Using FamilySearch with Family Tree Maker
Family Tree Maker connects to FamilySearch as well as Ancestry, and the two work nothing alike. FamilySearch is free, carries billions of records, and matches people rather than syncing your tree, so nothing you do there rewrites your file. It is worth having on when Ancestry returns nothing, and especially worth having on if your Ancestry membership has lapsed.
- Applies to
- FTM 2024 · 2019 · 2017
- Platform
- Windows & macOS
- Time
- ~8 min
What the FamilySearch connection does
Family Tree Maker connects to two services, and they work differently. Ancestry syncs a tree. FamilySearch searches records and suggests matches.
Signed in to FamilySearch, the program searches a shared tree of more than a billion names and offers match suggestions for people already in your file. You review each suggestion and decide what to copy across.
Signing in
Click the FamilySearch icon in the top-right corner of the program.
Choose Log In and enter your FamilySearch credentials. A FamilySearch account is free, and the dialog links to the sign-up page if you need one.
Stay signed in inside the program. Signing in on the FamilySearch website in your browser does nothing for Family Tree Maker. The connection has to be made from within the software.
That last point causes most "FamilySearch is not working" reports. The program only receives match information while you are signed in through it.
One other cause is worth knowing. FamilySearch access broke in earlier editions and long-standing users report that FTM 2024 restored it. If you run an older edition and the connection fails no matter what you try, the edition itself is the limit rather than your account.
Reading the blue icon
A blue square icon beside a person means matching records were found.
Click the icon to open the suggested records in the Web Search workspace.
Read the match before accepting it. A shared tree contains other people's conclusions, and those conclusions are sometimes wrong.
Use the Web Merge Wizard to copy across only the facts you want, rather than accepting everything offered.
A hint is a suggestion, not a source. Accepting hints wholesale is the fastest way to import somebody else's mistakes into research you spent years on. Check the underlying record before you merge.
FamilySearch works differently from Ancestry
| Aspect | Ancestry | FamilySearch |
|---|---|---|
| Tree model | Your own private tree | One shared tree for everyone |
| Connection type | Two-way sync | Search and match suggestions |
| Cost | Subscription for records | Free account |
| Your edits | Sync back to your online tree | Stay in your file unless you publish them |
| Other users | Cannot change your tree | Can change shared profiles |
The last row matters most. On a shared tree, another researcher can alter or merge a profile you rely on. Your own Family Tree Maker file stays under your control, which is a strong argument for keeping the local file as the authoritative copy of your research.
Combining trees from either service creates duplicates, and cleaning those up is its own task — see merging two family trees.
Frequently asked questions
Does Family Tree Maker work with FamilySearch?
Yes. Sign in through the FamilySearch icon inside the program and it searches the shared tree and suggests matches for people already in your file.
How do I connect FamilySearch to Family Tree Maker?
Click the FamilySearch icon in the top-right corner, choose Log In, and enter your credentials. The connection has to be made inside the program; signing in on the website in a browser does nothing.
What does the blue square icon mean?
It means Family Tree Maker found matching FamilySearch records for that person. Click it to review the matches in the Web Search workspace.
Does Family Tree Maker sync with FamilySearch like it does with Ancestry?
No. Ancestry is a two-way tree sync. FamilySearch provides record search and match suggestions, and your edits stay in your file unless you publish them.
Is a FamilySearch account free?
Yes. Creating a FamilySearch account costs nothing, and the login dialog in Family Tree Maker links to the sign-up page.
Can other people change my FamilySearch data?
On the shared FamilySearch tree, yes. Other researchers can edit or merge shared profiles. Your own Family Tree Maker file stays under your control.
Why is FamilySearch not showing any matches?
The most common cause is not being signed in through the program itself. Signing in on the FamilySearch website in a browser does not connect Family Tree Maker.
Hints imported the wrong data?
We separate wrongly merged people and restore the structure. No fix, no fee.