How to export a GEDCOM file

A GEDCOM is a single file containing everyone in your tree. Here's where to find the export option on the most popular family history sites and programs.

Ancestry

Only the owner of a tree can export it, but you don't need a paid membership.

  1. Sign in and open the Trees menu, then choose your tree.
  2. Open the tree menu (next to the tree name, or More in the left-hand toolbar) and choose Tree Settings.
  3. On the right of the Tree Settings page, under Manage your tree, choose Export tree.
  4. Wait while Ancestry prepares the file — a few minutes for a large tree — then choose Download your GEDCOM file.

Ancestry's export doesn't include photos or DNA matches. That's fine — Family Galaxy only needs the people and relationships.

MyHeritage

  1. Sign in and go to Family tree, then Manage trees.
  2. Find your tree and choose Export to GEDCOM (it may be under an actions or three-dots menu).
  3. Choose whether to include photos (not needed here), then start the export.
  4. MyHeritage may email you a download link when the file is ready.

Findmypast

  1. Sign in and open your family tree.
  2. Open the tree's settings or options menu and choose the option to export or download your tree as a GEDCOM.
  3. When the file has been prepared, choose Download tree and save it.

FamilySearch

FamilySearch Family Tree is one shared tree for the whole world, so it doesn't have a simple "export my tree" button. To get a GEDCOM, copy the people you want into a desktop program that connects to FamilySearch — such as RootsMagic or Ancestral Quest, both of which have free versions — then export a GEDCOM from that program.

RootsMagic (including RootsMagic Essentials)

  1. Open your database.
  2. Choose File then Export. On a Mac, the File menu is inside the RootsMagic window rather than in the bar at the top of the screen.
  3. Choose GEDCOM, select everyone, and save the file.

Family Tree Maker

  1. Open your tree.
  2. Choose File then Export.
  3. Choose Entire file, set the format to GEDCOM and save.

Gramps

  1. Open your family tree.
  2. Choose Family Trees (or File) then Export.
  3. Choose GEDCOM, choose who to include, and save. UTF-8 character encoding gives the best results.

Other software

Legacy, Family Historian, MacFamilyTree, Heredis, Reunion and most other programs have an option called Export, Export GEDCOM or Save as GEDCOM, usually in the File menu. Choose to include everyone, and if you're asked about character sets, choose UTF-8.

After you export

  • The file name ends in .ged. If you've received a .zip file, open it to get the .ged inside.
  • Files up to 20 MB can be uploaded. If yours is bigger, export without notes and sources.
  • When your tree changes, export again and use Refresh from Ancestry or another site on your dashboard. You'll see who was added, updated or removed before anything is saved, and your previous version is kept in case you want it back.

Upload your GEDCOM

Menus on genealogy websites change from time to time. If something here has moved, let us know and we'll update this guide.