How do I turn on a family group tree for an existing family group?

Article Id: 27112
August 15, 2025
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If you are an administrator of a family group, you can create a family group tree for an existing family group. The family group tree allows group members to build and view the same tree of living family members and see how they connect to their deceased ancestors in the public tree.

Steps (website)

  1. Sign in to your FamilySearch account on FamilySearch.org.
  2. Click Family Tree and then click Family Groups.
  3. Click the desired family group.
  4. Click Edit Group.
  5. Click Allow this group to work together in a family group tree.
  6. Read the agreement information, and then click the two check boxes.
  7. Click Save.
  8. You will be redirected to the Family Tree, where you can select living family members to add to your family group tree. Note: If the page does not redirect you to the Family Tree, click the Create Tree button on your family group page.
  9. Click the check boxes below the names of the family members you want to copy to your family group tree. Use the arrow keys to show siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles on the chart.
  10. Click Copy to Group.
  11. The page will reload to your family group tree. Note: In the upper left corner of the page, notice the name of your family group tree below the FamilySearch logo. Click the caret to open the drop-down menu to switch between other family group trees you might have or the global Family Tree.

All family group members will receive a message that this new family group tree is available. They will then be able to see and edit the information about living people in this tree.

Steps (mobile app)

Note: While you can create family groups using the Family Tree mobile app on Android, sharing family group trees is currently only supported on Apple iOS devices. Until this feature becomes available on Android, we recommend using Family Tree in a web browser for full functionality.

  1. In the iOS version of the Family Tree mobile app, open the family groups feature:
    • Apple iOS: Tap More.
    • Android: In the top-left portion of the screen, tap the 3 lines.p .
  2. Tap Family Groups.
  3. Tap on the desired family group.
  4. Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
  5. Tap Edit Group Details.
  6. Tap Allow this group to work together in a Family Group Tree.
    • This option is currently available in the iOS version of the Family Tree mobile app.
    • If you do not see this option, you may need to update the app.
  7. Tap Save.
  8. Tap the toggle in the Family Group Terms, and tap Accept.
  9. Tap Tree to select people to add to the family group tree:
    1. To add just yourself to this Family Group Tree, tap Copy Just Myself. To copy people from your private list, tap the circle next to their names, and tap Copy Selected.
    2. Tap Continue to Tree.
    3. Tap Switch.
  10. From the Family Tree app homepage, tap Tree. At the top of the screen, you can tap the caret to see other family groups you might have and switch between them, or to view the global Family Tree.

How do I create a family group or family group tree?

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