FamilySearch Chat Guide

Article Id: 24132
April 23, 2024

FamilySearch Chat Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. FamilySearch Chat Messages
    1. Access your chats
    2. Read and respond to chats
    3. Begin a new conversation
    4. Send a message to a Family Tree or Memories contributor
    5. Delete a chat
    6. Add an image to a chat
    7. Share family names through a chat
  3. FamilySearch Chat Functions
    1. Print a chat
    2. Set up text notifications when a chat is received
    3. Mute, hide, or block someone from chatting with me
  4. FamilySearch Chat Family Groups
    1. What are family groups?
    2. Create a family group
    3. Send a message to a family group
  5. FamilySearch Chat Rules
    1. Rules for discussions and chats
    2. Report abuse, spam, inappropriate memories, or other content
  6. FamilySearch Chat Extras and FAQs
    1. FamilySearch Chat for RootsTech
    2. FamilySearch Chat Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
      1. Why is my FamilySearch Chat not working?
      2. Can I download the data from the previous messaging tool?
      3. How do I see what is behind the chat window?
      4. Can I resize the chat window?
      5. Can I minimize the chat window?
      6. I have a message but I cannot find it. Where do I go?
      7. My new message appears to be a thread. How can I see the chat thread and respond?
      8. Is it possible to search for a specific chat?
      9. Will my old messages within FamilySearch be preserved in the FamilySearch Chat system?
      10. Can other users see my status when I am online using FamilySearch Chat?
      11. How do I expand or collapse chat sections?
      12. How can I turn chats on or off for events, such as RootsTech?
      13. Can I delete a chat?
      14. Can I search the user directory in order to chat with someone?
      15. Is there a way to invite other people to opt-in to FamilySearch Chat?
      16. How do I add a person to my chat?
      17. Previously, I could share a family ordinance with someone through FamilySearch messages. Is it possible to do the same thing through FamilySearch Chat?
      18. How do I search for people I know in FamilySearch Chat?

1. Introduction

FamilySearch Chat is a tool for communicating with people who have contributed information to Family Tree. FamilySearch Chat is not available for users under the age of 18. However, these users can participate in FamilySearch Chat through shared family groups.

The initial chat must be sent through the Chat button that you see when you click a contributor's name in Family Tree. Sending or receiving a chat through Family Tree transfers the person's name to your contact list in FamilySearch Chat.

Note: If an individual dies, their chats (from FamilySearch Chats) cannot be shared with living family members because their chats are considered private communication.

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2. FamilySearch Chat Messages

Access your chats

Steps (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
  2. In the top-right corner, click the Chat icon. The icon is represented by 2 overlapping speech boxes.
  3. The Chats window with your messages appears.
  4. Unread messages appear at the top of the left column.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. Open the Family Tree mobile app.
  2. Open the menu.
    • iOS: In the bottom-right corner, tap the 3 bars.
    • Android: In the top-left corner, tap the 3 bars.
  3. Tap Chat.
  4. At the bottom of the screen, tap the compose icon.
  5. Begin typing a name in the "Add Person" search box, or select a person from your "Recents and My Contacts" list.
  6. In the lower part of the screen, type your message and tap the send arrow.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

FamilySearch Chat is available only on the full FamilySearch website and in the Family Tree mobile app.

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Read and respond to chats

  1. The FamilySearch Chats page is similar to most email inboxes.

    • In the column on the left, you see a list of communication threads.
    • In the main viewing area to the right, you see the conversation.
  2. To read or continue a conversation, click the person's name in the left column of the chat window.
  3. To send a message, type your chat in the small, rectangular box at the bottom of the screen.
  4.  When you are ready, click the send arrow. The send icon is located beneath the message box in the bottom-right corner.

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Begin a new conversation

Steps to Create a Private Chat (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.
  2. At the top right corner of the page, near your name, click the Chat icon represented by 2 overlapping speech boxes.
  3. A pop-out chat window appears.
  4. To create a private chat, do one of the following:
    1. In the top right corner of the chat window, click the compose icon represented by a box and a pencil. Type the person's contact name in the search field. Select the person to start a chat.

