Loom resources · Family tree files
How to Export Your Family Tree from Ancestry
Want to bring your Ancestry family tree to Loom? You’ll need to download your family tree file first. Ancestry calls this a GEDCOM file — but don’t worry, it’s much simpler than it sounds.
Quick answers
The short version
It’s simply your family tree saved as a file. GEDCOM is the technical name for the standard family tree file format — a text-only file holding the people, facts and relationships in your tree.
No. Exporting downloads a copy of your tree to your device. Your tree stays on Ancestry exactly as it was.
No. Ancestry says photos, media and similar items are not included in a GEDCOM file. Loom only needs the people and relationships, so that’s fine.
Downloading your tree from Ancestry
Only the owner of a tree can export it. You don’t need an Ancestry membership to download your own tree.
- From any page on Ancestry, click the Trees tab and select your tree.
- In the toolbar on the left, click More (three dots) and select Tree Settings.
- On the right of the Tree Settings page, under Manage your tree, click Export tree. If you already see Download your GEDCOM file, skip to step 5.
- Click Export. The button will spin and say it’s generating a GEDCOM file.
- When it stops, click Download Your GEDCOM File. It saves to your device.
Ancestry sometimes changes its screens. If these labels don’t match what you see, check Ancestry’s own help page listed in the sources below.
ZIP files and .ged files
Ancestry downloads your family tree file inside a ZIP file. Unzip (or open) it to find the file ending in .ged.
You don’t need to open the .ged file yourself or understand what’s inside it. That’s Loom’s job.
Bringing it to Loom
Once you have the .ged file, sign in to Loom and choose Choose my family tree file on the upload page.
Loom uses the tree you’ve already built to watch for potential connections in the official records it supports. It doesn’t build, research or correct your genealogy for you.
Don’t have a family tree yet?
Loom monitors a family tree you already have — it doesn’t create one. If you’re starting out, build your tree first with whichever family history service or software you prefer, then come back with its family tree file.
Keep reading
Put the tree to work
Your family tree shouldn’t just sit there.
Put it to work.
Put my family tree to workLoom identifies potential connections. It does not establish legal entitlement, guarantee inheritance, file claims or prove a relationship.
Official sources