Family Tree Maker
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About Family Tree Maker Free
Connect with your family across past, present, and future. Build an interactive family tree that helps you visualize your ancestry and preserve your legacy.
Past
Build an interactive family tree of your ancestry, going back far into the past. Add grandparents and earlier generations to document where you come from.
Present
Add photos, birth dates, and life events for each family member. Connect spouses, siblings, and children to build a complete picture of your living relatives.
Future
Create a lasting record of your family to pass on to future generations. Export your tree as an image or print it for safekeeping and archiving.
How to Use
Printing and Exporting
Q: How do I print the tree?
A: Click the Print button in the toolbar. Your browser's print dialog will open, optimized for landscape orientation. Follow the prompts to save as PDF or send to a printer.
Q: How do I export the tree as an image?
A: Click the Export button in the toolbar to download your family tree as a high-resolution PNG image. Perfect for sharing or including in documents.
Q: How do I back up and restore my family tree?
A: Use the Export dropdown to save as JSON Data — this creates a full backup (including all members and memories). To restore, click the Import button and select your .json file. You can also import .ged (GEDCOM) or .txt (FamilyScript) files exported from other genealogy platforms.
Supported File Formats
Q: What file formats are supported for import and export?
A: Three formats are supported: JSON (full backup including memories, recommended for backup/restore within this tool); GEDCOM 5.5.1 (the genealogy industry standard, compatible with FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage and other major platforms, ideal for cross-platform migration); FamilyScript (a lightweight text format, compatible with FamilyEcho). When importing, the format is auto-detected from the file content.
Building Relationships
Q: How do I add parents, children, or a spouse?
A: Click on any person's card to open the editing panel. Use the Add Parent, Add Child, or Add Spouse buttons to create relationships automatically.
Q: How do I represent a marriage between two people?
A: Select the first person, then click "Add Spouse" in their editing panel. The two will be connected with a partnership link on the tree.
Q: How are siblings handled?
A: Siblings are automatically recognized when they share the same parents. Simply add multiple children to the same parent couple, and they will appear as siblings ordered by birth date.
Privacy & Data
Your family tree data is stored entirely in your browser's local storage. No information is ever sent to our servers or any third party.
Family Tree Maker Free is completely free to use with no account required. Your genealogy data remains private and under your control at all times.
You can clear your data at any time using the Clear button, export it as a PNG image for your own backup, or export and import in JSON, GEDCOM, or FamilyScript formats for full cross-platform data portability.
