Easily Link Ancestry DNA Matches to Your Family Tree | Genetic Genealogy

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

🌳 Learn how to use this tool in AncestryDNA match workflow 👉🏼 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fV7Vdnufaq13jdk

[@PaulaTalbert]

I manage 10 DNA tests on Ancestry; I keep everything in 1 tree. I look at the hints when/if I want and do not let them bother me. And I add the DNA links as I go along; I know everything is not complete and I don't let it stress me; I put on my profile that my tree is a working tree and it changes daily as I add people, sources, records, pics, etc. I have learned alot from watching Crista Cowan's Barefoot Genealogist about working with Ancestry. I find this channel very helpful too.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I'm glad you find our channel helpful. Managing 10 tests is quite the work load. Glad you found a way that works for you. I'm still trying to find a balance to my research brain and my DNA brain with tree management. Someday it will click.

[@jimbellenger1927]

During the quarantine, I had time to track down the DNA match links and I was able to solve a 120-year-old family mystery. I was able to track down where my great-great-grandfather went after he left or was told to leave the family. After the lockdown lifted a bit I was able to drive to Iowa and visit his grave.

[@jmgajda8071]

That's amazing! I recently solved a 100-year-old family mystery, who the father of my maternal grandmother was, and boy, it was surprising. Congratulations!! It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?

[@lightyagami3492]

This is great to hear! It always feels good to break down a brick wall you have been working on for so long!

[@sydneywood4398]

I also had "an unexpected event" learned through DNA testing. I have the family tree I know and the "new" paternal grandfather family tree I just learned about and built. I was not certain how to handle that. The other family does not know we are related and I wasn't certain if I should merge the two. This new tool may help connect cousins from the other family with mine.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That is incredible. Congratulations!!!

[@lanebashford3982]

@@sydneywood4398 I have a situation like that now. Have a new close cousin and figured out between us that he has to be adopted because neither of the two documented sides in his tree connect to my known and thoroughly researched tree at all. He always thought one parent was biological but we found it not to be true. I've connected him to his maternal side in full and he's loving it. He was warmly welcomed and now has to figure out his other side.

[@ValorieZimmerman]

Completely agree about making the linking work with ThruLines. I very much hope that they will use the work we're doing linking to improve ThruLines. I find it very satisfying to link cousins in, and I've been building my tree "down" for years, so many of them are already in the tree. It helps me makes sense of my big crazy family.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I hear ya. Be sure to use the feedback tool on Ancestry to share your thoughts.

[@paulbaltzer4745]

I agree with your Suggestions for Improvement from Ancestry. We are all hoping.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Glad you agree.

[@jmgajda8071]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! It's like you read my mind. I was just thinking last night I wish I could link people that I know are related to me like I can do on FamilyTreeDNA and then you posted this video! I just linked my first relative to me tree in Ancestry, and thanks to your helpful instructions it took me under a minute. Thank you!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You are so welcome! My mission is to serve and you've made my day.

[@HazardousSmoker]

Thank you for the information. This has allowed me to easily tell where my matches fit in my tree and have also aided in additional research of relatives.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Glad it is helpful. Keep climbing your tree.

[@ViolentRainbow]

I love doing this, I have over 12,000 people in my tree now. I really like finding how I'm related to distant DNA matches it's really the best way to know your research is correct.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I like finding out how my relatives are connected. I'm still undecided in the value of the tree connection rather than color coding my DNA.

[@bobbell2355]

I am catching up on old videos. I am actually linking a 3rd cousin to my tree. I love how Devon had her wish list at the end and now 3 years later, many of those items are in Ancestry!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It's fun to see the changes that have happened since I started making videos. I'm also glad I slowed down so you could catch up. Please keep the comments coming as I'm returning to video creation on 14 October!!!!

[@bobbell2355]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I wished that I had caught up. But.... I am actually still 2 years behind. But knowing that you are back has given me new energy!!

