Missing Files

[jsmcwilliam@gmail.com]

I have just installed Elements 2024 and have started importing my iCloud images which contained jpg, jpeg, and heic formats. From the start I was able to create a backup after each session, however, somewhere down the line I stated to get indications that some of my files could not be found and that I should "reconnect". This resulted in a list of around 15 files which were missing and could not be reconnected. Their thumbnails contained a small black square with a questionmark in it and the upper right conrner cut off. The thumbnails are there in Elements, however, they are missing from my iCloud Photos folder. I have checked my iPhone and the images seem to be there (HEIF-format). This may not be relevant but In order to simplify handling, after a while, I read that jpg and jpeg were synonymous so I renamed the few jpeg files I had in my iCloud folder (Windows 11) to jpg. How should I proceed because each time I try to create a backup I get the message to reconnect to missing files?

John McWilliam [personal information removed by moderator].

[Greg_S. · Accepted solution]

Have you downloaded all of your iCloud files to your local hard drive?  On Windows, by default, the files remain in the Cloud.  Elements will only see the physically downloaded file.

All file management (move, delete or rename) must take place within Elements.  Otherwise the file will become missing.  That seems to be the case with your renaming your files from .jpeg to .jpg.  Elements will consider that a differently named file.  If this is your case, it is easily fixed.  Double-click on the missing file thumbnail in the grid.  A reconnect dialog will come up and I suspect that it will automatically find the renamed file. However, if it is going through a long search process, navigate to the folder where the file is stored and use the dialog to find the renamed file.

You can also use the Find>All Missing FIles menu to locate all of the files that Elements considers to be missing.

(And as a sidenote, I have been having all kinds of problems with the iCloud for Windows application.  I'm about to give up on it.)

[jsmcwilliam@gmail.com]

Thanks for the input - most helpful. I think I have solved the problem now.
John
Sent from my iPhone