Before you delete
Deleting a tree on Ancestry is generally treated as permanent, so slow down before you click. Ancestry’s wording and layout change from time to time, but the warning stays the same: you may not be able to get the tree back.
A few things to do first:
- Export a backup. Download a GEDCOM file from your tree settings. See how to print or download your Ancestry tree for the steps and the limits of an export.
- Check who else uses it. If you shared the tree, other people lose access once it is deleted. Reviewing who can see what in a shared tree can remind you who is involved.
- Check your DNA links. If an AncestryDNA test is linked to a person in this tree, think about what you want your matches to see afterward. See how to link your DNA results to a tree if you plan to attach the test to a different one.
Steps to delete a tree
The usual route is:
- Sign in to Ancestry.
- Open the Trees menu and choose the tree you want to remove.
- Open the tree name menu and choose Tree settings (or similar).
- Look near the bottom of the settings page for the option to delete the tree.
- Confirm. You may be asked to type your password or confirm in another way.
If you cannot find the option, check that you are the tree owner. Only owners can delete a tree, and you may need to use a computer’s web browser rather than the app.
What happens to the tree and DNA results
Deleting the tree removes the people, facts and attached items you built in it. It does not by itself delete your DNA test results, which are managed separately in your DNA settings. After a tree is deleted, a DNA test that was linked to it will no longer be connected to a tree, so you may want to link it to a different one. For linking, see how to link to someone’s tree on Ancestry. Ancestry’s help pages explain what is retained, so check the current details if privacy is a concern.
Deleting one person or branch instead
If you only want to remove an error, you do not need to delete the whole tree. Open the person’s profile and use the edit or delete option for that person. Be careful if the person has descendants, because removing someone can leave a branch disconnected. A duplicate person is better merged than deleted. For adding people back, see how to add a person to your Ancestry tree.
Removing a tree shared with you
If someone else shared their tree with you and you want it gone from your list, go to your trees, open the section for trees shared with you, and use the option to remove it. That generally removes it from your view and does not delete the owner’s tree. You cannot delete another person’s tree.
Deleting the account vs tree vs canceling
These are three separate actions:
- Deleting a tree removes that tree.
- Canceling a subscription stops paid access. The effect on your trees varies, so check Ancestry’s current policy and export a copy before canceling.
- Closing or deleting the account removes your account and the data attached to it, which is a bigger step. Ancestry support or the account settings page explains how, and it may involve your DNA data, so read the options with care.
FamilySearch and Findmypast
Other sites work differently. On FamilySearch, a shared global family tree is edited by many users, so you remove a person’s connections or details rather than the whole tree. On Findmypast, trees are created per account, and the help pages describe how to remove one. Search each site’s help center for current steps.