[@simonsheppard491]

Really useful, and I find it really satisfying linking matches to my tree. It also motivates me to FIND our common ancestors. Thanks Devon 🙂

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Glad you liked it.

[@brigittetheall9187]

I use the new feature as a short cut between my match list and tree but I agree it should appear in thru-lines and a chromosome browser is a must. As how to manage a DNA tree and a research tree with sources separate, please keep updating us because I haven’t found a practical way to manage both trees. A single large tree with ancestors plus descendants and multiple cousins to keep track of the DNA matches generates so many hints, it drives me crazy as well. Thanks for the video.

[@brigittetheall9187]

Update: I found your book on Amazon on downsizing large family tree. I will start there!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

So glad you were able to find the Downsizing book. My mother has practiced all the principles I included in the book and it was very freeing. She's moving into a two bedroom condo with her husband from a 3,200 sq ft home. It was quite a journey. We'll see how things play out with linking my DNA matches and if I decide to go all in on a separate tree. It might take some time since I'm in the process of moving from Texas to New Mexico (during quarantine restrictions no less). Check back with me in a few months and I just might provide an update.

[@mattpotter8725]

Great video. I have an increasingly large tree on Ancestry ever since having had my grandpa DNA tested a few years ago (he's 102 and still going strong). When adding these distant cousins to the tree I make sure that I have cleared all of the hints before leaving them (and many might either go into the undecided list or get rejected if they are obviously wrong). This can be quite a lot of work because if you add new ancestors you often get children for them, spouses, and then further children and this can happen just when you think you're finished a whole lot of new people need to be added and their hints need to be cleared. I like to be complete so it's hard to just say I'll leave them and get back to it later, because in all honesty they aren't my main focus of research and if I did that I probably wouldn't come back to them and it's best to do it when you have been working on that part of the family tree. Maybe this isn't the best approach, but I don't like having the hints appear in the drop down obscuring those I'm more interested in. I wish Ancestry would allow you to basically ignore hints from parts of your tree you aren't interested in, or rather allow only those you've added into that hint list for receiving hints.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I would like to see more filtering options for hints to be sure.

[@fionapreedy2007]

I did the two trees too, and removed all the spouses, etc from the DNA tree. It makes it more streamlined when I'm trying to triangulate. I'm trying to work on my bio tree, as I'm adopted, so I am using a ton of info to confirm.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I can totally see the need to have a research / triangulation trees. A separate DNA tree would make so much sense for your research.

[@Avacarho]

I was adopted at birth and am close to finding my biological family. Uploading my raw DNA data file to Gedmatch, Family Tree DNA, Living DNA, and MyHeritage really helped, especially Gedmatch, which really broke through the brick wall with a match to my maternal grandfather. Through FamilySearch.org, I found my lineage goes back to 14th century Scotland.

[@bcr8tve]

Noticed the pink cursor color...nice touch. googled instructions: How to Change the Cursor Color in Windows 10 Press " Windows Key + I " to open the Settings app. Go to the " Ease of Access " page. Go to the " Mouse pointer " page. Select the " Custom " option under the " Change pointer color " section. Choose one of the available colors. To set a custom color, click on the " Pick a custom pointer color " button. Select a color of your choice from the color picker and click " Ok ".

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thanks

[@RA-yb8ck]

I don’t know if this is the case, but I have a thought regarding the matches not showing up in Thru Lines (about 16 min into your video). I wonder if the matches don’t show due limited completion of the tree associated with their DNA. Perhaps if their tree was more complete, and included the common ancestor, maybe then they would appear on Thru Lines. I have no idea how my suggestion would be tested.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

ThruLines is about bringing the gap between your tree and someone else's tree using the trees of others. If you have a partially complete tree and your DNA match has a partially completed tree, then Ancestry looks for DNA matches (or common trees even without shared DNA), with trees that have part of your tree and the tree of your initial DNA match. If Ancestry can find a likely overlap, they'll return a ThruLine. That's the potential power of the tool.

