Where Does Photo Booth Store Photos on Mac?
Where Photo Booth keeps its library package on Mac, how to reach the photos inside, and export options.
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Photo Booth on Mac stores everything in a library package inside Pictures. Photos and .mov clips sit in a Pictures folder within the package, alongside the recents index that maps them. Finder treats the package as an app file, which hides the contents from casual browsing.
Show Package Contents is the doorway in, and export from inside the app is the careful way out. Moving the whole package relocates the library cleanly since the app tracks it. Symlinks bridge the gap for upload dialogs that cannot see inside packages.
Where Photo Booth stores this, by platform
~/Pictures/Photo Booth Library/Pictures
Package holding originals in its internal Pictures folder plus the recents index. Open via Show Package Contents, never by double-click. Moving the package moves the library; deleting it deletes everything. Export single items from the app for safe one-offs.
Frequently asked questions
how do I get photos out of Photo Booth
Right-click Photo Booth Library in Pictures and choose Show Package Contents, then open the Pictures folder inside. The library is a package, so double-clicking launches the app instead. Copy files out rather than moving them to keep the library consistent.
how do I move the Photo Booth library
Move the whole Photo Booth Library package to the new location; the app follows it automatically. Deleting the package deletes every photo, so treat it as the archive. Merging two libraries needs the recents.plist merge trick per photo.
can I attach Photo Booth pics to email
Create a symlink from the library Pictures folder to a plain folder for attach dialogs and web uploads. Point it at the package Pictures path and name it clearly. Exporting single shots from inside the app works too for one-offs.
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