How do I add or change a portrait photo in Family Tree?

Portrait photos put a face to the names of your relatives. In Family Tree, every person can have a portrait photo. The portrait appears in several places throughout the Family Tree website and mobile app.

If a person lacks a portrait photo, Family Tree displays a male or female silhouette instead.

Every Family Tree user sees the same portrait for each person in Family Tree. If you change a portrait photo, all other users who can see that person see the new portrait.

We do not advise using a private memory as a portrait. If you do, Family Tree makes a copy of the private image that can be viewed publicly as a portrait or when editing the portrait.

Steps (website)

  1. In Family Tree on the FamilySearch website, display the person page.
  2. Click the silhouette or portrait photo.
  3. Click one of the tabs:
    • Photos: Photos that are already attached to this person.
    • Upload Photo: Upload a new photo from your computer.
    • Select from Gallery: Photos from your Memories Gallery.
  4. Select or upload the photo that you want to use as a portrait.
  5. Adjust the portrait so that it displays as you want it:
    • Use the buttons to adjust the photo's size and orientation.
    • Drag the photo until the part that you want to use is in the circle.
  6. Click Save.

Steps (mobile app)

If no portrait exists, skip steps 3 and 4:

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, display the person page.
  2. Tap the silhouette or portrait photo.
  3. Tap the pencil icon. If you do not see the pencil icon, tap in the photo. The icon appears to the right.
  4. Tap Replace Portrait.
  5. If you are on an Android device, tap one of the options:
    • To take a new photo, tap Camera. Then take the photo, and upload it to FamilySearch.
    • To use a photo that is on your device, tap File. Then select the photo, and upload it to FamilySearch.
    • To use a photo that has already been uploaded to FamilySearch and tagged to this person, tap Attached Photos.
    • To use a photo that you uploaded to FamilySearch, tap FamilySearch Gallery. You see photos not yet tagged to the person.
  6. If you are on an Apple iOS device, tap one of the options:
    • Take photo lets you capture a new photo with your device.
    • If the photo is on your device, tap Camera Roll.
    • To use a photo in your files, tap My Files.
    • Attached Photos lets you choose from other photos tagged to the person.
    • If you have uploaded the photo to FamilySearch but not yet tagged it to this person, tap My FamilySearch Gallery.
  7. Tap the photo that you want to use. 
  8. Use the green dot to adjust the size of the tag.
  9. Move the tag so that it covers the portion of the photo that you want to use.
  10. Tap Save.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

Family Tree Lite does not use portrait photos.

Results

When you add a photo, the system adds it to the Memories for the person.

If you uploaded a new photo, a green clock icon appears in the silhouette while FamilySearch screens the photo. The process typically takes about 15 minutes.

How do I edit a portrait photo in Family Tree?
How do I remove a portrait photo in Family Tree?
What happens to portrait photos in Family Tree after a merge?

Was this helpful?