Importing Your Family Tree into Heritable (GEDCOM Guide)

Q: What if I import the same file twice?

Heritable tracks source IDs from your GEDCOM file. If you re-import the same file later, the system will recognize the people it has already created and skip them, preventing duplicate entries.

Bring your existing family tree with you—no lock-in, no lost data

Heritable makes it easy to bring your existing family tree with you—without locking it behind a proprietary platform. If your tree lives on Ancestry, MyHeritage, or another genealogy service, you can export it as a GEDCOM file and import it directly into Heritable.

This guide walks you through the process step by step.

What is a GEDCOM file?

A GEDCOM file is a standard file format used to store family tree data—people, relationships, dates, and places—in a way that works across genealogy tools.

Most major genealogy platforms support GEDCOM export, which means you always retain a portable copy of your family history.

How do I download my GEDCOM file from Ancestry?

Ancestry allows you to export your family tree as a GEDCOM file at any time.

Note: You must be the owner of the Ancestry family tree in order to export it. If you are not the owner, send these instructions to the person who is, and ask them to export the GEDCOM file for you.

Steps:

Log in to your Ancestry account.
Open the family tree you want to export.
From the 3-dot icon in the left toolbar, click Tree Settings.
Scroll down and select Export tree.
Click Export and download the GEDCOM file to your computer.
If the download is a .zip file, unzip it first to get the .ged file inside.

Ancestry's official instructions: Uploading and Downloading Trees

How do I download my GEDCOM file from MyHeritage?

MyHeritage also supports GEDCOM exports from your family site.

Steps:

Log in to MyHeritage and go to your family site.
In the header, hover over Family Tree and click Manage trees.
Find the tree in the list and on the right, under the Actions column for that tree, click Export to GEDCOM.
Download the GEDCOM file to your device.

MyHeritage's official help article: How do I download a GEDCOM file?

How do I import my GEDCOM file into Heritable?

Once you have your GEDCOM file, importing it into Heritable takes just a moment.

Steps:

Log in to Heritable.
Click the hamburger menu (☰) in the top-right corner and select Import Family Tree.
Click Choose File or drag and drop your .ged file into the upload area.
Review matches: Heritable will analyze your file and show you potential matches for people already in your archive.
Confirm and Import: Choose whether to merge matches or create new records, then click confirm.

That's it—no extra configuration required.

What happens after I import my family tree?

After the import is complete:

✓Your family tree will appear inside Heritable
✓All people and relationships are preserved
✓Each person's record will show their connections (parents, partners, children, etc.)
✓You can begin adding photos, documents, audio, and stories to each individual

Your tree becomes a living archive—not just a diagram.

Frequently asked questions

Will my original data be changed or deleted?

No. Importing a GEDCOM file into Heritable does not modify or delete your data on Ancestry, MyHeritage, or any other platform. You're simply creating a copy—one that you fully own and control.

Can I export my family tree from Heritable later?

Yes. Heritable is built around the idea of long-term stewardship and data portability. You can export your family tree and data at any time. Your family history should never be trapped behind a paywall or platform.

What if I don't have a GEDCOM file yet?

If your family tree exists on another service, follow the export instructions above. If you're starting fresh, you can build your tree directly in Heritable and add people manually over time.

What if I import the same file twice?

Don't worry about creating a mess. Heritable tracks "source IDs" from your GEDCOM file. If you re-import the same file later, the system will recognize the people it has already created and skip them, preventing duplicate entries.

Need help?

If you run into issues during import—or aren't sure whether your file is supported—reach out to us. We're happy to help you bring your family history home.

Ready to start your family archive?

Heritable gives your family's photos, videos, and stories a safe, private home that's built to last.

Get Started