Familysearch.Org New Features

FamilySearch.org New Features

Frequently Asked Questions

FamilySearch Family Tree

Is my information going to be publicly viewable/accessible?
As a new user, can I input my initial data directly into the fan chart? Does the information I add go directly into the fan chart or only the tree?
Will the search consider alternate spellings across cultures (e.g., Tony, Antonio, Antonus)
What do I do if some of the data in my fan chart or family tree is incorrect?
Can I create a tree or fan chart without creating an LDS or FamilySearch account?
How many generations are visible in my fan chart?
How can I see more of my Family Tree data in my fan chart?
Where does the information come from?
How many names are in the database?
Is this the same as new.familysearch.org? When will it go away?
Can other people change the data I contribute?
How do you keep people from putting bad data in my tree?
How will I be able to identify and communicate with others who have contributed data to our family tree?
Can I always see my view of the data I contribute?
Can I download my entire tree to my desktop in some e-file format or to a third-party software?
Can I download someone else’s family tree?
Why can’t I see complete information about my siblings and my adult children?
Why can’t I see my in-laws?
How many languages is the tree available in?
Can I see my tree data in the context of a family group record?
Where do I find Family Tree training resources?
What charts or forms can I print from the Family Tree?
Will I be able to transfer my Ancestry.com or third-party tree to the Family Tree?
Will I be able to print out my tree in some sort of “book” form to share with relatives who do not have a computer?

Photos and Stories Feature

How many photos can I upload?
What’s the largest size photo I can upload?
Is there a character limit for a story?
How many different stories can be added to a photo?
Can stories be written only for a photo, or can a story be written for a person in the Family Tree without a photo?
Can there be living people in my uploaded pictures?
Are uploaded photos searched by web search engines or shareable on social media?
How do I upload photos?
Do photos have to be attached to someone in the Family Tree to upload or share them?
Can I edit someone else’s photos?
Can I edit or add stories to someone else’s photos?

Search Records Feature

Can I correct poorly or incorrectly indexed information for a record?
Can I search the Family Tree records from the Historical Records search feature?
Can I search photos from the HistoricRecords search?
Is there a universal search feature for all content on FamilySearch.org?

FamilySearch Family Tree

Is my information going to be publicly viewable/accessible?

The information you enter about deceased people is viewable by all users of Family Tree. The information you enter about living people is viewable only by you.

As a new user, can I input my initial data directly into the fan chart? Does the information I add go directly into the fan chart or only the tree?

Once data is entered into yourFamily Tree, you have the option to view in the fan chart.

After you have added the information, you display it on both thefan chart and the pedigree view. These two charts are simply two ways of displaying your ancestors.

Will the search consider alternate spellings across cultures (e.g., Tony, Antonio, Antonus)

Yes. Search does take into consideration common name variants across cultures.

You can see what variations get used for any given name on Standard Finder, which is at

What do I do if some of the data in my fan chart or family tree is incorrect?

You can correct it! First, click the name of the person on either the pedigree or fan chart. Click Person. Then, on the person’s details page, find the information that you want to correct:

To correct names, dates, or places, click the wrong information, and then click Edit. This type of information is located in the Vital Information and Other Information sections.

To fix incorrect relationships to spouse, children, or parents, scroll down to the Family Members section. To correct an incorrect spouse or marriage information, click the Edit Couple link.

To correct information about an incorrect parent-child relationship, hover your mouse over the child’s name. Then click the Edit Relationship that appears.

Whenever you make corrections, a field is provided where you can enter a reason to explain how you know the information you are adding is correct. This reasoning is intended to prevent improper changes and to direct other interested researchers to the sources that prove the information.

You are also encouraged to add sources that show where the correct information may be found.

Can I create a tree or fan chart without creating an LDS or FamilySearch account?

An account is required to create a new tree and to add or edit information that is already in Family Tree.

How many generations are visible in my fan chart?

The fan chart is designed to show someone his or her spouse and children and his or her ancestors back to the great-great-grandparents (up to six generations).

To see beyond six generations, place an ancestor in the center of the chart and it will display up to six generations from that ancestor. To do that, click the name of the person that you want in the center, and then click Tree.

How can I see more of my Family Tree data in my fan chart?

The chart shows each person’s name and years of birth and death. To see more details about a person on the chart, click his or her name. A summary card appears. To see the complete details, click the Person link on the card.

Where does the information come from?

The information in Family Tree comes from submissions of genealogical data over the last several decades from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and FamilySearch.

How many names are in the database?

Almost 1 billion.

Is this the same as new.familysearch.org? When will it go away?

Family Tree is a replacement for new.familysearch.org. The genealogical information from new.familysearch.org was transferred to Family Tree.

An exact timeline has not yet been determined. It will be retired once Family Tree has all of the features it needs to fully replace new.familysearch.org.

Can other people change the data I contribute?

Family Tree is intended to become a correct genealogical record that contains sources to prove its accuracy and endures longer than any personwho adds information to it.

Most contributors do their best to ensure that their information is correct. However, sometimes the records required to prove something are not available. As it is possible that future researchers will have access to better records than we do now, we need to allow them the ability to correct and add better information as it becomes available.

How do you keep people from putting bad data in my tree?

The best way to prevent people from changing correct information is to clearly and thoroughly explain each change you make and to attach the sources that show your information is correct.

Family Tree is community managed. Most users do their best to enter correct data. Family Tree allows users to explain each change they make. It also allows users to add sources that show where information came from.

The best resource against bad data is having many different researchers working on the same lines. They can work together to make sure Family Tree contains the most accurate information that is currently available about their ancestry.

