Yes, RootsMagic is one of the very few genealogy software programs officially authorized to sync directly with Ancestry.
It does this through a feature called TreeShare for Ancestry. Unlike a standard GEDCOM import which is a one-time data dump, TreeShare creates a live, two-way connection. This allows you to move people, facts, notes, sources, and media between your desktop software and your online Ancestry tree.
Here is how the connection works, what specifically transfers, and whether you need a paid subscription to use it.
How RootsMagic TreeShare Works with Ancestry
RootsMagic does not automatically overwrite your data in the background (which could be disastrous). Instead, it uses a Side-by-Side Comparison view.
- The View: You see your RootsMagic person on the left and the Ancestry profile on the right.
- The Control: You manually choose which facts to copy over. If you updated a birth date on Ancestry, you can click a button to pull that specific date into RootsMagic, or vice versa.
- Safety: This ensures that bad data from the web doesn’t corrupt your carefully curated master file on your computer.
What Data Syncs Between RootsMagic and Ancestry
When you connect the two trees, the integration is deep.
What Syncs:
- People: New individuals added to either tree.
- Facts: Births, deaths, marriages, census events, etc.
- Notes: Personal notes attached to profiles.
- Sources & Citations: The source credits move with the facts.
- Media: Photos and scanned documents. (Note: If you have a massive tree, the initial media download can take a significant amount of time).
What Doesn’t Sync:
- Living People Privacy: You generally cannot view living people from other users’ trees via the software, only your own.
- DNA Data: Your ethnicity estimates and match lists do not download into RootsMagic. You still need to log in to the website to check your Ancestry DNA ethnicity.
Do You Need an Ancestry Subscription to Use TreeShare?
This is the most common question users have.
- For Syncing (TreeShare): No. You do not need a paid subscription to sync your own tree data. You can upload and download your own people, facts, and photos with a free “Registered Guest” account.
- For Hints (WebSearch): Yes. RootsMagic also has a “WebSearch” feature that shows you those little green leaves (Ancestry Hints) inside the software. To actually view the census records or birth certificates suggested by those hints, you need an active Ancestry membership.
How to Connect RootsMagic to Ancestry Using TreeShare
If you are starting fresh, the easiest method is to download your existing online tree into the software.
- Open RootsMagic: Go to File > New.
- Select Import: Choose “Download from Ancestry.”
- Log In: A window will pop up asking for your Ancestry username and password.
- Select Tree: Choose the family tree you want to download.
- Download: RootsMagic will pull down all people, events, and photos. This creates your initial file.
From this point on, whenever you make changes, you simply click the TreeShare button to review and sync the updates.
Why Use RootsMagic Instead of Only Ancestry?
Using desktop software like RootsMagic acts as a “safety net.”
- Offline Backup: If you accidentally delete a family tree on Ancestry, your RootsMagic file remains safe on your hard drive.
- Better Reports: RootsMagic can generate complex charts and books that the website cannot.
- Media Archive: It downloads full-resolution copies of your images, which serves as a great backup if you ever need to upload photos and documents to a new site.
Conclusion
RootsMagic is arguably the best companion tool for Ancestry users because of the TreeShare feature. It gives you the convenience of the cloud (updating your tree from your phone or iPad via Ancestry) with the security and power of desktop software.
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