[@lightyagami3492]

The thing that frustrates me the most is that instead of investing in a chromosome browser so we can check which people are valid matches Ancestry just decides to take away the low cm matches......

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Many share the same sentiment with the small cm. I can see why they are pulling back, as a significant percentage of those matches are false. However, you can use GEDmatch and lower your match threshold. It's not a perfect solution but it's something.

[@Canopus68]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I wonder if high cm matches are true. Ancestry shows I have a first cousin. I've gone back and expanded many lines in my tree that I hadn't bothered with in the past. But I can't find his name any where

[@nickmiller76]

Agree, not over-impressed with Ancestry's customer 'service' myself.

[@nickmiller76]

@@Canopus68 The DNA won't be wrong.

[@lightyagami3492]

@@Canopus68 you accidentally uncovered a family secret it looks like. A match that significant can't be false.

[@bcr8tve]

I really like linking folks DNA to my tree particularly the ability to hyperlink the connection in a message to the person you shares DNA with you. So many users do not know about this 2020 feature. Like you, i wish it would show on other trees i manage. I have a tree to my biological maternal side and a different tree for biological paternal side. Ugh...even when i change the tree in settings, the links do NOT transfer.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It's a great tool and I hope more tweaks will make it better and better.

[@samuelvink1482]

Once I've linked a match to the tree, am I supposed to see the icon and link when ordinarily navigating my tree? They only seem to appear when I click in from the match's page. I definitely wish they showed up in the tree with icons. For that matter, I wish the tags had a visual aspect too

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The links do not appear on the 'regular' family tree experience. It only helps you navigate from a DNA match page to their connection within your family tree. BTW Sorry for the delayed response. It became hidden for some reason.

[@s.p.3738]

Hi there. Great work that you do! I have a question about the order of what I need to do. My father did the DNA kit for me. He does not want to do anything within Ancestry. I helped him make an account and he has about six people in his tree. I want to build everything in my larger tree with his DNA results. I guess I need to have his account share his DNA with me and then once I’m in my tree go through the matches list and assign them to people on my tree and then color code?? Or do I need color code his matches onto his tree and then share with me? In His account we have told it that we know who two people are on the list of DNA matches - first cousins. Just don’t know the steps without messing something up. Thank you so much 😊

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Create his tree and make yourself the manager. Then it's really up to you how you wish to color code people. Typically, I color code my tree (I manage aunts, cousins, and 2nd cousins) and leave their tree alone. But, others do it on (in this case) dad's tree. The key is, what will make your work easier, go with that solution.

[@barbproctor9750]

I kinda like it because it helps me know that I have added those people to my tree.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You're not alone with that opinion. Stacey Coates, a fellow channel member, uses them in this fashion as well.

[@alicemusiclive3406]

Hey ! Thank you for explanation ! I have a question : On MyHeritage, I got triangulation with SG And CH on chromo 15 With SG I also triangulation with JK but in chromo 10 I’ ve found in tree a couple ancestors… is it possible that chromo 15 is The GGGgrand father and 10 GGGgrandmother from this couple ? Cause in tree of SG chromo 15 and JK chromo 10 same ancestors.. 🤔

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I answered this in a live video. It takes a few minutes to explain. kzbin.info/www/bejne/an7Fh5qAjtyJrrM

[@BlondeGranny70]

The one thing that I haven’t seen discussed is what if you don’t know who this person is or how they are related to you .

[@chrisferraiolo1935]

Put in dummy ppl for now until you find a way and create a floating tree.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That's when you can use the notes field to keep track of what you have discovered. When you figure them out, then you can color code them or link them.

[@StokesCheri]

If you MUST know ;), use your color coding to determine which line(s) they're on, then use the shared cMs to determine where they'd likely be in your tree.

