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Frequently Asked Questions About RootsTech

Frequently Asked Questions About RootsTech, Relatives at RootsTech, FamilySearch Labs, FamilySearch Chat

General Information

What is RootsTech?

RootsTech is a global family history event where people of all ages can learn to discover, share, and celebrate their family connections through technology. It offers something for everyone, regardless of their experience in family history or technology. Visit the RootsTech website to view frequently asked questions about RootsTech, including when it is and how much it costs.

 

How do I register for RootsTech?

There are two options available for registration at RootsTech by FamilySearch. Select from the online or in-person experiences available.

Steps (Website)

Online Registration

  1. For online pass registration, select the Register with FamilySearch Account option or the Register Now option.

    • If you are registering for RootsTech with your FamilySearch account, have your FamilySearch username and password available.

      Note: You must have an existing account to use this option. If you do not already have a FamilySearch account but would like to sign up for one and use it in the registration process, click the Create a FamilySearch Account option.

    • Individuals who do not want to register for RootsTech using a FamilySearch account and who do not want to create a FamilySearch account must select the Register Now option.

  2. Complete the registration form.

    Note: For those using their FamilySearch account to register, some of the form fields are auto-populated.

  3. Be sure to select your Country or Location in the appropriate box.

    Note: For individuals registering without a FamilySearch account, you must check the box next to "I agree to the FamilySearch Terms of Use and have read the Privacy Notice."

  4. If you wish to receive messages from RootsTech by FamilySearch, click to check the box. This is not required.
  5. Click the Register button.

In-person Salt Lake City Registration

  1. For in-person pass registration, select the Register with FamilySearch Account option or the Register Now option.

    • If you are registering for RootsTech with your FamilySearch account, have your FamilySearch username and password available.

      Note: You must have an existing account to use this option. If you do not already have a FamilySearch account but would like to sign up for one and use it in the registration process, go to FamilySearch.org and, in the upper right corner of the home page, click Sign Up.

      • Individuals who do not want to register for RootsTech using a FamilySearch account and who do not want to create a FamilySearch account must select the Register Now option.

  2. Complete the registration form.

    Note: For those using their FamilySearch account to register, some of the form fields are auto-populated.

  3. Be sure to select your Country or Location in the appropriate box.
  4. Enter your mobile number.
  5. If applicable, include any titles, accreditations, or honors you have achieved. This is not a required field.
  6. If you wish to receive messages from RootsTech by FamilySearch, click to check the box. This is not required.

  7. Click the Next button.

    Note: For individuals registering without a FamilySearch account, you must check the box next to "I agree to the FamilySearch Terms of Use and have read the Privacy Notice."

     

How do I create a RootsTech schedule?

After you have registered for RootsTech, navigate to the RootsTech Home Page. In the upper right, select the RootsTech Event tab and click Class Schedule, or scroll down the page to the Create Your Class Schedule tile and click Build Your Schedule. You can also access the schedule by navigating to Rootstech.org/schedule.

The schedule page contains the following options:

Full Schedule tab – the entire session schedule at RootsTech.

My Schedule tab – the sessions you have added to your schedule.

Suggested Filters – the option to search by Skill Level, Speaker, and Topic.

Even More Classes – the option to browse the library of available sessions.

Session Type – the option to select Online, In Person, or All Sessions and the number of sessions available for each type (in parentheses).

When – the days during RootsTech when each type of session is available with the number of sessions available for each day (in parentheses).

Select a Session Type and select When by clicking on the associated buttons for available sessions. For example, to see Friday's In Person schedule, click the In Person button (Session Type) and Friday (When). Once you have selected a session type and day, click the drop-down arrow for each date and time to see available sessions. Each session description contains the session type and skill level as part of the header.

Add a session to your schedule by clicking the + Schedule button.

Note: You can share the session information on Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Kakao Talk, Line, or email by clicking the Share option at the lower right of the session description.

