Connecting a public family tree to your AncestryDNA® results can help you discover how you're related to your DNA matches (if you have matches turned on). A DNA test's owners, collaborators, and managers can link it to a tree. Only one tree can be linked to a test at a time.
To link DNA results to a tree on another account, share the DNA results with the account the tree is on or have the tree owner invite you to view the tree as an editor.
Linking, unlinking, or changing which tree is linked
From a browser
- In the top-right corner of Ancestry®, click your Profile and select Account Settings.
- On the left side of the page, under Settings, click DNA.
- Select a DNA test.
- Under DNA and family tree linking, click DNA link.
- Choose to link, unlink, or change your family tree link.
- To link your DNA results to a family tree: click the dropdown menu and choose an existing tree or select + Start tree to create a new one.
- If starting a new tree, add at least one parent and repeat these steps from the beginning.
- After selecting your tree, enter your name, then select Link DNA results.
- To unlink a family tree: click Remove.
- To change your family tree link: click the dropdown menu and choose a different tree or select + Start tree to create a new one.
- If starting a new tree, add at least one parent and repeat these steps from the beginning.
- After selecting your tree, enter your name, then select Link DNA results.
From the app
- Open the Ancestry app and sign in.
- In the top-left corner, tap your profile icon (photo or letters).
- Under Manage DNA test, tap the gear icon.
- In the opened mobile browser window, under DNA and family tree linking, tap DNA link.
- Choose to link, unlink, or change your family tree link.
- To link your DNA results to a family tree: click the dropdown menu and pick an existing tree or select + Start tree to create a new one.
- If starting a new tree, add at least one parent and repeat these steps from the beginning.
- After selecting your tree, enter your name, then select Link DNA results.
- To unlink a family tree: click Remove.
- To change your family tree link: click the dropdown menu and pick a different tree or select + Start tree to create a new one.
- If starting a new tree, add at least one parent and repeat these steps from the beginning.
- After selecting your tree, enter your name, then select Link DNA results.
Troubleshooting
Linking to two trees
A DNA test can be linked to only one tree at a time. If you want identical trees on two accounts, copy a family tree from one account to another. To link a DNA test to a tree on another account, share the DNA test with the account the tree is on (not vice versa).
Linking to a tree on another account
To link your test to a tree on another account, you can do one of two things: (1) share your DNA results with the owner of the tree and have them link the tree, or (2) have the tree owner share their tree with you as an editor. Once you're an editor on their tree, you can link your test to the tree.
Can't find a tree
If you're in the account where your DNA results are, and your DNA homepage says +Start tree instead of Link to Tree, you don't have a family tree in this account. To transfer your tree from another account, sign out of the account you're in and sign in to the second account, then follow the steps in Moving Trees Between Accounts.