How to export a GEDCOM file from Ancestry

Ancestry lets the owner of a tree download it as a GEDCOM file. The file holds names, dates, places and family links; photos and records stay on Ancestry.

Steps

1. Sign in to Ancestry and open the tree you want to print.
2. Click the tree name at the top left and choose Tree settings.
3. On the Tree info tab, click Export tree on the right side of the page.
4. Wait while Ancestry builds the file. For a large tree this can take a few minutes.
5. Click Download your GEDCOM file and save the .ged file to your computer.

Good to know

• Only the tree owner can export. If someone shared the tree with you, ask them to export it or to make you an owner.
• The export does not include photos. That is fine for a poster: names and dates are what we draw.
• Menu names can change between versions. Look for Export, Share or GEDCOM in the File or Tree menu.

Turn the file into a poster

Open your .ged file in the poster maker. It reads the file in your browser, suggests the person at the center and shows a fan chart straight away. Switch to a pedigree chart or a descendant chart, then see it on a wall in 3D before you order.