    2. In the left-hand side panel, click the Create Private Chat hyperlink. Type the contact name in the search field. Add up to 9 people.

      Note: Additional people cannot be added to the chat once a chat has been sent. To add additional people, start a new chat.

    3. Scroll through the names of recent contacts, and click the correct name.
  5. When you are ready, type your message into the small, rectangular box at the bottom of the screen.
    • If you want to add an extra line to your message, click the Shift key and the Enter key (Shift + Enter). Pressing only the Enter or Return key sends the message.
  6. When you are done writing your message, click Send or press the Enter key.

Note: You can switch the keys to send and add lines in your settings.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. Open the Family Tree mobile app.
  2. Tap the 3 lines icon.
  3. Tap Chat.
  4. At the bottom of the screen, tap the compose icon.
  5. Begin typing a name in the "Add Person" search box, or select a person from your "Recents and My Contacts" list.
  6. In the lower part of the screen, type your message and tap the send arrow.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

FamilySearch Chat is available only on the full FamilySearch website and in the Family Tree mobile app.

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Send a message to a Family Tree or Memories contributor

Follow the instructions to contact someone who contributed to Family Tree or Memories. Keep in mind that in certain cases we are not able to identify the contributor. The contribution could have come from a previous system that did not record contributors, or the contributor could be deceased. 

Please view our Terms of Use for guidelines about collaborating with other users.

Note: If someone is sending you unwanted messages, you can mute, hide, or block that person. You cannot see messages from a blocked person.

Steps (website)

To display the recent changes and contact the contributor of the information in FamilySearch:

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
  2. Select a person to view the person's page.
  3. Under the person's name, click Details.

  4. On the right side of the screen, scroll down to Latest Changes.

    Note: To expand the Latest Changes box, click the arrow on the right.

  5. Click Show All. Latest Changes displays each item of entered data.

  6. In the Date column, click the name of the contributor. A chat window pops up with a reference and link to the memory.

    Note: (Optional) To add the contributor to your contact list, click Add Contact.

  7. Click the Chat button.
  8. Write your message in the Message box.
  9. Click the send arrow.

To display and contact the contributor of a memory in FamilySearch:

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
  2. Select a person to view the person's page.
  3. Under the person's name, click Memories.
  4. Select a memory you did not contribute. To view the memory, click on the memory.
  5. On the right side of the memory, in the Details panel, under "Contributed by", click the name of the contributor. A pop-out window with the contributor's information appears.
  6. Note: (Optional) To add the contributor to your contact list, click Add Contact.
  7. Click the Chat button. A chat window pops up with a reference and link to the memory.
  8. Write your message in the Message box.
  9. Click the send arrow.

Steps (mobile app)

To display the recent changes and contact the contributor of the information in the Family Tree app:

  1. Open the Family Tree mobile app.
  2. Select a person to view the person's page.
  3. Under the person's name, tap Memories.
  4. Select a memory you did not contribute. To view the memory, click on the memory.
  5. In the bottom left corner, click the name of the contributor. A pop-out window with the contributor's information appears.
  6. Note: (Optional) To add the contributor to your contact list, click Add Contact.
  7. Click the Chat button. A chat window pops up with a reference and link to the memory.
  8. Write your message in the Message box.
  9. Click the send arrow.

To display and contact the contributor of a memory in the Family Tree app:

  1. Open the Family Tree mobile app.
  2. Select a person to view the person's page.
  3. Tap the 3 dots in the right corner.
  4. Tap Recent Changes.
  5. Scroll up or down to locate the contributor. Tap the contributor's name. A chat window appears with the contributor's contact information.
  6. Tap the blue Chat box. A chat window pops up with a reference and link to the memory.
  7. In the Send a message box, enter your message.
  8. Tap the blue send arrow.

