📖 User Guide

Before installing Family Tree Maker 2024, ensure your system meets these requirements:

Windows: Windows 10 (64-bit) or later including Windows 11, 900 MB disk space, 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
Mac: macOS Big Sur (11) or later, 950 MB disk space, 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)

✅ Internet connection required for activation and updates.

Follow these steps to download Family Tree Maker 2024:

1. Visit our Download Center
2. Log in with your account credentials
3. Click on "Download FTM 2024" button
4. Save the installer file to your computer
5. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions

⚠️ Important: Back up your existing trees before installing!

Installing Family Tree Maker 2024 is straightforward:

Windows:
1. Double-click the downloaded .exe file
2. If prompted by User Account Control, click "Yes"
3. Follow the installation wizard steps
4. Choose installation location (default recommended)
5. Click "Install" and wait for completion

Mac:
1. Double-click the downloaded .dmg file
2. Drag the FTM icon to the Applications folder
3. Open from Applications folder

✅ Once installed, launch FTM 2024 and activate with your license key.

When you first launch FTM 2024:

1. Enter your license key to activate
2. Create or sign in to your MacKiev account
3. Choose to start a new tree or open an existing one
4. Set up TreeVault cloud backup (recommended)
5. Explore the Plan workspace to get started

🎯 Pro Tip: Take the Co-Pilot 2024 tour for personalized guidance!

TreeVault is a cloud service that automatically backs up your family tree and allows you to view changes in real time on your smartphone or tablet.

Key Benefits:
• Automatic cloud backups
• Real-time sync across devices
• View changes on mobile apps
• Safe & secure data storage
• FREE subscription with FTM 2024

🔒 Your data is encrypted and private.

Setting up TreeVault is easy:

For new users:
1. Open FTM 2024 and go to Plan workspace
2. Click on "Set Up TreeVault"
3. Sign in with your MacKiev account
4. Select the tree you want to backup
5. Wait for initial sync to complete

For FTM 2019 users:
1. Open your Source Tree in FTM 2024
2. It will automatically convert to TreeVault
3. Your Antenna Tree will link automatically

📱 Download FTM Connect app to view on mobile!

TreeVault offers flexible pricing plans:

Base Plan (Data Only):
• $1.99/month (billed monthly)
• $1.50/month (billed annually - $18/year)

Media Plus Plan:
• $3.99/month (billed monthly)
• $2.00/month (billed annually - $24/year)
• Includes photo & media storage

💡 FREE for FTM 2024 users!

Connect Workspace allows you to share your family tree with relatives and collaborate on research.

Features:
• Share your tree with family members
• Relatives can add Relative Hint™ sticky notes
• Fact-check and verify information
• Collaborate in real-time
• Private and secure sharing

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Perfect for family reunions and collaborative genealogy!

Getting started with Connect Workspace:

1. Open FTM 2024 and go to Connect Workspace
2. Click "Share Your Tree"
3. Enter email addresses of relatives
4. Set permission levels (view/edit)
5. Send invitations
6. Relatives receive email with access link

📝 Tip: Use Relative Hint™ sticky notes to get feedback on specific facts!

Turn Back Time 5000 is a powerful feature that allows you to roll back up to 5000 changes with a single click.

How it works:
• Every change is recorded in the change log
• You can undo mistakes made weeks ago
• Perfect for fixing accidental deletions
• Restore your tree to any previous state

⏰ Your tree has a time machine!

AlbumWALK is a mobile app that lets you create interactive talking photos.

Features coming soon:
• Record memories and embed in photos
• Tap-talk technology for interactive photos
• Share talking photos with family
• Preserve family stories forever
• Available in a free FTM 2024 update

📸 Turn your photos into living memories!

Restore old family photos with advanced repair tools:

Tools available:
• Cropping - Frame the perfect image
• Dust removal - Clean up old scanned photos
• Scratch repair - Fix damaged photos
• Color correction - Bring life back to faded photos
• Red-eye removal

🔄 Safe: Original photo is always saved unchanged!

Easy on the Eyes is designed to reduce eye strain during long genealogy sessions.

How it works:
• Enlarges areas of the People workspace
• Automatically zooms in while you work
• Returns to normal size when done
• Reduces eye fatigue
• Perfect for extended research sessions

👓 Your eyes will thank you!

Co-Pilot 2024 offers personalized help and guidance:

Features:
• Brief diagnostic test after installation
• Personalized setup guidance
• Help with TreeVault configuration
• Connect Workspace tutorial
• AlbumWALK setup assistance
• FREE and completely optional

🧭 Your personal genealogy assistant!

Create beautiful family history books with Family Book Creator:

Features:
• Design professional family history books
• Export to PDF or print
• Include photos and documents
• Customizable layouts
• Compatible with FTM 2024

📚 Latest release compatible! Go to Help > Check for Updates in FBC 2019.

Create stunning family tree charts with Charting Companion:

Features:
• Professional genealogy charts
• Print large format charts
• Customizable designs
• Export to multiple formats
• Compatible with FTM 2024

📊 Current release (Version 8) is fully compatible!

Sync your FTM 2024 tree with Ancestry online:

Requirements:
• FTM 2017, 2019, or 2024 edition
• Active Ancestry account
• Internet connection

How to sync:
1. Open your tree in FTM 2024
2. Click "Sync" in the toolbar
3. Sign in to your Ancestry account
4. Choose sync direction (upload/download)
5. Wait for sync to complete

🔄 You can sync to both laptop and desktop at the same time!

Protect your family tree with proper backups:

Recommended Strategy:
1. Cloud Backup: Use TreeVault for automatic cloud backups
2. Local Backup: Save .ftm files to your computer
3. External Drive: Keep a copy on USB or external hard drive
4. Before Updates: Always backup before installing updates

✅ Pro Tip: Create fresh full backups before any major upgrade!

Problem: Installation fails or stops
Solutions:
• Ensure you have administrator/root access
• Disable antivirus temporarily during install
• Check system requirements
• Free up disk space (need 900+ MB)
• Redownload installer if corrupted

Problem: License key not accepted
Solution: Check for typos, ensure you're using correct key for your version.

Problem: TreeVault sync fails
Solutions:
• Check your internet connection
• Verify you're logged into MacKiev account
• Ensure TreeVault subscription is active
• Wait and retry (might be server overload)

Problem: Ancestry sync fails
Solutions:
• Confirm Ancestry account is active
• Check tree permissions on Ancestry
• Try syncing a smaller tree first

Optimize FTM 2024 for better performance:

Quick Tips:
• Close other applications while using FTM
• Reduce media file sizes (optimize photos)
• Keep your tree size manageable
• Update to latest version (v25.0.2+)
• Reboot your computer occasionally

For large trees:
• Consider upgrading RAM (4GB+ recommended)
• Use TreeVault for offloading media storage
• Break into smaller tree files if possible

No, Family Tree Maker is a paid software. The full digital download costs around $79.95 for new users. However, upgrade discounts are available for existing users starting at $29.95.

Yes! You can install FTM 2024 on both your desktop and laptop with a single license. For more than 2 computers, you need a Family Pack license.

Yes! FTM 2017, FTM 2019, and FTM 2024 are the only editions whose trees can sync with an Ancestry online tree.

Go to Help > Check for Updates within FTM 2024. The latest version is 25.0.2 which includes new features and bug fixes.