Getting started

Requirements

• Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11, 64-bit.
• Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime — used to draw the map. It's pre-installed on Windows 11. If it's missing (e.g. on some Windows 10 or locked-down machines), RootMap shows a prompt with a one-click link to install it; everything except the map still works without it.

Install

1. Open the Microsoft Store listing and click Get. The Store keeps RootMap updated.
2. Launch RootMap.

RootMap is free to use — there's no trial limit, no account, and no purchase. Product page: ltclabs.dev/rootmap.

First run

1. The Map tab opens first. If you have no photos yet, click Choose Folders to Scan.
2. On Add Photos, check folders in the tree (RootMap scans subfolders too) and click Scan Selected Folders. Watch progress on the Activity tab.
3. When the first scan finishes, RootMap takes you back to the Map. Photos with GPS appear as pins. Photos without GPS stay in the Library — the map will say so if none of them have a location.

See Adding & scanning photos for details and tips.

Where your data lives

RootMap stores its index (a SQLite database), thumbnails, face crops, and logs locally under:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Rootmap

With the Microsoft Store version, Windows keeps that folder inside the app's own storage (%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\LTCLabs.RootMapPhotoGeoBrowserandFaces_…\LocalCache\Local\Rootmap).

Your original photos are never moved, modified, or uploaded. To back up or move the index, use Settings → Export & Backup (see the FAQ). What RootMap sends online is in the privacy policy.

Settings opens from the gear button at the top right (or Ctrl+,). Theme and Interface size (make everything bigger or smaller) are under Appearance.