How do I undo a merge in Family Tree?

Article Id: 993
October 17, 2024
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Because FamilySearch is highly collaborative, some users mistakenly merge the profiles of two different people together into one. Incorrect merges can introduce many problems into a family line. The best way to correct them is to undo the merge.

If you undo the merge using the FamilySearch website, you can use the merge analysis tool to compare the profiles before and after the merge. Merge analysis is not available on the Family Tree mobile app.

Before you undo a merge, look for clues that the two profiles were actually about different people.

  • Do not rely on names only. Many people have the same names, even within a family.
  • Look for differences in birth, death, and other life events.
  • Examine sources for differences that do not make sense.
  • Compare the relatives' names and event information. Look for large differences in ages or other things that do not make sense.

Steps (website)

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the person for whom you want to undo the merge.
  3. Click the person's name.
  4. In the side sheet, click Person.
  5. Click the Details tab.
  6. Find the Latest Changes box.
  7. Click Show All.
  8. Scan the left-most column to find a change labeled "Merge." If the list is long, click Filter, and choose Merge.
  9. Click Merge Analysis.
  10. Compare the information in the first two columns to decide if the profiles are about the same person or about different people.
  11. Look in the upper-left corner. If the Undo Merge button is active, it means that the merged profile has not been changed since the merge was done. Follow these steps:
    1. Click Undo Merge.
    2. In the panel that opens, enter a reason statement that explains why you are undoing the merge.
    3. If needed, deselect Mark these people as not a match. In most cases, you should leave this option turned on to prevent this merge from being done again by mistake.
    4. Click Submit.
  12. If the Undo Merge button is not active, it means that the profile was changed after the merge. Follow these steps to ensure that each profile ends up with the correct information:
    1. Click the name of the person in the first column, which is labeled "Deleted Person Before Merge."
    2. Click Person.
    3. Click Restore Person.
    4. Enter a reason statement.
    5. Click Restore.
    6. Review both records. Make sure that each has the correct information. In some cases, you must delete information from one record and add it to another.

    Steps (mobile app)

    1. Navigate to the person who was merged.
    2. In the upper right, tap the 3 dots. 
    3. Android: Tap Recent Changes. Apple iOS: Tap More, then Recent Changes.
    4. Look for a change that is outlined in green (iOS) or blue (Android). At the top of the change, notice the word "Merge".
    5. Tap Unmerge. If you cannot undo the merge, you see no Unmerge button.
    6. Explain why, and tap Unmerge.
    7. The box is now brown and says "Unmerge." To review information on the restored record, tap the name under Restored Person.

    Steps (Family Tree Lite)

    Family Tree Lite does not provide an option to allow you to resolve incorrect merges.

    How do I show that duplicates are not a match in Family Tree?
    How do I fix a merge that has information from multiple people in Family Tree?

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