[@nickmiller76]

Keep researching, like I said above: the DNA won't be wrong.

[@audreypettorelli4416]

I have only one family tree showing up when I try to link up tree to my dna sample. Does anyone know how I can link up another family tree as I have 2 separate ones?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You can't link up two separate trees unless you have them in the same tree. Meaning, You can add a disconnected person (and their family) to one Ancestry tree. You can then link your DNA to these disconnect people but they have to be in the same tree. I hope that makes sense.

[@BeverlyParsons-f6s]

In order to copy my DNA matches, I selected A with Control A and then Control C to copy. This selects all of my matches on the multiple ages but only copies the page that is displaying. If I move to the next page and copy, it only copies that page. How do I copy across the multiple pages. I have the newer version that allows 20 or 50 matches to display at a time. I am using Chrome for this. Any help would be appreciated.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Reach out to Greg Clarke who created the Ancestry Table Maker. The version I offered is out of date and I'm directing everyone this way: www.wikitree.com/g2g/1362851/ancestry-dna-match-table-maker-spreadsheet

[@pinwheelgrl9304]

I had the same issue. But when I disconnected my kit from the fluffly dna tree and hooked it to the basic tree, it also disconnected me from ThruLines. No way! So had to switch it back, and it took a couple days before the ThruLines pulled back in. On another point, I like to use the dna-treelink icon on a match to show I'm finally done with it, and they are in my tree and problems are now all resolved - as that's the last thing I do. so when I look down my main match list, I can easily see who isn't completed yet.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That makes a lot of sense of having the 'done' process. Since this video, I have created my DNA tree which will like to living persons. Then I have my genealogical tree. I don't believe in one tree to rule them all. I use project trees to keep me focused on my research goals. So far, this is working better.

[@CindyMarie4211]

This is completely off topic, but I don’t know where else to ask this, but have a y’all done anything about MyTrueAncestry? I can’t find anything, if you have. If you haven’t, could you do one? Thanks.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Cindy, we haven't. There a ton of ads appearing across social media about it. Let me ask Andy if he plans on evaluating that website.

[@CindyMarie4211]

Family History Fanatics Thanks

[@exnuke1972]

Looks like they changed something with this functionality. I cannot find this anymore.

[@InspiredByEbonyLove]

I used to be able to link matches to themselves in my trees but the feature doesn't seem to be available to use anymore and i'm wondering WHY?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I'll have to look into it further. Thanks for pointing out what I need to explore now that I'm back from my summer break.

[@juliehunter6953]

Hello, l am so glad l looked on you tube for a solution on how to link dna to my tree and found your awesome clip. I would like to ask you - My daughter had her dna done but she does has no time for it and so l look after it. I have created an account/pw for her and did a mini tree. Her dad is adopted and that is why she is interested. Now that l have done what you said above with her attached to my tree - can l delete her profile and tree and just work off my account and her matches and hints will come to me. I ask because l never get to log into her account as l focus on mine and it would just be easier to not have to log out of my account to go into hers and vice versa. Thanks if you know anything :)

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

No. You don't want to delete her profile. Let her account stand and work from your tree for hints, but also go back to her tree because occasionally, the primary account will have more DNA match hints than you will have. I know it's a hassle, but I speak from experience. I manage my brother, 2 aunts, and 3 second cousins. You would think I could have a central place for all of our DNA match hints, but I find hints that I don't have in my central tree when I navigate over to their trees. After visiting with programmers on Ancestry, this logic does make more sense even if it's not convenient.

[@juliehunter6953]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics thankyou and much appreciated lovely lady xx

[@vccgenealogysig]

Can you do the same thing on MyHeritage, and if so, how?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I haven't seen that we can do this on MyHeritage. It might be a new feature in the future.