After adding a session to your schedule, the session appears under the My Schedule tab. You can view your scheduled sessions for each day using the When buttons. The total number of sessions you have scheduled appears (in parentheses).

If you would like to learn more about the presenter for each session, click the hyperlink containing the presenter's name under the session title. You can also read more about the session by clicking the More hyperlink under the session description. The date and time of the session is indicated in the upper right of the session description.

To access the on-demand library, click Browse the Library on the Even More Classes button. Use the Search bar to find a session by keyword or phrase, or use the Active Filters to enhance your search. Some suggested filters include:

  • Content Type
  • Country or Location
  • Language
  • Session Type
  • Skill Level
  • Speaker
  • Sponsor or Exhibitor
  • Year

Use the drop-down arrow for each filter to enhance your search. To view all on-demand sessions available in the library, click the View Full Catalog button.

 

How do I use the RootsTech in-person app?

The RootsTech in-person app is designed to facilitate your in-person experience at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah. The app is available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. Your device must be compatible with iOS 15 and higher or Android 11 and higher. If your device is not compatible with those operating systems, you can create your in-person schedule on the web by clicking here.

The in-person app includes an option to create a RootsTech schedule, view the Salt Palace map, find information about speakers and exhibitors, learn what is available in the Expo Hall, and see other RootsTech attendees.

If you are unable to build your schedule using the app, build it on the web so it syncs to your app for the in-person experience.

Note: Creating a schedule at RootsTech.org/schedule will not sync with the app.

While the app is designed for the in-person RootsTech experience, online attendees can also create a RootsTech schedule where you can see sessions by type (online, in person, or all sessions) and see when those sessions are held. Click the Full Schedule tab for the entire RootsTech schedule. Once you have selected sessions and added them to your schedule, you can view only those sessions by clicking the My Schedule tab.

You may also want to visit the RootsTech on-demand library where you can access hundreds of new sessions across dozens of languages.

 

How can I message relatives or friends?

Chat in Relatives at RootsTech

  1. View your list of relatives.
  2. Click the name of the relative.
  3. Select the Chat option.
  4. Type your message in the Message box.
  5. Click Send Message.

RootsTech Chat

  1. Click the Chat icon at the top right of the RootsTech website.
  2. Use the search box to find other users (if they have set permissions to be in the directory).
  3. Send a private chat during the RootsTech conference. These messages will appear in your Private Chats section and remain in your FamilySearch Chats after RootsTech ends.
  4. Find chat groups specific to RootsTech by toggling “Show event chats.” This includes Session Chats, RootsTech group chats, conversations with RootsTech staff, attendee-created groups, and chats with Expo Hall vendors.

FamilySearch Chat

Website:

  1. Sign in to your FamilySearch.org account.
  2. Click the overlapping speech bubbles (Chat) in the top right corner.
  3. Contact others at any time. Messages sent to individuals will be in the Private Chat section.

App:

  1. Open the Family Tree app on your device.
  2. Go to the More section.
  3. Find FamilySearch Chat and see the same messages as online if you have allowed notifications from the app. These messages will remain in the list of chats after RootsTech ends.

Note: Add your relatives to your contacts list to maintain connections after RootsTech ends.

 

Relatives at RootsTech General Information

What is Relatives at RootsTech?

Relatives at RootsTech is an online experience that shows if (and how) you are related to other FamilySearch users. To participate:

  1. Register for Relatives at RootsTech by going here: https://www.familysearch.org/connect.
  2. Update your FamilySearch profile information to join the event, and make sure you agree to share basic information in order to view your connections with other FamilySearch guests.
  3. Make sure your family is in the FamilySearch Family Tree. If you are brand new, try this: Guided Tree. For help adding a few individuals to Family Tree click here. To add many individuals from another database, click: Learn more. You can also find additional help by going to these Frequently Asked Questions.
  4. Visit the Relatives at RootsTech page (www.familysearch.org/connect) or the FamilySearch Family Tree mobile app to see any relatives and how you are related.

