Family Tree FAQs
What is Family Tree?
It's the world's largest shared, online family tree. People from all over the world have added their ancestor information—names, dates, photos—to Family Tree over many years.
Connect your own family's branches to see what new discoveries you can make. You may even connect with living relatives who are also FamilySearch users.
Get Started with Family Tree.
Learn more about how it works.
Connect your own family's branches to see what new discoveries you can make. You may even connect with living relatives who are also FamilySearch users.
Get Started with Family Tree.
Learn more about how it works.
How do I add my family information?
Once you are signed in, go to Family Tree. You will see spots to add your parents.
After adding what you know about them, keep adding living and deceased relatives as far back as you can. A quick phone call or text to an older relative might help you fill in some gaps.
As you add names to the tree we’ll look for matches. So, if your deceased grandmother is already in the tree, we’ll find her and make the connection.
Finding matches is common—the Family Tree has millions of branches from all over the world.
After adding what you know about them, keep adding living and deceased relatives as far back as you can. A quick phone call or text to an older relative might help you fill in some gaps.
As you add names to the tree we’ll look for matches. So, if your deceased grandmother is already in the tree, we’ll find her and make the connection.
Finding matches is common—the Family Tree has millions of branches from all over the world.
Can I just transfer my family information from another website?
No, there isn't a one-step method to move your family information from another website or software program to FamilySearch Family Tree.
The simplest way to connect into the Tree is to simply start with your parents and add living and deceased relatives as far back as you can. A quick phone call or text to an older relative might help you fill in some gaps.
As you add names to the tree we’ll look for matches. Finding matches is common—the Family Tree has millions of branches from all over the world.
Video: How to connect to Family Tree.
Advanced Users
Visit our Help Center for detailed steps on transferring your family tree file (GEDCOM) to FamilySearch.
You can also watch a video to see the process.
The simplest way to connect into the Tree is to simply start with your parents and add living and deceased relatives as far back as you can. A quick phone call or text to an older relative might help you fill in some gaps.
As you add names to the tree we’ll look for matches. Finding matches is common—the Family Tree has millions of branches from all over the world.
Video: How to connect to Family Tree.
Advanced Users
Visit our Help Center for detailed steps on transferring your family tree file (GEDCOM) to FamilySearch.
You can also watch a video to see the process.
How do you find my relatives using Family Tree?
Family Tree is a worldwide, community family tree. Once we know where you fit into the Tree we can use search technology to find if you have a relationship to anyone else in the Tree. It's about finding deceased ancestors that you both have in common.
Get Started With Family Tree
Get Started With Family Tree
How can I check to see if you already have my family in Family Tree?
You can see what FamilySearch already has about your family by trying a quick discovery search.
Additional Family Tree Resources
A FamilySearch volunteer can help you start your family tree or add missing branches.
Visit the FamilySearch Community to ask your questions to other FamilySearch users.
In this video, see how to start building out your tree on FamilySearch and why you should do so.
Find links to common questions, or search for your answer in thousands of help articles.