[@TheRedComyn]

AncestryDNA is the test that matches most closely my genealogical information. Interestingly, I should be about 12% Danish; however, AncestryDNA read it as 6% Swedish and 6% Norwegian. Danish DNA is difficult to identify since it's such a tiny nation. Having done my research, I was able to interpret these percentages correctly.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing your ethnicity results.

[@dwuagneux]

My husband has no interest in genealogy, but he did take the ancestry DNA test. She doesn’t want to be bothered with the possible matches that they send him. I want to work on them. Since my husband and I are not linked by DNA, how can I do this without having to type every possible match Into a general search and then try matching it to our tree. Please tell me there is a way to do this! I am not getting anywhere this way and our children are very interested in finding out more about their fathers family history. Help!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

First, I would focus on building a 'paper-based' family tree. Have you done that? That means, adding parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that your husband knows to your family tree. Then use the Ancestry records to add further documentation about these individuals. As you add more generations, you would be building this based on names that appear in new records. This could be a fun journey with your children as they learn how to look at records and see different types with their ancestor's names on it. As you attach new records to the family tree, you can use the source linker forms to add new information so you don't have to key everything in. That's a great feature of Ancestry. AFTER, you have built a record-based family tree, you will have the skills needed to review DNA matches, and you will likely find out how some of the DNA matches fit into your family tree. I don't know of any other way to build a family tree that is accurate so you don't tell your children they are from the wrong heritage.

[@cathyc6725]

I like it but use it only for specific cases. I am working on my grandmother’s adoption and it helps me find the specific matches in my tree more quickly. I also have linked my close relatives. I just use it as a shortcut to get to their info. I want a chromosome browser too,! I also wish I could see how my matches relate to our in common with matches, as My Heritage does. That would really help with the adoption research and, if I had to choose between the chromosome browser and the enhanced ICW,, I would choose the latter.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Cathy... yes, I find that this is a tool to research specific cases for easier navigation. And, as you know, I wholeheartedly agree with the Chromosome Browser request.

[@phyllisgovia4253]

Do you add cousins to their parents or our most common ancestor? I have great aunts with lost of cousins 1 removed.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It depends on the question you're trying to resolve. I have lots of Claybaugh distant cousins, but I don't add them because I'm focused on researching my Townsend, Townley, and Geiszler lines. For the Claybaugh Cousins, I use the color coding feature. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH2ul4WvoLZgfas

[@lindashine5575]

I am just learning about this option. Thanks for the information. I think I would only use it on the family line where I have a couple brick walls.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You are so welcome! Now that's a great strategy I hadn't considered. Thanks for giving me an idea.

[@roberthopgood1894]

I use the linking tool as a guide starting with the common ancestor I use the record hints to work down to the dna match

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Awesome. That's a great plan.

[@TinaTina-wt5wu]

I have distant relatives in central America how would I be related ?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That's a question that takes a lot more details from you to answer. Sorry.

[@WholeBibleBelieverWoman]

Don't we have to pay money in order to set up a tree or connect to one?

[@mikee8304]

30 day free trial, then you can still have the tree just won’t be able to do much research without paid subscription after 30 days

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thanks Mike... That's is my understanding.

[@cathyc6725]

I have been using it for my sister’s ThruLines so she can understand her matches. Of course, some of the match trees are wrong and I do not add them.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Great use of the feature. I am glad you use judgement as you decide what to add and what to exclude.

[@nicolegolczynski]

Do you know why I don’t have the option on my page?

[@nicolegolczynski]

Never mind I found lol

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Glad you found it. It keeps moving.

[@rettawhinnery]

How do you unlink a match to your tree? I accidentally linked a living person's DNA profile to a dead person with the same name in the tree.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You simply click on the icon and you should be prompted to disconnect it. BTW Sorry for the delayed response. It became hidden for some reason.

[@rettawhinnery]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics Thanks. Apparently I figured it out, so it worked out okay.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That's great news. I still feel sad that we couldn't get back to you sooner. We're working on improving response times.

