photoshop elements 24 unknown missing file

Question

I am preparing to upgrade to PE 2026, but I need to clean up my catalog first. I am finding an indication of a missing file, but the file name is blank, and the location is my entire Mac (see attached screenshot). I attempt to search the entire system, but no file is found, and the error persists. This appears to be a recent problem occurring after I resolved a few missing files and reconnected or deleted catalog entries. This error occureed after I attempted ot verify a clean catalog. Can someone explain why this is occurring and what needs to be done to correct it? (Letting the system attempt to search all disks has not resolved the issue, and the unknown file remains missing.

Greg_S. · Answer

I know (almost) nothing about Macs, so don't know if the following suggestions are possible in that OS.

How are you getting to the dialog in your screenshot? Double-clicking on a missing file or using a menu option?
Is the missing file possibly hidden? Go to View>Hidden Files> and select Show Only Hidden Files. Does the missing file appear? If not, change the View to Show All Files and continue with the following suggestions.
Go to File>Manage Catalogs, select the open catalog and choose the Optimize and Repair options. Allow the optimization and repair options to complete, even if a message says that no errors have been found. ISTR that this may be one of the options that is different or not available in Macs.
Go to Find>All Missing FIles. Does the missing file appear in the grid? If so, I suggest you delete it from the catalog if you are able to do so.
Go to File>Reconnect>All Missing Files. Allow the process to complete. It may take several hours, depending on the size and structure of your catalog. You may not see any visible sign of activity for a while.

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