How to Get a GEDCOM File from Any Family Tree Program

A GEDCOM is the universal family-tree file, a plain .ged text file that nearly every genealogy program can read and write. Whatever service holds your tree, you can export a GEDCOM in a few minutes, then open it in another program or upload it to TreeAlive to watch your ancestors' migrations come alive on a map. Here is the general process, with links to exact steps for each platform below.

Step-by-step instructions

Open the program or site that holds your tree

Sign in wherever your family tree lives, such as Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, RootsMagic, or Family Tree Maker.

Find the export option

Look for "Export", usually under Tree Settings, Tree Tools, or the File menu in a desktop program. It is sometimes labeled "Export tree" or "Export to GEDCOM."

Choose the GEDCOM format

If you are asked for a format, pick GEDCOM (*.ged). That is the standard family-tree file every program understands.

Choose who to include

Export everyone for the full picture, or select a single branch or person if you only want part of the tree.

Download and save the file

Save the .ged file somewhere easy to find, like your Desktop or Downloads folder. Larger trees can take a minute to prepare.

Use your GEDCOM

The file is ready. Import it into another genealogy program, or upload it to TreeAlive to see your ancestors' locations and migrations on historical maps. Your file is read in the browser and never stored.

Tip

FamilySearch is the one exception: it has no built-in GEDCOM export, so you either use a free browser extension or connect it to TreeAlive directly. For exact, click-by-click steps for your service, see the guide for Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, Family Tree Maker, or RootsMagic.

See what you'll create

🎬 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 →

Ready to see your ancestors' journey?

Upload your GEDCOM file and watch their migrations come alive on the map.

Upload Your GEDCOM Free · No account needed · Nothing stored