How to Upload Photos and Documents to Your Ancestry Tree

A family tree becomes much more meaningful when you put faces to the names. Beyond just photos, uploading digital copies of birth certificates, wills, and letters is the best way to preserve your research and back up your facts.

Ancestry allows you to upload media files directly to a person’s profile. However, there are rules:

• File Size Limit: Each file must be 15 MB or smaller.
• Supported Images: .jpg, .png, .jpeg, .tiff, .bmp.
• Supported Documents: .pdf, .doc, .txt.

This guide covers how to upload media to the gallery, how to attach documents as formal “Sources,” and how to manage your privacy.

Method 1: Uploading Photos to the Gallery (The Standard Way)

Use this method for profile pictures, family portraits, or general images that don’t need to be linked to a specific legal fact.

1. Open the Profile: Go to your tree and click on the name of the person you want to edit.
2. Go to the Gallery: Click the Gallery tab (found under the person’s name, next to “Facts”).
3. Select “Add Media”: Click the button labeled + Add Media and select Upload Photos.
4. Choose Your File: You can drag and drop the image from your desktop or click “Choose Files” to browse your computer.
5. Add Details: While the photo uploads, enter a Title, Date, and Location.
   • Tip: Always add a title. A photo labeled “IMG_9921.jpg” is impossible to search for later.
6. Done: Click Done. The photo will now appear in their gallery.

Method 2: Uploading Documents as Sources on Ancestry

If you have a scanned image of a Death Certificate or a Census page, you shouldn’t just dump it in the Gallery. You should attach it as a Source to prove a fact (like a death date).

1. Go to the Facts Tab: On the person’s profile, click the Facts tab.
2. Add a Source: Click the + Add button and select “Add Source”.
3. Create the Citation:
   • Step 1: Click “Create a new source”. Fill in the details (e.g., “Ohio Death Certificate”).
   • Step 2: Enter the citation details (e.g., “Certificate #12345”).
   • Step 3: Link it to a fact (e.g., check the box for “Death”).
4. Attach the Image: Once the source is created, locate it in the left-hand “Sources” column.
   • Hover over the source and click View.
   • Select the Media tab on the left.
   • Click + Add media to source and upload your document.

For a deeper dive into managing citations effectively, you can read our guide on attaching records to specific sources.

Ancestry Media Privacy Rules You Should Know

Before you upload, understand how Ancestry’s sharing works. If your tree is Public, other users can view your photos and save them to their trees.

• The Warning: If you delete a photo from your tree later, it does not delete the copy that other people saved. Their copy remains in their tree forever.
• The Solution: If you are uploading sensitive documents or photos you don’t want spreading, you should consider adjusting your tree visibility settings to “Private” before uploading.

How to Delete Photos and Documents from Ancestry

Uploaded the wrong file? Here is how to remove it.

1. Go to the Gallery: Open the person’s profile and click the Gallery tab.
2. Open the Image: Click on the specific photo or document you want to remove.
3. Delete: Look for the Trash Can icon (usually on the right side or top right).
   • Click the icon and select Delete from Tree.
   • Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Uploading photos transforms your family tree from a dry list of dates into a vibrant history. Whether you are preserving a grandmother’s smile in the Gallery or proving a grandfather’s service record via Source citations, these tools ensure your family’s legacy is backed up and safe.