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Uploading with the ZebraSnap desktop app
A native app for Mac and Windows that uploads thousands of photos with automatic retry, resume, and parallel transfers — no setup, no browser tab.
In short
The desktop app is the easiest way to move a big album without touching anything technical: install it, log in with your ZebraSnap account, pick the album, drag your photos, and let it run in the background. If your connection drops, it retries and resumes on its own — you never lose progress.
Think of it as the comfort of the web uploader with the resilience of SFTP.
Download
Grab the app on your album's upload page (open the album → Upload → Desktop app) — you'll see buttons for:
- Mac (Apple Silicon) — M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs
- Mac (Intel) — older Macs
- Windows
📷 [Screenshot: the Desktop app tab with the three download buttons]
Windows users: the first time you run the installer, Windows SmartScreen may show a warning because the app is new to it. Click More info → Run anyway — the app is signed and safe.
Step by step
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Install and open the app.
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Log in with the same email and password you use on zebrasnap.com.
📷 [Screenshot: desktop app login screen]
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Select the album you want to upload to. Every album you own shows up in the list.
📷 [Screenshot: album picker inside the desktop app]
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Drag and drop your photos (or browse for them). Folders work too.
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Press Start upload and go do something else. The app uploads several files in parallel, shows per-file progress, and keeps working while it's in the background.
📷 [Screenshot: desktop app uploading with progress bars]
When the upload finishes, processing happens on our servers — your photos appear in the album automatically a few minutes later.
Why photographers like it
- Automatic retry with resume — a dropped connection never costs you progress; the app picks up where it left off.
- Up to 6 simultaneous uploads for faster transfers.
- Real-time progress per file, so you always know where things stand.
- Auto-updates — you always have the latest version without reinstalling.
Desktop app or SFTP?
Both are great for big albums. Rough guide:
- Desktop app: zero setup, friendly interface, perfect if you upload from your own computer.
- SFTP: the absolute fastest and most flexible — works from any machine, any OS, even mobile clients, and shines on very large events.
All upload methods
See How to upload photos: all the ways, explained for the full comparison, including the web uploader and the Lightroom plugin.
Related articles
- How to upload photos: all the ways, explainedZebraSnap gives you four ways to upload: the web, SFTP, the desktop app, and Lightroom. Which one to pick, what files we accept, and tips for big albums.
- Uploading from the web (Photos & files)The fastest way to get started: drag photos, ZIPs, or videos into your browser and ZebraSnap handles the rest. Step by step, plus what to do when something fails.
- Uploading with SFTP — step by step with FileZillaThe fastest, most stable way to upload big albums. What SFTP is, where to find your credentials, and a click-by-click walkthrough with FileZilla (any SFTP client works).
Still need help?
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