Which internet browsers and operating systems are compatible?

You have the best experience on the FamilySearch website when you use a supported browser and operating system. The supported browsers give you the latest features and provide the best performance and security.

Supported operating systems

The FamilySearch website supports the current Windows and Mac operating system (OS) versions and one version back.

Please note:

  • The Mac OS does not allow you to update the Safari browser independent from the Mac OS.
  • Update the Mac OS to the latest Safari browser version.
  • If you are unable to update your Mac OS, we recommend you download and install one of the other supported browsers.

Supported browsers

Regardless of the operating system you use, our website works with these fully supported browsers:

  • Apple Safari—the current version and one previous
  • Google Chrome—the current version and one previous
  • Microsoft Edge—the current version and one previous
  • Mozilla Firefox—the current version and one previous

Normally, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge update themselves with the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. If your browser is not set to update itself, you can go to the browser's website to update it yourself. 

Safari is a browser built into the Mac operating system. Safari cannot be updated independent of the operating system on a Mac computer. We recommend checking for an operating system update and updating to ensure you have the latest Safari browser version.

As of February 1, 2018, the FamilySearch website no longer supports any version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you are using Internet Explorer, we encourage you to upgrade to a supported browser. Please see the browser upgrade page for more assistance.

As of August 2021, the FamilySearch website no longer supports TLS (Transport Layer Security) version 1.0 and 1.1. FamilySearch supports the current industry standard and one major release prior. For now, we support TLS 1.3 and 1.2. As needed, upgrade your device in order to use a more current version of TLS.

The Samsung browser is not supported for the FamilySearch website.

If FamilySearch does not work well in a given browser, try a different browser. Alternatively, check for updates to your browser. Sometimes browser updates or updates to FamilySearch can cause some browsers to perform better than others.

If you do not know what browser you are using, try using What's My Browser.

If you have problems when using one of the supported browsers

  1. Refresh the page that you are viewing. For Windows, press the control (Ctrl) and F5 keys at the same time. For a Mac, press Apple+R or Cmd+R.
  2. Delete the browser history.
  3. Use a different supported browser.

A January 2019 update to Microsoft Edge often brings up this error message, "Record information is not available. Please try again later." If you get this message on Edge, please try downloading the newest Edge browser. You can also use Chrome or Firefox.
Note: In the FamilySearch Community, groups do not show correctly when you use the Safari browser on an Apple iPad tablet. Instead, use Chrome with the desktop view turned on.

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