[@carolynlamont5276]

Thank You Thank You so much. I match to the wrong name and have been trying to unlink.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Happy to help.

[@mimiso2522]

I made the mistake of buying 23&Me because they claimed to have a better American Indigenous people database. Wrong, but one thing I like is the chromosome match and how I can can compare two people's chromosomes. Sometimes I can triangulate a common ancestor by comparing each of them with me, and place both in my tree. Back to the Native American link, 23&Me said I had NO Native American ancestors other than Pocahontas. Then I did Ancestry and within a week they had not only one "Indian" relative, but several on a direct line to me- With DNA connections to other people connected as well.

[@michaelwhalan9783]

I find many people who are not the DNA person but instead are owners of the Ancestry account and are not a relative of mine.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That must be frustrating.

[@nick8051]

it wont let me link my close cousins, uncle, aunts and silbings to my tree i tried your methods but doesnt have option me to do this

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That is extremely odd. It's been awhile since I made this video. Either that feature has been removed or you'll need to reach out to Ancestry support directly.

[@bryanmcleod4924]

To answer your question regarding if I'm excited about the "newish" tool of linking it would be yes and no. We are still in the stage of development that we need to between one platform and another in order to do anywhere near a decent job meeting the depth of value OUR DNA data offers us. I put that in capitals as so far each of the platforms seem to be holding that for ransom and none of them anywhere near to the extent that Ancestry does. Bottom line they aren't going to do anything that will rob them of a future income by making it unnecessary in the novices eyes to invest in the dna test by they in effect being able to piggyback on yours. For me I do need sources for each and every dna match as it helps immeasurably in confirming others and helping those who are struggling in their efforts to find their birth parents if you have a proven line of decent complete with sources. What I'd wish for is Ancestry making it easier for visitors to my respective trees to see at a glance who is linked and who is genetically related to me flagged in some obvious fashion such that if they visited because they saw a common surname between us they wouldn't waste their time looking for a connection that in effect didn't exist as they are mere "in-laws" in regards to myself. Imagine what it would be like to visit someone's tree who had done dna, had some of their matches represented clearly and they be able to go immediately to the profile v/v the dna match and explore the possible shared cousins. Further in regards to at least my tree be able to see who in it was tested and "proven" as a familial as well as genetical match and all the respective information viewable right there on the page rather than the visitor having to track the connection back themselves... sort of like having the dropdown available to the visitor that the user has automatically when viewing their own tree. I know this was a lot and you may not wish to bother with this comment but if you do and I've been unclear please feel free to contact me back for clarification.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to share your thoughts. I think I would like something similar to what you've discussion.

[@mattpotter8725]

It's funny you talk about links you make in your tree being reflected in other trees you manage, well I'd like Ancestry to finally realised that building a family tree and breaking down brick walls is a community effort, there needs to be social interaction and communication beyond their messaging system (or the ability to see other people's family trees). I would like that if you have information from someone else's tree into your own it sends them a notification that you've done this, basically to say someone else is interested in someone (or multiple people) in your tree. One other thing I wish it did, and I feel really good for having done this, was that if you are someone into your tree on a bit of a punt, and someone who you've communicated with over messages to an extent where they might trust you know what you're talking about copies that person into their tree that if you then remove that person it tells them that you've done this. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just that one person's tree, but I think other people he knows have also copied this person and it has propagated a falsehood into the Ancestry system and I think it now thinks this is a valid hint. I know I shouldn't have done this, but everyone makes some mistakes in their trees, no one is perfect (apart from the professional genealogists I'd hope), and this would really help clean up these mistakes.

