When digging into your family history, you often find fascinating records that you aren’t quite ready to attach to your tree. Maybe you need to verify a date, or perhaps the record belongs to a spouse’s family line and you need to ask your husband or wife before adding it.
This is where the Ancestry Shoebox comes in. It acts as a temporary bookmark for records. If you are having trouble finding this feature on the new dashboard, this guide will show you exactly where it is hiding.
The Quickest Way to Find Your Shoebox
Stop scrolling and searching for buttons. The fastest way to access your saved records is to use this direct link while logged in:
Direct Link: www.ancestry.com/shoebox
How to Find the Shoebox Manually (Desktop)
If you prefer navigating through the menu, the location depends on your homepage layout, which Ancestry updates frequently.
- Go to the Homepage: Log in to your account. (Having trouble signing in? Check our guide on how to reset your Ancestry password).
- Check the “Home” Tab: Click Home in the top navigation bar.
- Look for “Tools & Resources”: On the right-hand sidebar (or sometimes at the very bottom), look for a widget labeled Tools & Resources.
- Select Shoebox: Click the link labeled Shoebox to view your list.
How to Save a Record to the Shoebox
When you find a Census record or Birth Certificate but aren’t ready to attach it to a person:
- Click “Save”: Look for the green or gray “Save” button on the record page (usually top-right).
- Select “Save to Shoebox”: Do not click “Save to person.” Select the Shoebox option.
- Done: The record is now bookmarked. You can close the tab and find it later.
Limitations: Can I See the Shoebox on the App?
No. The official Ancestry App (iPhone/Android) does notcurrently have a Shoebox tab.
The Workaround: You can still access it on your phone, but not through the app.
- Open the Chrome or Safari browser on your phone.
- Go to
ancestry.comand log in. - Type
ancestry.com/shoeboxinto the address bar. - You will see your saved records just like you do on a computer.
How to Delete Records from the Shoebox
Once you have moved the information to your family tree, you should clean out your Shoebox to keep it organized.
- Go to your Shoebox.
- Locate the record you are finished with.
- Click the small Trash Can icon (or “Remove”) next to the record title.
- Confirm the deletion.
Shoebox vs. Gallery: What’s the Difference?
Many users confuse these two storage areas. Here is how they differ:
| Feature | Ancestry Shoebox | Ancestry Gallery |
| What it stores | Historical Records (Census, Passenger Lists) found on Ancestry. | Photos and Documents you upload from your computer. |
| Is it permanent? | It stays until you delete it or attach it to a tree. | Yes, it lives on your profile forever. |
| Can others see it? | No, the Shoebox is private to you. | Yes, if your tree is public. |
Conclusion:
The Shoebox is an essential tool for keeping your research organized without cluttering your family tree with unverified data. While it is frustrating that the feature isn’t available on the app, using the direct browser link provided above ensures you can always access your saved discoveries instantly.
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