Family Tree provides several features that allow its users to work together and monitor changes that are made:

Family Tree keeps track of every change that is made and which user made that change. Users are encouraged to provide contact information that will allow other users to contact them with questions as needed.
The discussions feature allows users to enter questions and discuss the accuracy of information.
Users can track ancestors and receive an email giving details when changes are made.
Each change that is made is recorded in a change history. If correct information gets overwritten by wrong data, the change can be undone through that history.

FamilySearch also has a team of skilled systems administrators who can assist with some of the more complicated issues that can arise in genealogical data.

How will I be able to identify and communicate with others who have contributed data to our family tree?

Family Tree tracks each user who adds, edits, and deletes information. To see who contributed a piece of information:

To see the contributor of names, dates, and places, display the person’s full details. Then click the piece of information of the contributor you wish to see.
To see the contributor of marriage information, scroll down to the Family Members section. Click the Edit Couple link. On the relationship page, click the information whose contributor you want to see.
To see the contributor of parent-child relationship information, scroll down to the Family Members section. Hover your mouse over the child’s name, and click the Edit Relationship link that appears. On the relationship page, click the information whose contributor you want to see.

To see a contributor’s contact information, click the contributor’s name.

Can I always see my view of the data I contribute?

When you look at the information about a deceased person, you see the same information as other users.

There are two types of data that are customized to your view:

Living people. If you have entered living relatives into your tree, only you can see the information.
Preferred parents. If one of your ancestors is linked to two sets of parents, such as to biological and adopted parents, you can choose which set of parents is displayed on the pedigree and fan chart.

Can I download my entire tree to my desktop in some e-file format orto a third-party software?

Many of our partners are working on enabling their products to download and exchange information with Family Tree. For a current list, go to and look for products that have a check mark.

Can I downloadsomeone else’sfamily tree?

Using one of our partner’s products, you can download data about the deceased people in Family Tree, even if they are not related to you. For a current list of products, go to and look for products that have a check mark.

Why can’t I see complete information about my siblings and myadult children?

To protect the privacy rights of living adults, FamilySearch must limit the amount of information you see about them, even if they are your own siblings or children. Eventually, we hope to create a feature that will let living people give permission for other close relatives to see their information in Family Tree.

If you would like to see them in your tree now, you can add their information to the tree.

Why can’t I see my in-laws?

The answer to this question depends on your particular situation.

If your in-laws are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they are likely listed as living on the Church’s membership records. You cannot see their information because they are not your direct-line ancestors. To see your spouse’s ancestors within your own Family Tree, add your living in-laws andthen link them to their deceased ancestors.

If your in-laws are Church members but are deceased, you should be able to see them. If you cannot, it likely means that their death has not been correctly listed on Church membership records.

If your in-laws are not Church members, you will need to enter their information into Family Tree.

How many languages is the tree available in?

Family Tree is currently available in 10 languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

Can I see my tree data in the context of a family group record?

Yes. On your pedigree or fan chart, click the name of the person whose family group record you would like to see. On the summary card, click Person. In the Tools box, which is located on the right side of the screen, click Print Family. The family group record will be created as a PDF file and displayed in another tab within your browser.

Where do I find Family Tree training resources?

You can find training materials in the FamilySearch Help Center and at

What charts or forms can I print from the Family Tree?

You can currently print a four-generation pedigree chart, a family group record, and a Family Ordinance Request. We are working on providing the ability to print a fan chart.

Will I be able to transfer my Ancestry.com or third-party tree to the Family Tree?

Many of our partners are working on enabling their products to upload information to and exchange information with Family Tree. For a current list, go to and look for products that have a check mark.

Will I be able to print out my tree in some sort of “book” form to share with relatives who do not have a computer?

To do this, you will need to use one of our partners’ products. For a current list, go to and look for products that have a check mark.

Photos and Stories Feature

How many photos can I upload?

5,000 per FamilySearch user.

What’s the largest size photo I can upload?

Up to 5MB per photo.

Is there a character limit for a story?

The equivalent of a 100 page book.

How many different stories can be added to a photo?

Unlimited.

Can stories be written only for a photo, or can a story be written for a person in the Family Tree without a photo?

A brief description can be written for each photo. Stories are not dependent on photos and can be added to people in the Family Tree independent of photos.

Can there be living people in my uploaded pictures?

Yes.

Are uploaded photos searched by web search engines or shareable on social media?

Uploaded photos are not searchable by web search engines, but you can share and link to them through social media.

How do I upload photos?

Go to My Photos, accept the submission agreement, and upload your photos.

Do photos have to be attached to someone in the Family Tree to upload or share them?

No.

Can I edit someone else’s photos?

Anyone can tag a photo. Only the patron who uploaded the photo can delete the photo. The patron who uploaded the photo is able to remove any tag on the photo.

Can I edit or add stories to someone else’s photos?

Not yet. This is coming.

Search Records Feature

Can I correct poorly or incorrectly indexed information for a record?

There is currently no method for a user to add a correction to a field on an indexed record.Much progress is being made behind the scenes to enable this functionality in the future.

Can I search the Family Tree records from the Historical Records search feature?

No. The work to bring Family Tree under this search has not yet been completed. We intend to let a user search all of our Tree data under the Genealogies search tab in the future.

Can I search photos from the Historic Records search?

No. Photos are integrated within the Family Tree and are not searchable as an exclusive collection currently. Users will see the photos as they identify the respective people in those photos linked to the Family Tree.

Is there a universal search feature for all content on FamilySearch.org?

Not yet. Users can search four types of data from the Historic Records and Family Tree features: Historical Records, User-Submitted Genealogies, FamilySearch Catalog, and Scanned Genealogy Books. Each of these has its own customized search form. A single-search form for all of these data types will be available in the future.