Relatives Around Me

Have you ever sat in a room full of people and wondered if or how you might be related to those around you? Relatives around Me, a fun feature in the FamilySearch Family Tree app, can tell you how you are related to friends, neighbors, or anyone sitting near you.

How It Works

To try Relatives around Me, you and your potential cousin both need to be signed in to the Family Tree app and within approximately 100 feet of each other. (To download the app, click iOS or Android.)

Once you have signed in, select More at the bottom right of the screen (iOS) or the drop-down in the top left (Android), and then select Relatives around Me. This option opens a page with a green button that says “Scan for Friends.”

How to use Relatives around Me for iOS

How to use Relatives around Me for Android

Tap the green button to start scanning. Anyone else who taps the green button and is within range will show up in a list on your device, and you will show up on theirs. Selecting the person’s name will bring up a pedigree graphic showing your common ancestor and the lines through which you both descend. Pretty cool, right?

Give It a Try

Now, you could log into the app, start scanning, and wander around until you find a cousin. But there are better ways to use Relatives around Me, especially in group settings. Here are some of the best scenarios to give this feature a try:

• Church group—Find out who in your congregation is also part of your family tree. The app is fun at a weekday party or activity and useful in a Sunday class.
• Friends—Out with friends? Check if you are related. You may have more in common with your friends than just hiking, reading, or a love of adorable cat videos.
• Neighbors—The feature is easy to try as you talk with neighbors across the fence. It would be interesting to see if you have flocked to the same area as your distant relatives.
• Co-workers—The feature provides a fun work party activity or a unique way to build unity and connection among those who work in the same office.

Note: If someone in your group is new to FamilySearch and hasn’t added information to the Family Tree, the Relatives around Me feature won’t be able to detect their relatives. Visit our Getting Started page to learn how to add your family to the Family Tree.

If you have questions or comments about Relatives around Me or any other feature of the FamilySearch Family Tree app, you can select Give App Feedback on the Help menu to send us your input. We would love to hear what you think of the app.

Download the app today, and give it a try!