  • Enable Relationship Viewing: If you have not opted into the service, click this link for instructions.
  • View My Relationship: If you and the other person are opted in to this service, click it to see your relationship.
  • Request to View Relationship: Click to invite the other user to opt in so you can view your relationship. 

Note: You can opt out of this service in your FamilySearch contact settings.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

Family Tree Lite shows you who contributed information. You do not see contact information or the option to send a message. Please use the full website.  

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Delete a chat

You can delete a single line sent by you in a chat but you cannot delete messages you receive. An entire Chat can only be muted or hidden, but not deleted. See the Related Articles list for more details.

Steps to delete a line sent in a chat

  1. To view a chat, in the left side panel of the chat window, click the person's contact name.
  2. To select a sent line in the chat, click the 3 vertical dots directly below the line to be deleted.
  3. Click Delete Message.
  4. To confirm, click Delete.

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Add an image to a chat

You can include images in chats that you send through FamilySearch Chats, including the photos and documents that are in your gallery. You can also upload a new image from your computer.

Note: If you upload a new image, it is reviewed and added to your Memories gallery. The maximum size per image is 15 MB. The image must meet the standards outlined in our Submission Agreement and Upload Guidelines and Policies. 

Steps (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.
  2. In the top, right corner of the screen, click the Chat icon. It appears as 2 overlapping speech boxes next to your name.
  3. Select a contact from your list of recent contacts or click the Create Private Chat button in the top-left corner. To add a contact:

    1. Enter the person's FamilySearch profile. If you do not know the profile, ask the person for the necessary information.

      Note: A link appears if this is your first time communicating with this person through FamilySearch Chat. Copy the link and send it to the person via email or text message.

    2. Click the person's name and begin typing in the Message [Contact Name of Person] box.
  4. The box where you type your chat is at the bottom of the screen. Under this box are 3 icons. Click the image icon you want to share.
    1. Share Memory: The icon appears as a tree. Select one or more memories to import from your Gallery. To attach the images, click Import.
    2. Upload Image to Chat: The icon appears as a framed image. Click the image icon. To attach an image, select the image and click Open.
  5. To send the images, click the send arrow.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. Sign in to the Family Tree app.
  2. Open the menu screen.
    1. Android: In the top-left corner of the screen, tap the 3 bars.
    2. Apple: In the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, tap the 3 bars.
  3. Tap Chat.
  4. Your chats appear. Scroll through the list of chats until you find the person you want to send an image to.
  5. Tap the person to open the chat.
  6. Tap the image icon.
  7. The "Add From" window appears. Select one of the following:
    • Take Photo: Use your camera to take a photo. To accept the image, tap the check mark. To retake the picture, tap the x and retake the image.
    • My Photos: Select up to 2 items. Tap Add.
    • My Files: To add, select 1 item.
    • My FamilySearch Gallery: Select up to 3 items. Tap Save.
  8. To send the images, tap the send arrow.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

Family Tree Lite does not support FamilySearch Chat. Please use the full FamilySearch.org website instead

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Share family names through a chat

Family names cannot be shared through FamilySearch Chat. However, if you want family or friends to do temple ordinances using the family names you have reserved, names can be shared through email.

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3. FamilySearch Chat Functions

FamilySearch Chat does not provide an option to print your chats. Instead, we recommend that you use your browser's print feature, take a screenshot, or copy the messages into another file, such as a word processor.

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Set up text notifications when a chat is received

In your settings, you can turn on an option that lets you receive chat messages from other users when someone sends you a FamilySearch chat.

Steps (website)

  1. Go to your FamilySearch notification settings.
  2. Click the switch for Chats from Other Users to turn it on.

Your change saves automatically.

Steps (mobile Tree app)

Please use the website to turn on the Chats from Other Users option.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

You cannot change notification settings from Family Tree Lite.

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Mute, hide, or block someone from chatting with me

You can mute, hide, or block someone if you no longer want to view the chat with that person.

