How do I use the Help Others link in Family Tree?

Article Id: 1017
January 22, 2025
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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can use the Help Others option. Use it to view another person's family history information in Family Tree. Please use this tool to help someone else experience the blessings of temple and family history work.  

Before you start

Ask the other person for permission before you try to help. Never ask for a FamilySearch password. The password is private. To act as a helper, you need this information:

  • The person's username, OR their full name and date of birth.
  • The person's helper number. This is accessible on the FamilySearch website and Family Tree mobile app (see below).

Steps to access Helper Number (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
  2. Click their name in the top right corner of the screen. 
  3. Click Settings.
  4. At the top of the page select the Permissions tab.
  5. Their helper number is listed under Helper Access.

Steps to Access Helper Number (mobile app)

  1. Sign into the Family Tree mobile app.
  2. For Android devices: Tap the 3 lines in the top left corner of the screen.
  3. For Apple iOS devices: Tap More in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  4. Tap Settings.
  5. Under Account, find your Helper Number.

How to Use the Help Others Feature

Steps (website)

  1. Sign into FamilySearch.org
  2. Click Family Tree and then Tree.
  3. On the top-right, click Help Others.
  4. Enter the requested information, and click Sign In. (The helper number is case sensitive.)
  5. When you finish on the top banner, click X and then Stop helping.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. Open the app and tap the 3 lines. On Android devices, the icon is on the top-left. On Apple iOS devices, look in the bottom right.
  2. Tap Help.
  3. Tap Help Someone.
  4. If you know the person's username, tap Username. Otherwise tap Birth Date.
  5. Enter the requested information and tap Start. (The helper number is case sensitive.)
  6. When you finish helping, on the right of the top pink banner, tap Stop and then Yes.

You can see the changes a person makes if he or she uses the app while you help.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. Sign into Family Tree Lite (lite.fs.org).
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
  3. Tap Help Others.
  4. If you know the person's username, click Username. Otherwise, click Full Name.
  5. Enter the requested information, and click Sign In. (The helper number is case sensitive.)
  6. When you finish helping, on the right of the top green banner, tap X and then Stop.

Results

A banner on the screen indicates who you are helping. You can act as a helper in these areas on FamilySearch.

  • Family Tree
  • Memories
  • Temple
  • Search Records and Genealogies, but not the other portions of the Search menu.

While you work as a helper, all changes are attributed to the person you are helping. For example, if you add information to Family Tree or upload a photo, the person you are helping is listed as the contributor. If you request family names, the person you are helping is listed as the person who requested the ordinances. Although you do not see it, the system also tracks the fact that you were acting as the person's helper.
If you time-out of FamilySearch while acting as a helper, sign back in. Then sign back in again as a helper. Otherwise, any work that was not saved before you were timed out is attributed to you.

What can I do while signed in as a helper?
Where do I find my helper number?
How do I learn to be a helper or about my calling as a temple and family history consultant?

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