Help:Links to External Sites and Services

Search WikiTree's help pages:

Categories: WikiTree Help

Language: en | de | fr

This page gives step-by-step instructions for creating a shareable link to your tree on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch. You can use this link in your Genealogy Communication Preferences (question #2).

For links within the text of profiles, see Help:Adding Links.

Linking to a Family Tree on Ancestry.com

Once you are logged into Ancestry.com:

  1. Click on the Trees dropdown list in the upper left corner of the screen.
  2. Click on the Tree that you want to share. This will open up that tree.
  3. In the URL bar at the top of the screen you should see something that looks similar to this: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/46924787/family?cfpid=372176939095. That is the unique link to your Ancestry family tree. You can copy that and paste it into the Genealogy Communnication Preferences Question #2.
  4. Note: If you are wanting others to easily see your Ancestry tree, you'll need to check your tree settings:
    1. In the upper left corner of the same screen there's a black box with the name of your tree. Click the down arrow next to the name.
    2. Click on Tree Settings.
    3. Click on Privacy Settings.
    4. Here you can check if your tree is set to be a public tree or a private tree. If you want others to be able to see it be sure it is set to public. If you leave it set as private tree, others won't be able to see it, but they can contact you via Ancestry for permission.

Linking to a Family Tree on FamilySearch

FamilySearch is a little tricky because if you use the URL link for yourself, anyone who clicks on it will get a notice that the person is not found. This is because you are living. FamilySearch has strict privacy on living individuals. You'll need to use the link for a deceased family member.

Once you are logged in to FamilySearch:

  1. Click on "'Family Tree in the upper left corner. This will bring up your family tree, most likely starting with you.
  2. Click once on the profile for a recently deceased family member in your tree. This could be a parent or grandparent. This will pop up a box for that individual.
  3. In the bottom left of the pop up box, click Tree. This will update the URL to represent your deceased ancestor instead of you.
  4. Copy the URL and paste it into WikiTree.

Policy on Promoting External Sites and Services

Our Terms of Service prohibit "posting content that advertises or provides a commercial service or product." However, as a matter of policy, the community does not object to links to genealogy-related services and products if they are contextually appropriate. For example, many profiles cite sources that are only available on commercial websites.

Question #5 is an appropriate place to mention genealogy products or services that you use, recommend, or are otherwise involved with. If you are a professional genealogist, you are welcome to mention this and link to where more information can be found. If you do not have a website for your genealogy product or service, you can create a free-space profile for it.

It is not appropriate to use ancestor profiles, G2G, project pages, etc., to advertise. WikiTree and the community reserve the right to judge what is appropriate and develop further rules or policies. See our Terms of Service.



This page was last modified 13:44, 30 March 2022. This page has been accessed 12,271 times.