 

Is my information safe while using Relatives at RootsTech?

Yes, your information is protected and won’t be sold to third parties. Only the information you agree to share will be visible to other participants. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for additional details.

 

If I register for RootsTech, will I also be added to Relatives at RootsTech?

No, you must join Relatives at RootsTech separately here: https://www.familysearch.org/en/connect/.

 

Can I opt out of Relatives at RootsTech?

Yes, you can opt out, update your profile, or add a photo in your User Settings.

 

Can a mobile user get the banner back if he or she dismissed it once?

Yes, by reinstalling the app.

 

Can I print the relationships?

No, printing family relationships is not supported to protect privacy. Relatives at RootsTech is meant to promote social connections, not as a research tool.

 

Can I PRINT the relative list or the graph?

No, this is not supported. However, you can friend or message those users to save them to your contact list.

 

What does “Close Relative” mean?

A close relative is someone in your immediate or closely related extended family, such as a parent, sibling, child, spouse, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, grandparent, or grandchild. For privacy reasons, less information is shown for living relatives.

 

What do these other numbers on the page mean?

  • Total Number of Relatives Found: Shows the total number of relatives that have joined Relatives at RootsTech.
  • List of Closest Relatives: View your top existing relatives who have also joined Relatives at RootsTech. You can see your relationship, send messages, and add them to your Contacts List.
  • Same Surname: Shows how many attendees share your surname. You can search for other last names by clicking the “Check Another Last Name” button.

  • Total Number of Participants: Shows the total number of attendees participating in Relatives at RootsTech worldwide.

     

Does the Relatives at RootsTech Map show exact locations?

No, it shows general locations to protect privacy. Location pins are placed in the middle of each country, state, or province based on user profiles.

 

How do I connect with other users with the same last name?

During the RootsTech conference, you can search for other users who have joined Relatives at RootsTech and see how you are related. Add them to your Contacts List and message them.

 

How do I add a relative to my Contacts list on FamilySearch?

  1. On the View Relatives page, click the name of the relative.
  2. Click the + Contact button.
  3. A notification will confirm the addition.
  4. View your contacts list by clicking your name at the top right of the FamilySearch screen and selecting Contacts.

 

How do I remove someone from my contacts list?

  1. On your contacts page, find the name of the person to remove.
  2. Click the name and select Remove Contact.

 

What is the benefit of adding someone as a contact?

Adding someone as a contact helps you keep track of people you want to stay connected with. After the conference, the Contact List will remain available for a few weeks.

 

What can I do with the CONTACT list?

The contact list has a limit of 150. It remains available for a few weeks after RootsTech to finalize connections. Use the FamilySearch chat service to keep in contact with other users after the event.

 

Where can I change the photo used for myself for Relatives at RootsTech?

Change your photo here: https://www.familysearch.org/identity/settings/profile

 

Is there a way to see more than 300 relatives?

Yes, by searching by location. Select a different location to see a new list of 300 relatives.

 

Is it possible to search Relatives at RootsTech to find family that are related through a spouse? (In-laws at RootsTech?)

No, it is not possible.

 

Can I see all the relatives of ONE ancestor down to all the living users?

Yes, on the mobile apps, there is a way to filter or group relatives from a common ancestor, but it will ONLY filter from the 300 limit in the current list.

 

Why do users who are siblings or a parent or child show as 2nd cousin or such?

This can happen if living persons are added differently in each user’s private space. Ensure that relationships are correctly added and edited in your FamilySearch account.

Tip: To stay in touch with relatives found through Relatives at RootsTech, send them a message. This will add them to your FamilySearch Chat, keeping them in your inbox until you delete them. This way, you don’t need to worry about the RootsTech Chat shutting off.

 

Relatives at RootsTech Troubleshooting

Why can't I see more than 300 relatives?

