Downloading GEDCOM files from Family Trees at Ancestry.com
Your family tree can be downloaded from Ancestry into a GEDCOM file. GEDCOM stands for Genealogical Data Communication, and is a file format that allows genealogy files to be opened in most genealogy software applications, including Legacy Family Tree.
There are a few types of family trees that you may have in your Ancestry account; however, GEDCOM files can be downloaded from only two of them: Personal Member Tree, and Online Family Tree. Use the instructions below based on the type of family tree that you have created at Ancestry.
Personal Member Tree (Note: This family tree is located in the upper portion of the Ancestry.com home page.)
To download a Personal Member Tree from Ancestry.com:
- From the Home page, click the My Trees drop-down menu, and select the View all my trees link.
- Identify the name of the tree that you wish to download.
- Underneath the tree you have decided to download, select the Manage Tree link.
- Click Export Tree in the Management Tools selection.
- After Ancestry prepares the file for download, click the Download Family Tree in GEDCOM file format link that appears.
- When prompted whether to open or save the file, click Save.
Note: If it shows a page of text instead of prompting you to open or save, please right-click on the Download... link and select Save Target As.... This will force it to save the file instead of displaying the text in it.
Create a name for the downloaded file and identify where you would like the file to be saved, then click Save.
If the “File Download” window does not appear and Windows automatically downloads a text file:
Right click on the “download GEDCOM” link.
Select “Save Target As…”
Follow step 7 above.
Your family tree file may now be imported into Legacy Family Tree.
To view the Ancestry.com video showing how to download a GEDCOM file, please click here.
To view the Legacy for Beginners training video showing how to import a GEDCOM file, please click here and then select “Getting Started”.
Online Family Tree (Note: This tree is located in the lower portion of the My Ancestry page at Ancestry.com.)
Online Family Trees can no longer be created, you must have an existing Online Family Tree before you can download a GEDCOM file from it.
To download an Online Family Tree:
- Scroll down to the bottom of the Ancestry.com home page, and click the Online Family Tree link in the bottom right corner. If this does not appear, you do not have an Online Family Tree listed on the account under which you logged in.
- From the Online Family Tree page, identify the name of the tree that you wish to download.
- In the Actions column next to the tree you wish to download, click the download icon. This icon appears as a small square or page image.
- The file will be prepared for download, and may take a few minutes. When the file is completely ready for download, a small arrow will appear at the bottom of the download icon.
- Click the new icon. You will be prompted to open or save the file. Click Save.
- Create a name for the downloaded file and identify where you would like the file to be saved, then click Save.
Your family tree file may now be imported into Legacy Family Tree.
To view the Ancestry.com video showing how to download a GEDCOM file, please click here.
To view the Legacy for Beginners training video showing how to import a GEDCOM file, please click here and then select “Getting Started”.