Family history is no longer something that requires old paper records, large notebooks, or hours spent inside libraries. With the FamilySearch Family Tree app, you can explore your family history directly from your smartphone or tablet. The app provides tools for viewing your family tree, searching historical records, adding information about ancestors, attaching sources, preserving memories, and discovering how different people are connected to your family.
The FamilySearch Family Tree mobile app is designed to help people build and explore their family history wherever they are. According to FamilySearch, the app allows users to view their family tree, add or edit information and relationships, search and attach records as sources
What Is the FamilySearch Family Tree App?
FamilySearch Family Tree is a genealogy application that helps users discover, organize, and preserve information about their ancestors. Instead of keeping your family history only in personal documents, the app lets you work with family-tree information digitally and connect names with important life events, historical records, photographs, stories, and other sources.
The app can be especially useful for beginners because you can start with information you already know, such as your name, parents, grandparents, and other close relatives. As you add information, FamilySearch can help you connect your family lines with existing information about deceased ancestors in its Family Tree.
FamilySearch Family Tree App
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| App Name | FamilySearch Family Tree |
| Purpose | Discover, build and explore family history |
| Main Features | Family tree, historical records, sources, memories, relationships and ancestor maps |
| Supported Mobile Platforms | Android and iOS; FamilySearch also lists Kindle support for Family Tree |
| Recommended Android Version | Android 10 or higher for Tree and Memories |
| Recommended Apple Version | iOS 17 or higher |
| Account | FamilySearch account |
| Official Website | FamilySearch.org |
Download the FamilySearch Tree App
Getting started with the FamilySearch Family Tree app is straightforward. FamilySearch currently provides its mobile apps through the major app stores. On Android, users can open Google Play and search for FamilySearch. On Apple devices, users can use the App Store. FamilySearch’s current instructions say that after installation, users can open the application and sign in with their FamilySearch account.
- Open the Google Play Store on an Android phone or the Apple App Store on an iPhone or iPad.
- Search for FamilySearch.
- Look for the official Family Tree application.
- Tap Install on Android or Get on Apple devices.
- Wait for the application to finish installing.
- Open the Family Tree app.
- Sign in to your FamilySearch account.
- Begin exploring your family tree.
Start Building Your Family Tree
If you are completely new to genealogy, you do not need to know the names of hundreds of ancestors before using the app. A good approach is to begin with yourself and move backward one generation at a time.
Start by entering information you already know. This may include your full name, birth information, parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Try to use accurate dates and places when you know them. If you are unsure about an old family detail, avoid treating an unverified memory as a confirmed historical fact.
Explore the Family Tree From Your Phone
One of the biggest advantages of the mobile app is that your family history can be explored from almost anywhere. The Family Tree app provides family-tree views that allow you to move through generations and select individuals to learn more about them.
The person page is designed to bring different types of information together. FamilySearch describes the person page as a place where users can discover and preserve information about ancestors, add or correct information, review sources, add memories, and collaborate through notes and discussions.
Search Historical Records and Find New Family Details
Searching historical records is one of the most useful parts of genealogy research. Records can provide evidence about births, marriages, deaths, residences, family relationships, and other important events.
The Family Tree app supports searching and attaching records as sources. FamilySearch also provides record hints that can help users identify potentially relevant historical information about ancestors. However, a suggested record should be reviewed carefully before being attached to a person.
Add Photos, Stories and Family Memories
Family history is more than names and dates. Photographs, stories, documents, and recordings can help turn a basic family tree into a much richer family history collection.
The Family Tree app allows users to add and view memory items. FamilySearch’s Memories app provides additional tools for collecting and organizing photos, documents, stories, and audio files. Changes made through the Memories app are reflected on the FamilySearch website as well.
Use Map My Ancestors to Explore Family History
Another interesting feature of the Family Tree mobile app is Map My Ancestors. This feature can help users visualize places connected with an ancestor’s life.
FamilySearch explains that the mobile Family Tree app does not provide the same timeline feature available on the website, but users can view maps associated with an ancestor’s life events. From an ancestor’s details, users can tap an event to see a map of the location. The app also provides a Map My Ancestors option for exploring ancestor locations
Discover Relatives Around You
The Relatives Around Me feature is another mobile-specific Family Tree tool. It can show relationships between people nearby who are also using the Family Tree app and who have a common deceased ancestor in FamilySearch Family Tree.
This feature can be particularly interesting at family gatherings, genealogy events, or other situations where several relatives are together and interested in discovering their family connections.
Research Your Family History More Accurately
- Start with known information: Begin with yourself, parents, grandparents, and information you can verify.
- Check dates: Compare birth, marriage, and death dates with available records.
- Check locations: Places can help distinguish people with identical names.
- Review parents and spouses: Family relationships are useful clues when checking possible matches.
- Attach sources: Whenever possible, connect important claims with supporting records.
