Family Tree Maker versions explained
The publisher has published three editions of Family Tree Maker since it acquired the product in February 2016: FTM 2017, FTM 2019 and FTM 2024. This page lists what each edition is, how to check which one sits on your computer, and which editions still run on current operating systems.
- Applies to
- FTM 2024 · 2019 · 2017 · 2014
- Platform
- Windows & macOS
- Checked
- September 2026
Every Family Tree Maker version, and where each one stands
Ancestry.com published Family Tree Maker until 2016. The publisher took over development in February 2016 and has shipped three editions since. The build number identifies your edition more reliably than the year on the box.
| Edition | Build | Publisher | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTM 2024 | 25.0.2 | The publisher | Current release. Receives updates. |
| FTM 2019 | 24.2.3 | The publisher | Runs. New features go to 2024. |
| FTM 2017 | 23.3 | The publisher | Legacy. Blocked on recent macOS. |
| FTM 2014 | 22.x | Ancestry.com | Legacy. Ancestry syncing ended. |
The gap between editions matters. Five years separated FTM 2019 from FTM 2024. The publisher ships editions when the work is ready rather than on an annual cycle, which is why the year in the name rarely matches the year you bought it.
Family Tree Maker 2018, 2020, 2026 and other versions that never shipped
Several version numbers get searched heavily and none of them exist. No edition carries the year 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 or 2026. People search for these years because they remember the year they bought the software rather than the year printed on it.
- Family Tree Maker 2018 — buyers who purchased during 2018 received FTM 2017. Confirm which edition you actually have.
- Family Tree Maker 2026 — the current release stays FTM 2024. What is known about the next edition.
How to check which Family Tree Maker version you have
The build number appears inside the program in under thirty seconds. Read the build number, then match it against the table above.
On Windows, open Family Tree Maker, then select Help, then About Family Tree Maker. The edition name and build number appear together.
On a Mac, open Family Tree Maker, then select the Family Tree Maker menu, then About Family Tree Maker.
Without opening the program, check the installed application name. Windows lists it under Apps in Settings. macOS lists it in the Applications folder.
Record the build number before you contact anyone. The edition year alone leaves the build ambiguous, and the build determines which fixes apply to your installation.
Which edition to run in 2026
Your operating system decides this more than your preferences do.
| Your situation | Run this | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Recent macOS | FTM 2024 | FTM 2017 no longer installs on current macOS releases. |
| Windows 11, FTM 2019 working | Stay on 2019 | A working installation carries no upgrade pressure. |
| Syncing with Ancestry | FTM 2024 | Sync fixes land in the current edition first. |
| FTM 2014 or older | FTM 2024 | Ancestry syncing ended for that generation. |
An edition that opens your file and syncs without complaint needs no upgrade. Upgrading solves a specific problem. It is not maintenance.
What actually happens when you move up a version
Less than people expect, and that is the point. You install the newer edition, open your existing tree, and the program converts the format while it loads. Old trees normally appear in the Plan workspace by themselves; where they do not, Import Existing Tree or restoring a backup brings them in. Researchers who have moved through several editions describe the process as getting easier each time.
Two sensible habits before you start. Make a full backup with media included, and leave the old version installed until you are satisfied with the new one. Jumps across many years are the ones that occasionally need help: someone moving a tree from a 2012-era edition, especially while also switching between Windows and Mac, is more likely to hit a snag than someone going from 2019 to 2024.
Nobody needs remote access to your computer to convert your files. There is an operation approaching researchers with exactly that offer, for a fee, and genealogy forums are full of people warning each other about it. The conversion is automatic and free. Ask anyone who offers what they will do that opening the file would not, and treat a vague answer as your answer. We do not charge for conversion either, because there is nothing to charge for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest version of Family Tree Maker?
Family Tree Maker 2024, build 25.0.2, is the current release from the publisher as of September 2026. No 2025 or 2026 edition exists.
How do I check which version of Family Tree Maker I have?
Open Family Tree Maker. On Windows select Help, then About Family Tree Maker. On a Mac select the Family Tree Maker menu, then About Family Tree Maker. The edition name and build number appear together.
Is there a Family Tree Maker 2018?
No. The publisher never released a 2018 edition. People who bought Family Tree Maker during 2018 received FTM 2017, build 23.3.
Does Family Tree Maker 2017 still work?
FTM 2017 runs on Windows. Recent macOS releases block the installer, so Mac users on current macOS need FTM 2024.
Do I have to pay again to upgrade Family Tree Maker?
Yes. Each edition is a separate one-time purchase, and there is no standing upgrade discount for FTM 2024 any more. Reduced upgrade pricing ran only between the announcement of that edition and its release, and that window has closed. Free updates within an edition still arrive as build increments at no cost.
Does anyone need remote access to my computer to convert my old trees?
No, and treat that offer as a warning sign. A current version opens older tree files directly and converts the format while the file loads. Your old trees usually appear in the Plan workspace the first time you run it. The publisher's support is free and does not ask to take over your screen for this. Researchers report being approached by people charging a fee to do it remotely, which is why this question keeps coming up.
How often does Family Tree Maker release a new version?
The publisher ships on no fixed schedule. Five years separated FTM 2019 from FTM 2024.
Not sure which version you are on?
We identify your build and tell you whether an upgrade fixes your problem. No fix, no fee.