How to drag photos in Final Cut Pro for correct sequence?

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Level 1

8 points

How to drag photos in Final Cut Pro for correct sequence?

When I click on photos in FCPX, it brings up all the photos in my library. It used to have them with the oldest at the top and the newest at the bottom and this meant that I could drag them onto the timeline and they would appear in the correct chronological order. That's changed a while ago and now the newest are at the top. If I drag them down to the timeline they now all appear in reverse order, which forces me to drag them one t a time into the timeline if I want an oldest to newest sequence. Is there a way fix this in the photo library menu?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: FCPX Photo Sequence – It's a drag

HomePod, 18

Posted on Oct 10, 2025 8:52 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,796 points

Oct 10, 2025 11:46 AM in response to njd47

On my system, when I click on Photos in the browser

I get newest first and oldest last. As far as I can recall, it had always been like that - but I may be wrong.

If I drop the images I want to use in Photos into an Album (in the Photos app) I can then choose the sort order for that album

And if I navigate to the Photos Album in the FCP Browser, FCP seems to respect the chosen sort order:

MtD

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Answer 2

terryb

Level 4

3,334 points

Oct 10, 2025 11:18 AM in response to njd47

I don't know about getting the browser to display photos in a particular order, but once the images are dragged into the timeline, you can select them all, create a compound clip, then choose Reverse Clip from the Retiming Options popup menu above the timeline.

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Answer 3

fox_m

Level 6

13,226 points

Oct 10, 2025 4:48 PM in response to njd47

Since I'm still stuck in 10.4.10, this is what the options looked like in 2020:

Selecting Moments seems to set the list in a chronological order.

Is Moments still available from the drop down when you click on < All Photos?

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Answer 4

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,796 points

Oct 10, 2025 4:25 PM in response to njd47

I don't recall it, but let Apple know if you want to file a feature request/provide feedback:

MtD

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 5

njd47 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 10, 2025 12:00 PM in response to terryb

This is a good work-around. I find myself working with a lot of still photos from new albums. But it seems like a minor upgrade could give me the option of dragging the photos oldest to newest, a function that was available I'd say 4-5 years ago. Thanks for your help.

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Answer 6

njd47 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 10, 2025 12:02 PM in response to Meg The Dog

Thanks for the help. This is a work around, but the option to have the photos in FCPX arranged according to oldest or newest was an option about 4-5 years ago.

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