Using the Ancestry® app, you can record or upload audio of yourself and others telling family stories to share with others and preserve for future generations.
Recording audio
There are two ways to make an audio recording: either directly from your tree's gallery or by selecting an image and recording your thoughts about it. Once finished, your audio files are automatically saved to your tree's gallery.
Recording audio to your tree’s gallery:
- Open the Ancestry app and sign in.
- In the bottom right corner, tap Memories.
- Tap + Add media and select Record audio.
- Tap the microphone at the bottom of the page to start a new recording. Recordings can be up to 14 minutes long. If prompted, allow Ancestry to use your microphone to record audio. Didn’t allow it?
Need something to talk about? Tap Get a topic and choose Random topic or browse available topics. - Tap pause to stop recording; after pausing, tap Resume to continue recording or Finish → to end the recording.
- Add a title, description, speaker(s) in the recording, and a person to link to.
- Tap Save. The recording is now saved in your tree’s gallery.
Recording audio for an image in your tree’s gallery
- Open the Ancestry app and sign in.
- In the bottom right corner, select the Memories tab.
- Under the Gallery, select an image you want to record audio.
- In the top-right corner, tap the microphone icon
and select Record audio. If prompted, allow Ancestry to record audio. Didn’t allow it? - Select Record audio.
- Tap the microphone at the bottom of the page to start a new recording. Recordings can be up to 14 minutes in length.
- Tap pause to stop recording; after pausing, tap Resume to continue recording or Finish → to end the recording.
- Add a title, description, speaker(s), and anyone mentioned in the recording.
- Tap Save. The recording is now saved in your tree’s gallery.
Uploading audio
You can upload unlimited audio files to the Ancestry app, but each file must be 15 MB or smaller. The following audio file types are supported: .mp3, .mp4, and .m4a.
To upload an audio file:
- Open the Ancestry app and sign in.
- In the bottom right corner, select the Memories tab.
- Tap + Add media.
- To the right of the Camera roll option, select Upload. If it’s not visible, swipe left until you see it.
- Browse for and select a supported audio file. The recording will be uploaded and saved to your tree’s gallery.
Playing audio
- From your tree’s Media, select the audio you want to listen to or read a transcript of.
- Listen to the recording or read its transcript.
To listen to the recording:
- Use the playback controls to play ⏵ or pause ⏸.
- Tap and drag the dot to hear a specific part.
- Skip backward 15 seconds or skip forward 30 seconds.
To read the transcript:
- Tap Transcript to view a written version of the recording.
Note: Transcriptions are automatically generated and can detect 57 languages but they can’t be edited. - Words are highlighted in the transcript as you listen.
- Tap on a word to jump to that place in the recording.
Managing audio files
Linking people or editing audio details
- From your tree’s media, select the audio you want to link to someone or update the details for.
- In the bottom right corner, tap the i symbol in a circle ⓘ.
- Tap the three dots (on iOS) or Edit (on Android) to make changes.
- To link to someone: choose Add speaker or Add person and select them from your tree. Need to tag someone in a different tree?
- Edit the title or description: Select the information you want to change and update the new information.
- Edit the date and place: Select a new date and time or a new location.
- Tap Save or Done (top right).
Deleting audio
Deleting audio is permanent and can’t be undone.
- From your tree’s media, select the audio to be deleted.
- In the bottom right corner, tap the i symbol in a circle ⓘ.
- Choose Delete audio.
- To confirm, tap Delete.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my audio files saved?
Audio files will be stored in both your tree's gallery and the gallery of anyone tagged in the file. You can access them in your tree's media gallery on the Ancestry website or through the Ancestry app. If you uninstall the app, your audio will still be available on the Ancestry website.
Who can listen to my audio files?
Audio files follow the privacy settings of your tree:
- If your tree is public, your audio files are visible to other Ancestry members.
- If your tree is private, your audio files are visible only to you and those you’ve invited to your tree.
For help changing your tree’s privacy settings, see Family Tree Privacy.
Who can make changes to my audio files?
Only you and the individuals you've invited as editors can record, upload, tag, rename, and delete audio for your tree. Contributors can modify their contributions, and guests can only listen to audio without making any changes.
For help changing someone's role in your tree, see Sharing a Family Tree.
How do I download my audio?
You can download audio files from your tree’s Media gallery on the Ancestry website.
- In a recommended browser, go to Ancestry and select Memories. To see a different tree’s media, in the top-left corner, click the tree name and select another tree.
- Under Gallery, select Filters and choose Audio.
- Click on the audio file you want to download.
- In the top-right corner of the open audio, click Download. The file will be saved to your device.
If you receive a download error message when trying to download audio, clear your cache and cookies and make sure you have enough memory available on your device for the downloaded file.
How do I save my audio to someone in a different tree?
You can save audio files to people in other trees from your tree’s Media gallery on the Ancestry website.
- In a recommended browser, go to Ancestry and select Memories. To see a different tree’s media, in the top-left corner, click the tree name and select another tree.
- Under Gallery, select Filters and choose Audio.
- Click on the audio file you want to link to another person.
- In the side panel on the right, choose + Add person.
- Select the other tree.
- Start typing their name and select it when it appears.
If the person you want to save the audio to still needs to be added to your tree, see Adding People to a Tree.
How do I authorize the Ancestry app to record audio or use my microphone?
When prompted, allow the ancestry app permission to record audio or use your microphone.
If you didn’t allow the Ancestry app permission to record audio or use your microphone, you can change your device's settings to allow it. For help allowing the Ancestry app access to your microphone, select the device type you’re using:
How do I report someone’s audio?
Anything that violates our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Statement, or Community Guidelines should be reported. If you think the content of someone’s audio goes against any of these, report it for our review.