[@mattpotter8725]

Oh, and before I forget I haven't been linking people from other people's trees to people in my own tree, even though I have used their trees, added then into mine, even where they don't have the common ancestor, and sometimes they appear in my thru lines and sometimes they don't, and it drives me crazy. I don't know if it's a bug, it sounds like it must be, similar to what you've been doing, although you've been using something they seem to have built to basically tell them the link so they shouldn't have anything to do past basic checking. Often you can't see the names of the actual person who has taken the DNA test (because they are still alive and it's private, sometimes you can deduce it from the username) so maybe it doesn't think you've got it quite right (people using the married name for the women (I always use the birth name, but surely their system is sophisticated enough to work that kind of stuff out). I wish they'd fix this, it's been like this at least a could of years, maybe forever!!!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I appreciate your thoughts. I wish the users of Ancestry were more collaborative oriented. I'm not sure they know how or want to.

[@mattpotter8725]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics The problem is that I find Ancestry's site seems to actively not want you to, and if I was putting my tin hat on I might say they prefer it this way we if people don't find what they are looking for they go away for a period of time, then come back (not all, some will give up) when something new might occur to them or even maybe they watch videos like yours and find out new techniques. How difficult would it be to notify me if someone uses my tree as a source in their tree, links a photo to someone in their tree? That's not even really collaborating either, just a check on accuracy, and maybe a starter to a conversation. I don't want to go on Facebook and share my data with them after the Candidate Analytica scandal so I feel I'm a little stuck with just messaging people individually, which feels to me a little like cold calling, however friendly you are to them.

[@rahanahanif417]

I’m totally lost with it all and don’t know where to begin to begin, what do I need to purchase just to be able to build a tree or see what I need to see. I have so many 3rd cousins but yet I don’t know how we are related. And second cousins etc. How can I find my fathers family if I don’t have his name etc. What kit will help me with all this? I need help . How do you trust hints if you don’t know who your even looking at, I don’t have a hint to start . Need guidance

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You really need to take a beginning genealogy course to understand records (even if you practice on your mother's family before you tackle your fathers.) Then you should take a beginning genetic genealogy course. Once you have done those two things, then linking cousins on Ancestry will be part of the process. While I would love to say we have everything you need to tackle the journey, we don't - yet. We had hoped to develop a beginning genealogy course in 2020 but our job loss and move threw those plans out the window. I invite you to keep seeking resources and asking lots of questions. And pray us to the finish line of our beginning genealogy and genetic genealogy books / courses.

[@mariacapaldi5062]

I am up in the air with this! 🧬🧬🧬

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

And that's okay.

[@LanceHall]

Thanks !!!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You're welcome!

[@roberttidwell3066]

I only have direct line relatives in my tree.. only exemption is my siblings. No cousins, aunts or uncles. Not to say they aren't important. I'm just more intrigued by learning about my direct ancestors.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I can relate to keeping your family tree small. However, often you have to research the children of your direct ancestors in order to go back one more generation.

[@teresaeads4115]

The problem with Ancestry is there are no clear cut directions to any of there system. Some is self explanatory but most is not.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I think Ancestry relies on folks like our channel and other genealogy blogs to offer the training. I hope to add more videos in the future as individuals offer recommendations through by video suggestion form at www.familyhistoryfanatics.com

why can't i see any of this?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The video or the linking? The video plays depending on your country's restrictions. The DNA linking features work if 1. you have built a family tree on Ancestry 2. you have linked your DNA results to it 3. your DNA matches have taken a DNA test 4. your DNA matches have linked their DNA to their trees 5. BOTH of you have made your trees publicly available.

[@lollyfullerton]

I think you've really made it all easy to understand I too want a chromosome browser.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thank you for your feedback

[@joel6221]

Hey thanks!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

No problem!

