Family Tree Guides

Connect FamilySearch directly, or export a GEDCOM file from whichever program holds your tree.

Two ways to get started

If you use FamilySearch, you can connect it directly to TreeAlive and skip the export altogether. TreeAlive is listed in the official FamilySearch Solutions Gallery.

Otherwise, export a GEDCOM file (the universal family-tree format, a simple .ged text file) from Ancestry, MyHeritage, Family Tree Maker, or RootsMagic and upload it to TreeAlive to watch your ancestors' migrations come alive on an animated historical map, completely free.

Wondering about privacy, supported programs, or why a place sometimes looks wrong? Read the FAQ.

Choose your platform

How to Get a GEDCOM File What a GEDCOM file is and how to export one from any genealogy program. Read guide How to Open a GEDCOM File Open a .ged file free in your browser and see the people inside it. Read guide FamilySearch (Direct Connect) Sign in once and TreeAlive reads your tree from FamilySearch directly. Read guide WikiTree (Walkthrough) Type one WikiTree ID and see the whole tree on historical maps. Screenshot walkthrough. Read guide Ancestry Export from Ancestry.com in 6 steps. Read guide MyHeritage Download your MyHeritage tree as a GEDCOM file. Read guide FamilySearch (GEDCOM) Get a GEDCOM from FamilySearch using a free extension. Read guide Family Tree Maker Export from Family Tree Maker desktop software. Read guide RootsMagic Export from RootsMagic through its export wizard. Read guide
Watch a sample video Watch an ancestry journey unfold across the map over hundreds of years. Watch video
Explore the Time Machine Click any ancestor to see their world on a real historical map from their era. Explore example

Upload a GEDCOM you already have

Pick a starting ancestor, and every place in the file lands on the map.

Upload Your GEDCOM Free · No account needed · We keep no copy of your tree