Heritage AIGuide: moving from MyHeritage
How to import GEDCOM from MyHeritage: step by step
This page is about one task: moving a tree from MyHeritage with a GEDCOM file. Four steps: get the file, check it, upload it with a preview, add the photos. Why to move and what changes is on a separate page, linked below.
The product is currently available in Russian for families in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
What you need
A GEDCOM file with the .ged extension. It is the common format of genealogy programs: people, dates and family links.
And an account with us. It is free, no card needed.
Step 1. Get the GEDCOM file from MyHeritage
Sign in to MyHeritage, open the settings or the management of your tree and find the export to GEDCOM. Menu names change; they usually contain the word "Export". If you cannot find it, open the MyHeritage help and search for "GEDCOM".
Save the file to your computer. If you have several trees, export the one you want to move.
The file may be left from earlier years. Look for .ged in your downloads, your mail and your cloud storage: an old file works as well as a fresh one.
If you cannot sign in to MyHeritage
According to Inc. Russia (1 January 2025), MyHeritage announced it was leaving Russia at the end of 2024, and the pages of Russian users were to be deleted on 1 February 2025. Only MyHeritage knows what happened to your account.
A tree cannot be exported from an account you cannot reach. If there is no file in your old downloads either, you will need to rebuild the tree: start with yourself and your parents and ask the rest of the family with an Ask relatives link. A relative does not need to register to answer.
Step 2. Check the file in your browser
Open the file in the GEDCOM viewer on our site. It runs in the browser and the file is not sent anywhere. You see how many people and families it holds and whether names read correctly. Old files come in 1251 and ANSEL encodings; the viewer reads them.
Step 3. Upload the file and check for matches
Register and open the Family tree section. In the "..." menu choose the GEDCOM upload. If your archive is new, you can also upload a ready tree at the first setup step.
First you see a preview: how many people and links the file holds. Nothing is written until you confirm the import.
If someone in the file seems to be in your tree already, run the match check. Matches are found by name and birth year; typos in names and a difference of a year or two do not get in the way. For each person you choose: an existing person, or add as new.
Step 4. Add photos and documents
GEDCOM carries people, dates and family links. Photos and documents are not stored in it: add them to the media library and attach them to the right people and events.
After the transfer
Compare the number of people and links with what the preview showed, and open a few cards: names, dates, parents and children.
The transfer is not one-way. You can download your tree back as GEDCOM at any time, on any plan, from the Family tree page.
MyHeritage is the name of another company's service. We are not affiliated with it.
Questions and answers
How do I import GEDCOM from MyHeritage?
Get a GEDCOM file from MyHeritage or find an old one, check it in the viewer on our site, then upload it in the Family tree section, look at the preview, check for matches and confirm the import. Add photos and documents to the media library separately.
What is transferred and what is not?
GEDCOM carries people, dates and family links. Photos and documents are not stored in this format: you add them to the media library and attach them to people and events by hand.
I cannot sign in to MyHeritage. What now?
A tree cannot be exported from an account you cannot reach. Look for old .ged files in downloads, mail and cloud storage. If there is none, rebuild the tree: start with yourself and your parents and ask relatives for the rest. Only MyHeritage knows what happened to the account.
What if the people in the file are already in my tree?
Before importing, run the match check: the service shows similar people by name and birth year, allowing for typos and a difference of a year or two. For each one you decide: an existing person, or add as new.
Can I export the tree back later?
Yes. You can download the tree as GEDCOM at any time and on any plan, from the Family tree page.
How much does it cost?
Uploading a file is free. The free plan gives a tree with no limit on people and 2 GB for photos and documents; no card needed.
Move your tree with a preview
Nothing is saved until you confirm the import. Registration is free and needs no card.
Sources: Inc. Russia, 01.01.2025 (in Russian)