Steps to mute, hide, or block a chat (website)

  1. In the left side panel of the chat window, click the person's contact name you want to mute, hide, or block. Do not add their name in the "Search for people and chats" field.
  2. In the top right corner of the chat window, click the 3 vertical dots.

  3. Click the chat option you want to change.

    • Mute Chat: Notifications about chats sent from this person are no longer received.
    • Hide Chat: The chat is hidden from your list of chats.
    • Block [Contact Name of Person]: No chats are received from the person you have blocked. Previous messages are longer visible. If you want to receive chats from the person in the future, unblock the person.

Steps to unmute a chat (website)

  1. In the left side panel of the chat window, click the person's contact name to unmute.
  2. In the top right corner of the chat window, click the 3 vertical dots.
  3. Click Unmute Chat.

Steps to unhide a chat (website)

  1. In the top right corner of the chat window, click the 3 vertical dots.
  2. Enter a message in the "Message [Contact Name of Person]" field in the bottom right side of the chat window.
  3. Click the send arrow.
  4. Once you send a message to the person, the chat is unhidden.

Steps to unblock a chat user (website)

  1. To open the Chat menu, in the top right corner, click the 3 vertical dots.
  2. Select the View Blocked Users option.
  3. To the right of the user's name you want to unblock, click the 3 vertical dots.
  4. Click Unblock [Contact Name of Person].

If you receive an inappropriate message, we encourage you to report it.
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4. FamilySearch Chat Family Groups

What are family groups?

FamilySearch family groups allow users to collaborate and communicate through FamilySearch Chat. Group members can chat with all group members.

Do groups have a size limit?

A group can have up to 100 FamilySearch users.

How many family groups can I join?

Each FamilySearch user can join up to 10 family groups.

Can group members share living information in Family Tree?

No. Living information is visible only to the user who created it.

Can group members see or share private memories?

No. Private memories are visible only to the user who created them.

Is there an age limit for who can create a family group?

Yes. FamilySearch users must be 18 or older to create a family group.

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Create a family group

In FamilySearch, create a family group to collaborate and communicate easily among your family through FamilySearch Chat. When part of group, a user can send a message to all group members at once.

FamilySearch users can join multiple family groups (up to ten). If you create a group, you are automatically its first member and its group administrator.

Steps (website)

  1. On FamilySearch.org, click your name.
  2. Select Family Groups.
  3. Click Create Group.
  4. (Optional) Click , and upload a photo for the group.
  5. Enter a group name.
  6. (Optional) Enter a description of the group, group rules, and click the checkbox if you want the group to collaborate on historical document review projects.
  7. Click the checkbox for the agreement.

  8. Click Create Group.

    1. If this button isn't at the top of the page, you might have reached the limit of 10 groups.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, open the Family Groups feature:

    • Apple iOS: Tap More.
    • Android: In the top-left, tap .
  2. Tap Family Groups.
  3. Tap Create Group.
  4. (Optional) Tap , and upload a photo for the group.
  5. Enter a group name.
  6. (Optional) Enter a description of the group.
  7. Tap the checkbox for the agreement.
  8. Tap Save.

Next steps

After you have created a family group, you can invite other FamilySearch users to join it. All group members will receive messages sent to the group.

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Send a message to a family group

Group members can easily send a message to a family group to coordinate research and other work.

Steps (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
  2. In the top right corner, click your name.
  3. From the dropdown menu, select Family Groups.
  4. Click the family group you want to message.
  5. Click Group Chat. The Chats window opens.
  6. In the bottom right of the main chat window, enter your message.
  7. Click the send arrow.

The messages appear in each group member's FamilySearch chats.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. Sign in to the Family Tree mobile app.

  2. Open the menu screen.

    • iOS: In the bottom-right corner of the screen, tap the 3 bars.
    • Android: In the top-left corner of the screen, tap the 3 bars.
    • Tap Family Groups.
    • Tap the Family Group you want to message.
    • On the right side of the screen, tap the Chat icon. The chat icon is represented by 2 overlapping overlapping speech boxes.
    • At the bottom of the screen, in the "Send a message" field, enter your message.
    • Tap the send arrow.

