FAQ

Q: Is RootMap free?

Yes — RootMap is free to use, with no trial limit, no account, and no premium tier. (It's not open-source.)

Q: Does RootMap send any data?

Diagnostics to LTC Labs. Anonymous diagnostics help us fix crashes and see which features work. Always sent: an update check when RootMap starts, a check-in every 30 minutes while it's open (memory use and a session ID), app launch/close, crash reports, and counts of photos a scan couldn't read (by file type). Unless you opt out: counts such as photos scanned or exported, whether the map or Help was opened, and how many results a Help search found. They never include file paths, filenames, GPS coordinates, face data, or what you type into search. Crash reports have any file path in the error message removed before they're sent. Turn optional usage data off in Settings → Privacy. Support tickets. When you contact support, we receive what you write and your reply-to email. The recent app log is attached only if you leave Include recent app log ticked. That log lists folder and file names RootMap worked on (your Windows user name is removed). No photos are ever attached. Location lookups. Two features look up places online, and neither goes to LTC Labs: - Place search on the map sends what you type to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim, or to MapTiler if you've added a MapTiler key. - The photo viewer shows a place name ("Munich, Germany") for photos with GPS by sending that photo's coordinates to Nominatim, at most once a second. The full details are in the privacy policy.

Q: How do I back up or move my library?

Settings → Export & Backup: Export .db file... copies the whole index (photos, faces, tags, folders) to a file and Restore .db file... loads one back; Export JSON... writes a portable metadata file. Settings such as theme aren't in the .db file. Because the data lives in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rootmap, it isn't cloud-synced unless you export it yourself.

Q: Can I use my own map provider?

Yes — Settings → Map Provider has an optional MapTiler API key. The map uses free public tile servers (OpenStreetMap and Esri) by default, with no key or account needed, which is fine for most use. If you hit rate limits or want your own quota, get a free key at maptiler.com and paste it in — the map and the place-search box will both use your MapTiler account instead. Leave it blank to keep using the defaults.

Last updated: 22 October 2026

Is RootMap free?

Yes — RootMap is free to use, with no trial limit, no account, and no premium tier. (It's not open-source.)

Where are my photos and data stored?

Your original photos stay exactly where they are — RootMap never moves or changes them. RootMap's own index (a SQLite database), thumbnails, face crops, and logs live locally under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rootmap. Your photos and face data are never uploaded. The only location data that leaves your PC is described below.

Does RootMap send any data?

Diagnostics to LTC Labs. Anonymous diagnostics help us fix crashes and see which features work. Always sent: an update check when RootMap starts, a check-in every 30 minutes while it's open (memory use and a session ID), app launch/close, crash reports, and counts of photos a scan couldn't read (by file type). Unless you opt out: counts such as photos scanned or exported, whether the map or Help was opened, and how many results a Help search found. They never include file paths, filenames, GPS coordinates, face data, or what you type into search. Crash reports have any file path in the error message removed before they're sent. Turn optional usage data off in Settings → Privacy.

Support tickets. When you contact support, we receive what you write and your reply-to email. The recent app log is attached only if you leave Include recent app log ticked. That log lists folder and file names RootMap worked on (your Windows user name is removed). No photos are ever attached.

Location lookups. Two features look up places online, and neither goes to LTC Labs:

Place search on the map sends what you type to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim, or to MapTiler if you've added a MapTiler key.
The photo viewer shows a place name ("Munich, Germany") for photos with GPS by sending that photo's coordinates to Nominatim, at most once a second.

The full details are in the privacy policy.

Does it work offline?

Scanning, the library, faces, tags, and export all work offline. The map tiles, place search, and place names in the photo viewer need the internet. Diagnostics need a connection to send, and queue on disk if you're offline.

What file types are supported?

Photos: JPG/JPEG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF. Videos: MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV, AVI, WMV, WebM, 3GP. GPS and date are read from each file's metadata.

Can I re-scan a folder?

Yes. Re-scanning only adds new photos — nothing is duplicated. Scans are also resumable if interrupted.

How do I back up or move my library?

Settings → Export & Backup: Export .db file... copies the whole index (photos, faces, tags, folders) to a file and Restore .db file... loads one back; Export JSON... writes a portable metadata file. Settings such as theme aren't in the .db file. Because the data lives in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rootmap, it isn't cloud-synced unless you export it yourself.

Can I use my own map provider?

Yes — Settings → Map Provider has an optional MapTiler API key. The map uses free public tile servers (OpenStreetMap and Esri) by default, with no key or account needed, which is fine for most use. If you hit rate limits or want your own quota, get a free key at maptiler.com and paste it in — the map and the place-search box will both use your MapTiler account instead. Leave it blank to keep using the defaults.

Why do some photos have no location?

They have no GPS in their EXIF. See Photos don't appear on the map.

Getting started · Privacy policy · What's new

Still stuck? In the app, use Help → Contact support, or open a ticket here.

FAQ