GEDCOM viewer
Open a .ged file exported from any genealogy program and read it here: every person, their dates and places, parents, partners,
children and siblings, and a four-generation ancestor chart. The file is read by your browser and is not uploaded to this website.
The viewer needs JavaScript, because the file is read in your browser rather than on a server.
You can still download the sample GEDCOM file or read the GEDCOM file guide.
What the viewer reads
- GEDCOM 5.5, 5.5.1 and 7.0 files in UTF-8 or UTF-16, with names in any script. Older Windows (ANSI) files are read with a warning to check accented names.
- People (INDI): names, sex, birth, death, burial, occupation, residence and other events, notes and source citations.
- Families (FAM): partners, marriage and divorce, and each child’s relationship to each parent, including adopted and foster children.
- Sources (SOUR): titles and citations.
What it does not do
- Photos and other media are not inside a GEDCOM file (only file names are), so they cannot be shown.
- Program-specific custom tags (starting with an underscore) are listed as “could not be read exactly” rather than guessed.
- ANSEL files containing accented or non-Latin letters are refused rather than shown with garbled names; re-export them from the original program as UTF-8.
- Files up to 25 MB and 50,000 people. The list shows 300 people at a time, so use search for larger files.
Your file stays on your device
The file is opened with your browser’s file picker and processed in a background worker on this page. Nothing is sent to the server, and closing the tab discards it. If you choose Open in the editor, a copy is saved as a new tree in this browser’s storage, where you can edit it, print it and download a backup. Your original file is never changed.
Try it with the sample
The sample is a GEDCOM 5.5.1 export of the fictional Hale family made by this website. It includes a second marriage, an adoption and names in Hindi and Urdu. Download the sample .ged file.
More about formats, versions and privacy: GEDCOM file guide.
GEDCOM viewer questions
What is a GEDCOM file?
A GEDCOM (.ged) file is a plain-text file for moving a family tree between genealogy programs and websites. It lists people, families, events and sources in a standard format that almost every genealogy program can read and write.
How do I open a GED file?
Choose the file with the viewer on this page. It is read in your browser and shows every person, family and date. To edit the tree, choose “Open in the editor”, which saves a copy as a new tree in your browser.
Is my GEDCOM file uploaded?
No. The file is read by your browser on your device and nothing is sent to this website’s server. Closing the tab discards it.
How do I get a GEDCOM file from my genealogy program?
Most genealogy programs and websites have an export or download option for GEDCOM in their tree settings or file menu. Choose UTF-8 if the program asks for a character set.
Why are photos missing from my GEDCOM file?
A GEDCOM file only names photo files; the pictures themselves are not inside it. Keep photos with a full backup from the program you use, or add them again in the editor.
Can I convert a GEDCOM file to a printable family tree?
Yes. Open it in the editor, then use Tools → Export and print to download a family tree, pedigree chart or fan chart as a PDF, PNG, JPEG or SVG.