    The messages appear in each group member's FamilySearch chats.
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    5. FamilySearch Chat Rules

    Rules for discussions and chats

    Please be polite and respectful in your chats and other posts. The following is not permitted and could result in suspension of your account:

    • Offensive or abusive language or content
    • Information that might harm or embarrass living relatives
    • Links to external web pages with inappropriate content
    • Solicitations for business or research services

    What you can do

    • If you experience abuse on the website, please report it. For instructions on how to do this, please see the Related articles section below.
    • If you receive an unwanted or offensive chat, you can delete it from your inbox. Doing so does not prevent the person from sending you additional chats, however.
    • If you receive an unwanted or offensive chat, you can mute the person who sent it to you. After that, the person's messages will no longer be visible.

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    Report abuse, spam, inappropriate memories, or other content

    Please report any abuse or inappropriate content that you encounter on FamilySearch using the "Report Abuse" feature.

    If someone is sending you unwanted messages, you can mute that person. After that, his or her messages to you will no longer be visible. See the information in Related articles for details.

    What is considered abuse?

    Abuse, in this case, is defined as any material saved on FamilySearch that would be considered offensive or inappropriate, such as the following: 

    • Offensive language or content
    • Information that could harm or embarrass living relatives.
    • Links to external web pages with inappropriate content
    • Solicitations for businesses or research services
    • Harassment
    • Political statement
    • Copyright infringement

    Abuse of FamilySearch also involves posting patriarchal blessings or official temple records in any of these places:

    • Discussions
    • Notes
    • Memories
    • Brief Life History

    Abuse of User Corrections for Historical Records

    FamilySearch now allows users to correct the indexed content of some historical records. This feature contains a report abuse option. Here is how to find the report abuse option:

    1. Go to the indexed information for a historical record, and click View or Edit beside the user-corrected information containing abuse.
    2. Find the abusive edit in the Edit History.
    3. To the right of the item, click the flag icon.

    What is not considered abuse?

    Errors or changes in records are not considered abuse. If you have questions regarding inadvertent or potentially malicious errors in records that you are unable to resolve, please contact FamilySearch Support.

    Our core policy is defined in FamilySearch Rights and Use Information, found at the bottom of most pages on FamilySearch.

    Steps (website)

    1. Go to a place on FamilySearch where you can report abuse:
      1. Tools: On the Person page of an individual, look under Tools for the Report Abuse link.
      2. Memory viewer: In the memory item viewer, look in the top-right corner for the Report Abuse link.
      3. Chat: Click the person's name next to a chat, and click Report Abuse.
    2. Fill in the required information, and click Submit. All reports remain confidential.

    Steps (mobile app)

    You can report an offensive message that you receive in FamilySearch Chat.

    1. Open the Family Tree app on your phone.
    2. Tap the menu icon.
      • On an Apple iOS device, tap the 3 parallel lines in the lower right corner.
      • On an Android device, tap the 3 parallel lines in the upper left corner.
    3. Tap Chat.
    4. Tap the chat that you want to report.
    5. In the top-right corner of the pop-out chat window, tap the 3 vertical dots, and then tap Report Abuse.
    6. Select the type of abuse.
    7. In the "Report" section, please explain your concern.
    8. Enter your email or phone number. One of these two options must be filled out to submit the report.
    9. Tap Submit.

    Steps (Family Tree Lite)

    Family Tree Lite lacks Report Abuse buttons. However, you can scroll to the bottom of any page and click Feedback and Support, then send us a message about abuse.

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    6. FamilySearch Chat Extras and FAQs

    FamilySearch Chat for RootsTech

    The RootsTech chat feature is available during the 3-day conference. It can be found using the message icon at the top of the website or with the floating chat button in the bottom-right corner. The chat option is accessible from any RootsTech page.