- Look for duplicates: Similar profiles may represent the same individual and should be reviewed carefully.
- Preserve original memories: Keep photographs, stories, and documents connected to the correct family members.
- Do not accept every suggestion automatically: Record hints and possible matches should be reviewed before being added.
FamilySearch Family Tree App
FamilySearch provides more than one mobile application, and it is useful to understand the difference. The Family Tree app focuses on exploring and working with genealogy information and family relationships. The Memories app focuses more specifically on collecting, organizing, and preserving photographs, documents, stories, and audio.
If your primary goal is to explore ancestors and family relationships, Family Tree is the logical place to begin. If your main goal is preserving old family photographs, documents, and recordings, the Memories app may be useful alongside it.
Benefits of Using FamilySearch Family Tree
- Explore family relationships from a smartphone or tablet.
- Build your family tree gradually as you discover new information.
- Search historical records from the mobile experience.
- Attach useful records as sources to ancestors.
- Review possible record hints.
- Add or edit available family-tree information.
- Preserve photographs, stories, and other memories.
- Explore ancestor locations through maps.
- Discover your relationship to other people.
- Use Relatives Around Me when appropriate.
- Identify possible duplicate profiles for review.
- Continue genealogy research while traveling or away from a computer.
Important Things to Remember Before Using the App
Family history information can be deeply personal, so it is important to use care when adding information. FamilySearch explains that profiles for living people added to Family Tree are private and can only be seen by the person who created the profile, while profiles of deceased people are public and can be viewed by other FamilySearch users.
You should also avoid uploading information that you do not have permission to share. When adding photographs or family stories, think about whether the material is appropriate for the people connected to it and whether you have the right to share it.
Who Can Use the FamilySearch Tree App?
The app can be useful for anyone interested in genealogy and family history. Beginners can use it to start recording known family information, while experienced researchers can use it as a mobile tool for searching records, reviewing ancestors, checking relationships, and preserving memories.
Tips for Beginners Using FamilySearch Family Tree
- Begin with information you know personally.
- Ask older family members about names, places, and family stories.
- Write down uncertain information separately from verified information.
- Search historical records to support important facts.
- Compare multiple records when possible.
- Check relationships before connecting two profiles.
- Save meaningful photographs and documents.
- Add useful descriptions to memories.
- Review possible duplicate profiles carefully.
- Return to your tree regularly as new records become available.
Frequently Asked Questions About FamilySearch Family Tree
1. Is FamilySearch Family Tree available on mobile?
Yes. FamilySearch provides the Family Tree mobile app for supported Android and Apple devices, with Kindle support also listed for the Family Tree app.
2. What can I do with the Family Tree app?
You can explore your tree, add or edit information, search records, attach sources, review possible duplicates, add memories, and see relationships to individuals.
3. Can I search historical records in the app?
Yes. The Family Tree app supports searching for historical information, and the current mobile search experience can combine Family Tree profiles, historical records, and memories.
4. Can I add photographs to my family history?
Yes. FamilySearch’s mobile tools support preserving photographs and other family memories. The Memories app is particularly focused on collecting and organizing these materials.
5. Can the app show where my ancestors lived?
Yes. The mobile Family Tree app includes Map My Ancestors and can display maps connected to ancestor life events.
6. What is Relatives Around Me?
It is a mobile Family Tree feature that can show your relationship to nearby people who are also participating and have a common deceased ancestor in FamilySearch Family Tree.
7. Does the app replace the FamilySearch website completely?
No. Some website features are not available in the mobile app. FamilySearch notes that certain functions, including some timeline and map experiences and parts of the full Help and Learning Center, are available through the website instead.
8. What Android version is recommended?
FamilySearch currently lists Android 10 or higher for the Tree and Memories apps.
9. What iOS version is recommended?
FamilySearch currently lists iOS 17 or higher for its mobile apps.
10. Should I verify information before adding it to my family tree?
Yes. Genealogy information should be checked carefully. When the app suggests a possible ancestor or historical record, compare names, dates, places, family relationships, and other available evidence before accepting the information.
Official FamilySearch Links
| Purpose | Official Resource |
|---|---|
| FamilySearch Family Tree App | FamilySearch Mobile Apps |
| Mobile App Download Information | FamilySearch Mobile Apps |
| Family Tree Help | FamilySearch Help Center |
| Official Website | FamilySearch.org |
Conclusion
The FamilySearch Family Tree app provides a convenient way to explore family history directly from a mobile device. Whether you are just beginning to investigate your ancestry or already have years of genealogy research, the app can help you view family relationships, search historical records, attach sources, preserve memories, explore ancestor locations, and discover connections between generations.
The best way to get started is simple: begin with the family information you already know, enter it carefully, and gradually work backward through earlier generations. Use historical records to support important facts, review suggested matches before accepting them, and preserve photographs and stories so that future generations can learn more than just names and dates.