Signing up for a free FamilySearch account provides full access to resources and features on the FamilySearch website. Resources and features include free collection research of online records, online collaboration with others, memories to explore and share, and discovery activities connected to your ancestors.
Before you start
- Anyone 13 years of age and over can sign up for a free FamilySearch account.
- With parental permission, children ages 8–12 can sign up for a free FamilySearch account.
- We recommend that each person signing up for a free FamilySearch account use a separate email address or mobile phone number for easier recovery of a username or to reset a password.
Note: The option to use a mobile phone number for account recovery is currently only available in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. - When you sign up for an account, the username you choose could already be in use. The system provides some variations you can choose from, or you can enter a different username.
- We recommend using something other than your email address as your username.
- If you use your email address as your username, please also include a mobile number for ease of account recovery, if the option is available in your area.
- On the website, when viewing your own pedigree for the first time, you will see a Begin Your Family Tree screen. The easy-to-follow steps guide you to enter information about yourself in Family Tree.
Notes for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
There is no need to sign up for a separate FamilySearch account. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can use their Church account to access FamilySearch, as they do for other Church sites and apps, such as Gospel Library. Signing in is easy. Click the Continue with Church Account button on the sign-in page, available on the FamilySearch website and mobile apps. This is a great backup option if you ever forget your FamilySearch username or password and no longer have access to the email or phone number tied to your FamilySearch account.
Note: Please note that accounts are not automatically created for new members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- A Church account is used to sign in to ChurchofJesusChrist.org and can also be used to create a FamilySearch account.
- A FamilySearch account can be created independently of a Church account and later linked to a Church account using a Church record number.
- If a linked FamilySearch account is deleted, Church members can still access their Family Tree by signing in to FamilySearch using the Continue with Church Account option.
If you forget your FamilySearch username or password, you can recover your account. Sign in through your Church account before attempting to reset your password and before contacting FamilySearch Support.
To add your Church record number to an existing account, go to your Account Settings. In the "Identity Providers" section, click Connect Church Account.
Steps (Website)
- Navigate to FamilySearch.org.
- Click Sign Up.
- You can sign up using Google, Facebook, Apple, or a Church account (for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Click the Continue button for the account type you want to use and sign in to that account.
- Or choose Create a username and password, and enter the required information, which includes first and last names, birth date, username, password, and email address.
- Enter an email or mobile number for recovery options. (Text recovery is currently available in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. If your country is not in the location list for the text recovery option, you must use an email address for recovery.)
- If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may check the optional box I want to add my Church of Jesus Christ membership information to enable Church features. Enter the requested Church record information to connect your new FamilySearch account to your Church account.
- Agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice by checking the applicable box.
- Click Done.
- Activate your account. Look for an email message to complete registration by email, or a text message to complete registration by mobile phone.
Steps (Mobile App)
- Open the FamilySearch Family Tree or Memories app on your mobile device.
- You can sign up using your Google, Facebook, Apple, or Church account (for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Tap the Continue button for the account type you want to use and sign in to that account.
- Or tap Continue with Username. Then, tap Sign Up.
- Enter the required information, which includes first and last names, birth date, username, password, and email address.
- Enter an email or mobile number for recovery options. (Text recovery is currently available in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. If your country is not in the location list for the text recovery option, you must use an email address for recovery.)
- If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may check the optional box I want to add my Church of Jesus Christ membership information to enable Church features. Enter the requested member information to connect your new FamilySearch account to your Church account.
- Agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice by checking the applicable box.
- Click Done.
- Activate your account. Look for an email message to complete registration by email, or a text message to complete registration by mobile phone.
Recommended next steps
Review your contact information and notification preferences in your FamilySearch settings.
Getting help
If you encounter problems, contact FamilySearch Support.
Solutions to common problems
The following messages indicate that you likely already have an account:
- "We believe this account already exists."
- "The mobile phone number that you entered is already in use in an account."
- "This Church record number is already used in an account."
Related articles
How do I create a free FamilySearch account using Google?
How do I create a free FamilySearch account using Facebook?
How do I create a free FamilySearch account using Apple sign-in or link existing accounts?
How do I sign in to FamilySearch?
How do I request that FamilySearch resend a verification email for my Account?
How do I request resend a verification code to activate my FamilySearch account?
How do I create a free account for a child?
What are the rules for my username and password?
Can I create accounts with a shared email address?
How do I help another person create an account?
Why we do what we do.
