Photos don't appear on the map

A photo only appears on the map if it has GPS coordinates in its EXIF metadata. The header shows how many of your indexed photos have GPS (the GPS count vs. indexed). RootMap does not add location to photos that never had it.

If a scan finds photos but none of them have GPS, the Map tab says so instead of showing a blank world — those files are all still in the Library.

Common reasons GPS is missing

• Location was off when the photo was taken (a camera/phone setting).
• The photo was edited or re-saved by software that strips EXIF.
• The device doesn't record GPS — many cameras (vs. phones), and older devices.
• Screenshots, downloads, WhatsApp images, and scans generally have no GPS.

What to check

• Open the photo and look at its details — if there's no location in the EXIF, it can't be placed on the map.
• The photo is still in the Library even without GPS; it just isn't on the map. Faces and tags work on those too.
• A date filter can hide pins too — click All / Clear Filters to rule that out.
• Phone libraries (location on) usually plot well. DSLR folders, screenshots, and chat exports often don't.

Related

• Adding & scanning photos · The map · FAQ