Quick Support
Need immediate assistance? Contact our support team directly:
Response Times: Technical support within 24 hours, feedback responses within 48 hours on business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common MetaScope questions:
Q: What file formats does MetaScope support?
A: MetaScope supports 50+ formats including JPEG, PNG, TIFF, HEIC, and RAW files (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG). It also supports video formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and WebM.
Q: Can I edit RAW file metadata directly?
A: Yes! MetaScope can edit metadata directly in RAW files without creating XMP sidecar files, making it perfect for professional photography workflows.
Q: How do I perform batch operations?
A: MetaScope handles batch operations on 100,000+ files with checkpoint recovery. Batch capabilities include metadata editing with templates, batch rename with stackable rules and live preview, batch date operations (7 types including GPS date sync), privacy redaction, and metadata copying with per-field review. Progress tracking keeps you informed throughout.
Q: What macOS versions are supported?
A: MetaScope requires macOS 15.4+ (Sequoia) and is built with native SwiftUI for optimal performance and system integration. On macOS 26 (Tahoe), MetaScope features native Liquid Glass material for toolbars and system chrome. The Liquid Glass styling is availability-gated — no visual change on macOS 15.
Q: Can I export metadata reports?
A: MetaScope exports in 9 formats: PDF, HTML, CSV, JSON, XML, Markdown, Plain Text, YAML, and XMP Sidecar (plus NDJSON for Elasticsearch). The Catalogue Card PDF Export produces print-ready per-asset cards with hero image and grouped metadata — available in A4, Letter, or A5 page sizes with 1, 2, or 4 cards per page. The Document Export wizard offers portfolio generation with 6 typography presets, custom watermarks, and cover page templates.
Q: What is MetaScope Pro?
A: MetaScope Pro unlocks 11 advanced features: Smart Collections, Linked Metadata Profiles, Custom Metadata Fields, Controlled Vocabularies, Transformation Rules, Extended Keyword Rules, Metadata Search, Metadata Copying with Review, and more. Pro is available for €5.99/month or €49.99/year. The free tier includes full read access and up to 5 metadata edits per day.
Q: How does Metadata Search work?
A: Metadata Search provides full-text search across all 125 metadata fields with a redesigned interface featuring a source-list sidebar, compact filter bar with chip toggles, and advanced filters in popovers. Create Smart Collections that auto-update as metadata changes — three built-in collections (Untagged Files, Geotagged Photos, 5-Star Rated) plus custom collections from any filter combination. Pro feature.
Q: Can I customize the editor layout?
A: Yes. MetaScope offers Workspace Presets (3 built-in: Minimal, Standard, Full, plus custom presets) for field visibility and ordering. Create up to 8 custom Info Panel tabs from the 125-field registry with drag-to-reorder arrangement. The Editor features a search/filter bar (Cmd+F), category dropdown, adaptive two-column grid at 700pt+ width, and safety indicators for field types.
Q: Does MetaScope support automation?
A: MetaScope offers several automation features: Transformation Rules with 11 operators and 15 action types for automated metadata workflows, Extended Keyword Rules with regex matching and hierarchy templates, and Linked Metadata Profiles with expression tokens ({filename}, {year}, {date:format}) for dynamic values. Rules and profiles can be imported/exported for team sharing. Pro features.
Q: Is there in-app help?
A: Yes. MetaScope ships with 83 searchable help articles covering all features, accessible from the Help menu. Topics range from getting started to advanced automation workflows.
Q: How does Photos integration work?
A: MetaScope integrates natively with Apple Photos via XPC. Browse your Photos library, access albums, and view iCloud download progress directly in the grid, list, and Info Panel. Smart prefetch during scroll, automatic retry, and stall detection keep things smooth. You can export from Photos to your filesystem for metadata editing.
Technical Support Services
Our comprehensive support covers all aspects of MetaScope usage:
Technical Issues
App crashes, performance problems, compatibility issues, Liquid Glass compatibility, macOS 26 support, and bug reports. Our team provides detailed troubleshooting assistance.
Workflow Guidance
Batch processing, templates, transformation rules, keyword rules, linked profiles, workspace presets, and professional metadata editing techniques.
Feature Assistance
GPS integration, PDF and Catalogue Card export, Smart Collections, custom metadata fields, controlled vocabularies, metadata search, and Document Export.
Integration Support
Photos library integration, iCloud sync, Finder metadata write-back, DAM workflows, and team vocabulary and rule sharing.
Pro Features
MetaScope Pro unlocks advanced capabilities for professional workflows. The free tier includes full metadata reading and up to 5 edits per day.
