $(MMM d) | Apr 30 |
| $(MMMM d, yyyy) | April 30, 2020 |
| $(dd/MM/yyyy) | 30/04/2020 |
Photo Info (EXIF Metadata) #
Displays data from the photo's EXIF metadata. Requires EXIF indexing to be enabled.
| Variable | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| $date | Photo date | 15 January 2024 |
| $dateShort | Photo date (short) | 15 Jan |
| $dateclean | Photo date + strips dates from folder names | 15 January 2024 |
| $time | Photo time | 14:30 |
| $city | City (from GPS) | Paris |
| $region | Region | Ile-de-France |
| $country | Country | France |
| $keywords | Keywords / tags | landscape, sunset |
| $camera | Camera make | Apple |
| $cameraModel | Camera model | iPhone 14 Pro |
File Path #
Extract parts of the photo's folder path. Example path: Photos/2024/Vacation/IMG_1234.jpg
| Variable | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| $first | First folder | Photos |
| $first(2) | First N folders | Photos/2024 |
| $first(-2) | Skip first N folders | Vacation |
| $last | Last folder | Vacation |
| $last(2) | Last N folders | 2024/Vacation |
| $last(-2) | Skip last N folders | Photos |
| $full | Full folder path | Photos/2024/Vacation |
| $file | Filename | IMG_1234.jpg |
Formatting #
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| $n | Line break (new line) |
Default overlay format
Clock: $(HH:mm) —
Title: $first - $dateclean $n $city, $country
Good to know
$(…) shows the current time, while $date and $time show when the photo was taken.
Variables that can't be resolved are silently removed. All date/time formatting respects your device's locale.