Ancestry.com homepage on smartphone
Genealogy Tools

How to Use the Ancestry Mobile App To Research On the Go

Ever wished you could tackle your family history research during those spare moments throughout your day? Just think of the possibilities! While waiting at the doctor’s office or standing in line for coffee, you are researching ancestors on your smartphone. That smartphone is a powerful genealogy research tool. Let’s explore how to make the most of the Ancestry mobile app to turn those idle minutes into productive research time.

Why Take Your Genealogy Research Mobile?

For passionate family historians, every minute counts. While we’d all love to spend hours at our desks searching for our ancestors in the records, life often has other plans. That’s where mobile genealogy apps come into play, letting you carry your entire family tree right in your pocket.

Light green background with screenshot of Ancestry.com app.
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Getting Started with the Ancestry Mobile App

The Ancestry mobile app is available as a free download from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. While the app is free, you’ll need an Ancestry.com subscription to access most records and features. For detailed installation instructions and troubleshooting help, visit Ancestry’s Support Center .

When you first open the Ancestry app, you’ll be on the homepage. You will find access to learning opportunities, and tabs to check your hints and explore your DNA results. One of the most helpful sections is the one that shows where you left off in your research. This feature is particularly helpful for picking up exactly where you paused, whether that was reviewing hints for Great-Aunt Mary or documenting your grandfather’s census records.

Homepage of Ancestry.com app with "Pick up where you left off in a red circle

Navigating Your Family Tree

The mobile app adapts your family tree for your phone’s touchscreen. Here are the basic navigation features you’ll use most often:

  • Pinch to zoom in and out for a broader or closer view
  • Tap on any ancestor to view their profile and find other options such as search and profile editing.
  • Swipe to move through different branches of your tree

Making the Most of Short Research Sessions

Reviewing Hints

One of the most productive ways to use small pockets of time is reviewing hints. Here’s how:

  1. Select an ancestor from your tree
  2. Look for the green leaf icon indicating available hints
  3. Review each suggested record carefully
  4. Compare the information against what you already know
  5. Accept or reject hints based on your evaluation
Ancestry.com mobile app with profile choices.

Quick Profile Updates

The app makes it simple to update ancestor information on the go. You can:

  • Edit names, dates, and locations
  • Add new family members
  • Upload photos directly from your phone
  • Review and add source citations

See the app in action in this video:

Pro Tips for Mobile Research Success

Here are several strategies I’ve learned from using the Ancestry app for my research. These tips help maintain good research habits, even when you’re working from your phone:

  1. Verify Before Accepting: Never accept hints without reviewing the actual records. Remember: Those hints are just hints! They are not facts. You must verify the record is actually your ancestor’s. The app makes it easy to examine original documents by allowing you to zoom in on images.
  2. Use Targeted Searches: When you have specific research goals, use the app’s search function to look for particular records in specific locations.
  3. Stay Organized: Take advantage of waiting time to clean up your tree by correcting spelling errors or adding missing information.
  4. Save Important Finds: When you discover significant records, save them immediately to your ancestor’s profile so you can review them in detail later.

Making the Most of Document Views

The document viewer in the Ancestry mobile app is more sophisticated than many users realize. While it might seem like a simple image viewer at first glance, it actually is quite powerful. Understanding these capabilities can help you effectively you analyze historical documents on your mobile device. Here’s what you can do with the app’s document viewer:

  • Zoom in on historical documents
  • Pan across large census pages
  • Save images to review later
  • Add records to multiple family members’ profiles simultaneously

Best Practices for Mobile Research

There are several critical factors that can make or break your mobile research sessions. These best practices aren’t just helpful suggestions – they’re essential habits that will protect your research and ensure you’re making the most of your mobile genealogy experience. Before you get started on your next research session, make sure you’ve considered these important factors:

  1. Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection before diving into serious research.
  2. Battery Life: Consider keeping a portable charger handy for longer research sessions.
  3. Regular Syncing: Changes made in the app automatically sync with your online tree but double-check important updates.
  4. Storage Management: The app can use significant storage space with cached images and records, so monitor your phone’s available space.

Conclusion

The Ancestry mobile app help you use those scattered spare moments throughout your day to find your ancestors! By understanding how to use its features effectively, you can maintain momentum in your family history research, even during your busiest days.

Ready to take your research on the go? Start by downloading the Ancestry app and experimenting with these features during your next unexpected wait time. You might be surprised at how much you can accomplish in just a few minutes!

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