Opening your software to find your gallery replaced by red question marks is one of the most common issues after moving computers or changing hard drives. Learning how to fix Family Tree Maker missing media and broken red question mark links will restore your photos, census records, and certificates without manually reattaching thousands of items.
Why Family Tree Maker Media Links Break
Family Tree Maker does not embed full-resolution photos inside your database file. Instead, it creates file-path pointers to the exact folder location on your hard drive where your images are saved.
- New Computer Transfer: Moving files to a new PC changes the user profile name (e.g., from C:\Users\John\… to C:\Users\Admin\…).
- External Drive Letter Shift: Plugging a USB drive into a different port switches the drive path from D: to E:.
- External Folder Renaming: Moving or renaming the “Family Tree Maker Media” folder outside of the application breaks the stored file path.
Step-by-Step Guide to Relink Broken Media Files
Follow these exact steps to run the software’s automated scanner and reconnect your entire media collection in minutes.
1. Open the Media Workspace
Launch Family Tree Maker and switch to the Media workspace from the top menu tabs. You will see thumbnail icons showing a red circle with a question mark on unlinked files.
2. Launch the Find Missing Media Tool
Go to the Media menu at the top-left toolbar and select Find Missing Media. The software will display a complete list of every detached image, PDF, and audio file in your database.
3. Point FTM to Your Current Media Folder
In the search dialog, click Browse. Direct the software to the folder or external drive where your images currently reside. Make sure the box labeled Search subfolders is checked. Click Next to start the batch scanner.
4. Verify and Lock in the New Paths
Once the scan reaches 100%, FTM will show a success message confirming the found files. Click Finish. To permanently lock these new paths into the database, go to File > Compact File, select Perform extended analysis, and click Compact.
