Apple Photos "Places" map is empty, despite photos showing geotag info

The problem persists in the current version of macOS 10.15 Catalina. If you want to see your photos on the Places map, do not use a referenced library or downgrade back to macOS 10.14 Mojave. The problem with the missing thumbnails on the maps is not the only problem. It is also hard to reconnect the originals if you have to relocate them to another volume, if you rename them, have to restore them from a backup. Disadvantages of a Referenced Library in … - Apple Community

Hello,

I posted a similar problem yesterday in french forum, because even if my photos are geotagged, "Places" don't work, the pin's are only available in info panel. Now I found all those posts in US forum, it' a shame Apple haven't yet update this bug (I see many posts are from 2019). I tried to create an all new library, the problem remains and worst, the days are incorrect and some other troubles even if I asked to keep the folders organisation as in my HD. Of course with Mojave it worked fine, but now I've upgrade to Catalina, it' unusable. And as my iMac late 2012 won't support Big Sur, I'm afraid I must threw Photos to trash soon.

Still no solution ? (sorry for my english)

As long as you are running Catalina the only solution is to consolidate the referenced photos. Let Photos copy the referenced photos into the Photos Library. The missing markers in the Places maps are not the only problem. There are also issues with the reconnection of broken references. I would not risk to use a referenced Photos Library on macOS 10.15 Catalina.

So I made a new library with referenced photos, Places is now ok; I choose keep folders organisation as in my HD, but they first displayed in an unknown order, by chance right-click allows to get them by alphabetical order as I use to keep them.

Glad referenced photos are the actual solution, but this make my photos folders twice: on my HD and in Photos library: waste of HD space. Thanks léonie ! Waiting for a Photos update with Places map ok for un-referenced photos.

You're welcome. Perhaps the next system version Big Sur will improve the handling of referenced images.

Thanks; anyway I've read in some posts about this issue that referenced photos don't solve the problem, but I'll try tomorrow. Here it's near time to sleep !