[@just_deb]

I didn't renew my Ancestry subscription because the hints they kept sending to me were the same info I had already found and I wasn't making any progress in my research there. They still keep sending me emails saying they have new hints but, from what I can tell, they are exactly the same stale hints they were sending before yet they want me to sign up again to see these useless hints. I can still access my DNA results and my tree but I have very limited access to most of the site. Can you possibly cover how to get better results with only a free membership to the site? I think it's futile to pay them for a service they are not delivering.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Did you accept or reject your hints and add your hints to your tree? This is a fascinating problem which I haven't encountered because I do a couple of things. 1. I rarely bother with photo hints or member tree hints. I focus on record hints almost exclusively. 2. I accept and attach accurate records to my family tree. I reject the hints that do not apply. 3. I keep my genealogy family tree small on Ancestry so I can focus only on the family members I most want to research. This keeps my record hint numbers small. While I like the idea of how to get more out of Ancestry's free side, I prefer directing folks to FamilySearch.org because you'll access the entire family tree and most of their digital records for free. Some records, due to contracts with the archives that hold the rights to the images, only allow us to visit the images in a family history center. It's still free to access but you have to be in a facility.

[@just_deb]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I was accepting valid hints while I still had a paid membership but most of the hints were things that I had already discovered. There was no information in the hints. Some of the new hints had incorrect information on them so I would reject them. I don't know where the information was coming from but someone had been feeding erroneous info to Ancestry or Ancestry's sources are not dependable. If I had been receiving actual "new" hints that contained correct and valid info then I may have renewed my subscription. As of now, I just checked my account and was able to see one new hint, which did contain some errors, but when I tried to see another I was taken to the screen that wants me to subscribe again.

[@jayb9805]

@@just_deb I have found that once I add one of their hints, the robots get excited and find others. I use the hints all the time as I originally did my Tree in word.doc, and I know who everyone is, so if the hint is there, I just grab it. The only slightly dodgy ones are at the bottom of the list of hints anyway. The records are what they are so are as accurate as is possible ( especially the originals..the transcriptions can have errors but they are not fatal).

[@juliehenthorne7281]

I like this tool. It tells me at a glance that I know how we're related. I then no where exactly who needs additional research. No. Not as fabulous as dots. But nice nonetheless

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yay! Glad you enjoy the tool and are making it work for you.

[@mojavelynjester3732]

I don't want to link to other trees of my cousins. Their trees conflict with mine.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You won't link to their trees. You'll link your DNA to a cousin that you add to your family tree. Does that make sense?

[@KentPetersonmoney]

I wonder what it would say if your half sibling was also your cousin?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The amount of shared DNA cMs would increase but Ancestry wouldn't be able to define that relationship for you.

[@InspiredByEbonyLove]

UUUGH! I see now. They got rid of the blue icon we are all familiar with and replaced it with a neutral, blend against the background button that says "connect to tree?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thanks for pointing that out. I'll admit, I have taken the summer off and I missed this change. I now have an unclickable icon (I thought we could click it before). I have to go into the DNA match comparison page and then click a TEXT LINK and not the icon. I'm not pleased with this at all.

[@jordynalice1]

What about half family adding their self to my fathers tree that they aren't even related to their side but showing up on others

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You can't control what others have in your family tree. You can only add content to your family tree. Sorry if that's not the best answer.

[@jayb9805]

Do you mean they have their own Trees but have included members of your father's family? If so, they can do that. If they have access to YOUR Tree, you should remove their access. I add all sorts of people to my Tree..its nice to see who the families married into.

[@SuperRmarvin]

Does JOINing stop the ads?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The ads that run before and in the middle? That I'm not entirely sure. I know that if you join KZbin Premium you can watch everything on KZbin ad free. However, joining the KZbin Premium would not give you Channel Memberships as well. It can become costly to avoid ads.

[@calmmeoriginalofficialchan9110]

Robert select your "settings" from the browser (Google, Firefox etc) click on three vertical dots top right corner, In settings look for "extensions" and select that, it often has a jig-saw puzzle piece as its symbol, there are FREE ad blockers attached to every browser, they're different depending on the browser. Usually called "AdBlock" or "ad blocker" if you can't see it easily do a search in the spot provided on the settings page. I don't know anyone who buys anything from KZbin ads. Good luck.