    The chat feature is composed of either private or public conversations. Private conversations are between you and another individual, Expo Hall vendor, or RootsTech representative. Public conversations include any group that is created by an attendee, session group, or RootsTech group. A small group created among friends is a public group, and anyone participating in the conference can view and join.

    The following are new features added to chat this year:

    • Moveable, resizable chat window
    • Chat threads that allow side conversations by topic
    • The ability to reply in the thread
    • Private chat and public chat collapsible sections
    • Ability to edit or delete messages
    • Emojis and reactions
    • An option to upload FamilySearch Memories
    • Auto-linking FamilySearch person IDs (paste a person's ID into chat to add a hyperlink)
    • Opt in option for chat's user directory
    • Ability to copy and paste images into chat.

    Feature Overview

    1. Create Private Chat: Clicking this icon or button allows you to start a new chat with a FamilySearch user or RootsTech attendee.
    2. X icon: Clicking this icon closes the chat feature.

    3. Ellipsis icon: Clicking this icon opens a pop-out with additional options. The following options are included:

      1. Details: This option shows your chat details, who the participants are in the chat, and an option to invite additional individuals to the chat.
      2. Mute Chat: This option mutes the selected chat.
      3. Leave: This option allows you to leave the chat and no longer receive messages from the participants.
      4. Report Abuse: This option is where to report a chat user for inappropriate behavior.
      5. Turn Sound Off: This option allows you to turn the bell sound off when a new chat is received.
      6. User Profile: This option links to the user's FamilySearch profile settings.

    4. Private Chat Ellipsis icon: Clicking this icon opens additional options.

      1. Mute Chat: This option mutes the selected chat.
      2. Hide Chat: This option hides the selected chat from the private chat list.

    5. Event Chat Ellipsis icon: Clicking this icon opens additional options.

      1. Mute Chat: This option mutes the selected chat.
      2. Leave: This option allows you to leave the selected chat and no longer receive messages from the participants.
    6. Show Event Chats toggle: Clicking the toggle allows you to show or hide any event chats.

    7. Below each chat response is 3 icons.

      1. Emoji icon: This icon provides several reaction emojis.
      2. Arrow icon: This icon allows you to reply to a direct chat thread.
      3. Ellipsis icon: This icon opens 2 additional options: copy to Clipboard and Report Abuse. For messages you send, you can delete or edit the message.
    8. Add a Person icon: In an event chat, you can add additional individuals to the chat.

    9. Below the message text field are 3 icons:

      1. Memories icon: This icon allows you to add a memory saved in your memories gallery on FamilySearch into a chat.
      2. Image icon: This icon allows you to add an image to the chat.
      3. Emojis icon: This icon provides several reaction emojis.

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    FamilySearch Chat Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    FamilySearch Chat is an evolving messaging tool available through the FamilySearch.org website and iOS and Android mobile devices. Occasionally, improvements are made from user feedback. If you have questions or feedback about FamilySearch Chat, please visit this post in the FamilySearch.org community.

    Question: Is FamilySearch Chat available users of to all ages?

    Answer: FamilySearch Chat is not available for users under the age of 18. However, these users can participate in FamilySearch Chat through shared family groups.

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    Question: Why is my FamilySearch Chat not working?

    Answer: The chat feature may not be available for the following reasons:

    • The user is under the age of 18.
    • The user doesn't have a valid birthdate.
    • The user's account is not chat enabled.
    • The user's country is not chat enabled.
    • The user has not completed registration.
    • The user has been marked deceased.

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    Question: Can I download the data from the previous messaging tool?

    Answer: Yes. For messages before November 2021, go to FamilySearch.org/messages/download to download a complete .docx or .zip file of all your old messages to your personal device. Any other messages will remain on the old system until 31 December 2023 and can be downloaded in the previously mentioned link.

    Messages after 2021 were automatically imported to FamilySearch Chat. During the initial import of messages from the old to the new system, the first message is shown with the remainder of those messages as a reply or in thread with the first message. If messages appear to be missing, start with the first message and look for any replies. Click on the reply view if there are any missing messages.