Smart Collections
Linked Metadata Profiles
Custom Metadata Fields
Controlled Vocabularies
Transformation Rules
Extended Keyword Rules
Metadata Search
Metadata Copying with Review
Document Export
Catalogue Card Export
Custom Label Sets
€5.99/month or €49.99/year
System Requirements
Ensure your system meets MetaScope's requirements:
- Operating System: macOS 15.4+ (Sequoia), with macOS 26 (Tahoe) Liquid Glass support
- Architecture: Native Swift 5.0 application
- Interface: SwiftUI with App Sandbox compliance
- Processing: Embedded ExifTool v13.50 (no external dependencies)
- Metadata Fields: 125 fields across 8 categories
- Security: Hardened runtime with user-selected file access only
- Performance: Actor-based caching with intelligent memory management, 50% faster folder switching, ~130ms metadata latency
Photos, Video & Permissions
Q: How do I grant Photos access?
A: On first use, macOS prompts for Photos permissions. Approve to browse albums and assets natively. You can adjust access later in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos.
Q: External drives or protected folders stopped prompting?
A: MetaScope uses security‑scoped bookmarks for persistent access. If prompts stop appearing, go to Settings → Advanced → Reset Security‑Scoped Bookmarks. Version 1.1.2 also performs a one‑time refresh after upgrade.
Q: Does MetaScope support video?
A: Yes. Unified video preview with parity controls across Files and Photos for MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and WebM. MetaScope also supports full video metadata editing including Dublin Core, QuickTime, and Production & Media fields (genre, director, producer, composer, and more). GPS batch operations work for video files too.
Q: Portfolio export and 3FR reliability
A: Hasselblad 3FR uses a high‑quality scaled decode pipeline with color‑managed fallbacks for dependable output.
Q: EXIF/RAW tabs feel slow. How to load everything?
A: Use Load full now to fetch deep metadata on demand. Long operations are cancelable, and very large tag sets are paged to keep the UI responsive.
Q: How do Smart Collections and Saved Sets work?
A: Smart Collections are dynamic query-based groups that auto-update as metadata changes. Three built-in collections (Untagged Files, Geotagged Photos, 5-Star Rated) are included, and you can create custom collections from any search filter combination. They integrate with Metadata Search and require the metadata index to be built. Pro feature.
Q: How do Custom Metadata Fields work?
A: Custom fields use the ms: XMP namespace. Choose data types (text, number, date, list, boolean), set validation rules and allowed values, and import/export definitions as JSON for team sharing. Data is stored as standard XMP — either embedded or in sidecar files. Pro feature.
Q: How do Linked Metadata Profiles work?
A: Linked Profiles are named presets that apply multiple metadata fields at once — copyright bundles, contact info, workflow tags. Expression tokens like {filename}, {year}, and {date:format} resolve dynamically when applied. Apply from the Editor header, toolbar, or with Cmd+Shift+P. Pro feature.
Common Troubleshooting
Try these steps for common issues:
App Won't Launch
- Ensure macOS 15.4+ is installed
- Check if MetaScope is in quarantine (System Settings > Privacy & Security)
- Try restarting your Mac
- Contact support with your macOS version and error messages
Files Won't Open
- Verify file format is supported (50+ formats including RAW)
- Check file permissions and ensure files aren't corrupted
- Try opening from a different location (Desktop vs external drive)
- Restart MetaScope and try again
Performance Issues
- Check available disk space (MetaScope uses caching)
- Limit batch operations to reasonable file counts
- Ensure adequate RAM for large file processing
- Close other memory-intensive applications
Photos Library Not Appearing
- Check permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos
- Ensure MetaScope has been granted Photos access
- Try the connection recovery option in MetaScope Settings
- Restart MetaScope and try again
Metadata Search Not Finding Results
- The metadata index needs to be built before searching — check ingest status
- Verify auto-ingest folders are configured correctly
- Use the re-index option to rebuild the search index
- Ensure the files are in a supported format (50+ formats)
Keyboard Shortcuts Not Responding
- Option+0–5 for quick star rating
- Cmd+F to focus the Editor search/filter bar
- Cmd+Shift+P to apply Linked Metadata Profiles
- Ensure MetaScope is the frontmost application
When Contacting Support
To help us assist you efficiently, please include:
- MetaScope version (from About menu)
- macOS version (System Information)
- Detailed issue description with steps to reproduce
- File types and sizes you're working with
- Screenshots or error messages if applicable
- Workflow context (batch processing, single files, etc.)
Additional Resources
MetaScope includes 83 searchable help articles accessible from the Help menu, covering all features from getting started to advanced automation.