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    Question: How do I see what is behind the chat window?

    Answer: At the top of the chat window, click and hold your mouse button and drag the chat window to a different part of your screen. If you want to view information behind the chat window in its entirety, open a separate browser window. Having a separate browser window allows you to view the chat in one window and additional web pages in the other browser window.

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    Question: Can I resize the chat window?

    Answer: Yes. On the outside border of the chat window, click and hold your mouse button as you drag the border in (smaller) or out (larger).

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    Question: Can I minimize the chat window?

    Answer: You can resize the chat window, but the chat window cannot be minimized.

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    Question: I have a message but I cannot find it. Where do I go?

    Answer: New messages appear in bold. In the left panel, there is an unread message section that you may need to expand to see your chat. You can also see a message number indicator where the chat resides.

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    Question: My new message appears to be a thread. How can I see the chat thread and respond?

    Answer: If the new message is a thread (a reply to a specific message), the replies are located in the thread section.

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    Question: Is it possible to search for a specific chat?

    Answer: At the top of the chat window, you can also search messages for a specific word by using the search bar. Enter a search term, such as Austria, to view a list of messages in drop-down format that contain the word. The search feature may take a moment to populate the results.

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    Question: Will my old messages within FamilySearch be preserved in the FamilySearch Chat system?

    Answer: The previous FamilySearch Messages from 1 November, 2022 are being migrated to FamilySearch Chat. One of the reasons for the 1 November 2022 date is that the Shared Family Groups feature was made available at that time. Migrating the messages from that date allows you to continue chatting with those persons or about those topics.

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    Question: Can other users see my status when I am online using FamilySearch Chat?

    Answer: Yes, other users can see that you are available when the chat window is open. Once you close the chat window, you no longer appear online.

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    Question: How do I expand or collapse chat sections?

    Answer: Look for the Unread (#) and click the caret icon. For reference, see the image below.

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    Question: How can I turn chats on or off for events, such as RootsTech?

    Answer: To display or hide event chats, in the bottom left corner of the chat window, click Show Event Chats.

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    Question: Can I delete a chat?

    Answer: Chats can be muted or hidden, but not deleted. Next to the chat you want to mute or hide, click the 3 vertical dots and select mute chat or hide chat. Muting a chat means you will not receive notifications for that chat. Hiding a chat means you will not see the chat in your chat list.

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    Question: Can I search the user directory in order to chat with someone?

    Answer: Every FS Chat user can add a profile picture. If you include your country, state, or province, and keep your profile name close to the name you regularly use, other users can more easily find you.

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    Question: Is there a way to invite other people to opt-in to FamilySearch Chat?

    Answer: Search the user directory to find and chat with another person. If you cannot find the user directory, look in the Advanced Search options for an Invite Others link.

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    Question: How do I add a person to my chat?

    Answer: For private chats between you and 1 other user, begin typing their name and select it from the list that appears. For private chats among you and 2 or more users, start a new chat with all the users you want to include as part of the chat. You cannot add a user to a private chat if that user was not invited when the chat was created. For event chats, in the lower right hand corner of the chat window, look for the Person+ icon. Click the icon to invite a user to the event chat.

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    Question: Previously, I could share a family ordinance with someone through FamilySearch messages. Is it possible to do the same thing through FamilySearch Chat?

    Answer: There is no longer a quick add button for sharing an ordinance with a family member. You can, however, share the PID for an individual who needs ordinance work completed, and the person you chat with can view the record and request ordinances themselves.

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    Question: How do I search for people I know in FamilySearch Chat?

    Answer: In the most current release of FamilySearch Chat, at the top of the page, you can use the search bar to search for people by their name (Profile Name) or contact ID. Individuals in the following groups appear when searching.

    • Recent chats
    • Contacts
    • Helpers and Helpees
    • Global contacts

    Church members can also see the following groups:

    • Ward and stake members
    • Ward, stake, and area consultants

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