Due to the international reach of RootsTech Connect and the number of attendees, we limit the number of family relationships shown to each attendee. You can increase your results by changing the location in Relatives by Location or using the Search feature to see 300 results based on your query. You can also view your Relatives by Ancestor, which shows up to 300 results for each ancestor.

 

I have a “full” tree. Why do I have NO relatives, few, or only from one parent?

Even if you have a full tree, it might not be connected to a larger tree needed to find many relatives. Other issues that can limit your connections include:

  • Depth of your family lines.
  • Connection of your lines to various parts of the world or ethnicities.
  • Accuracy of relationships in your tree.

 

I had many relatives, and now I see NONE or very few.  What changed?

Someone may have updated individuals in the tree, such as merging, changing parents, or removing relationships, which can change the relative path or cut off a connection to a large tree.

 

What if it says I am not related to any other RootsTech attendees?

You may not see many results if:

  • You need to join Relatives at RootsTech.
  • You haven’t added your family to the tree yet.
  • You need to add more generations.
  • There aren’t enough family trees submitted from your part of the world.

 

What if the information shown is wrong?

We use the relationship information from the global Family Tree on FamilySearch to calculate relationships. If the information is incorrect, you will see inaccuracies in Relatives at RootsTech. Update your family tree information here: www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/

 

I fixed my tree information. How long before I start seeing relationships?

It can take up to an hour to re-calculate relationships after updating person or relationship information in the global Family Tree on FamilySearch.

 

Why do my parents have more relatives than I do?

We compare 10 generations of your family tree to 10 generations of each attendee’s tree. Your parents may have more relatives because their ancestry contains one more generation than yours. The number of relatives expands exponentially with each generation.

 

Why do I only see relatives from one parent or when I choose the maternal filter?

The maternal or paternal filter only applies to the top 300 people in the list. If relatives are more closely connected on one side, they might crowd out the other side. Selecting a specific location or state can help balance this.

 

Why do I see only one side of my family if I have birth and adopted parents?

The service searches all lines to find the closest path for relatives. Setting a preferred parent will not filter or sort by that line.

 

Why did the number of my relatives decrease?

If system performance slows due to many participants, we reduce the number of generations scanned, which may lower the number of relatives shown. Your data is still preserved in Family Tree.

 

Why does it show DECEASED in the relative graph?

To protect privacy, deceased persons that are 1 generation above a living person will show “Deceased.”

 

Why does it not show portraits for users under 18?

To protect youth privacy, portraits for users under 18 are not displayed.

 

Why is the location count off by 1 or a few at times?

This is due to changes in the tree or users opting in and out between relative refreshes, which happen about every 30 minutes.

 

Why is Relatives at RootsTech not working?

If you’re having issues on your mobile device, try these steps:

  1. Download the free FamilySearch Family Tree mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, open it, and create an account or sign in.
  2. If already installed, close and re-open the app.
  3. Ensure you are on the latest version of the app.
  4. Tap the Find Relatives at RootsTech blue banner at the top of the app (available until March 31, 2024).

For in-person attendees at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City:

  1. Ensure location services are allowed for the FamilySearch Family Tree app:
    • iOS: Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services (ensure it is on) -> Family Tree (allow precise location).
    • Android: Settings -> Location (ensure it is on) -> App Permissions -> Family Tree (allow precise location).
  2. Close and re-open the Family Tree app.

If you can’t see the blue banner on iOS:

  1. Clear your cache in the iOS Family Tree app:
    • More -> Help -> Reset all Data and Settings.

 

New features announced at RootsTech

FamilySearch Labs

FamilySearch Labs can be found here:FamilySearch Labs

 

How do I find the new Full Text Search?

At RootsTech 2024, FamilySearch announced a new full-text search product that can help you find historical records using artificial intelligence (AI).

Unlock the Power of Full-Text Searching for Historical Records

  1. Go to FamilySearch Labs.
  2. Sign in to your FamilySearch account.
  3. Click “Try It” on the “Expand your search with Full Text” card. If you have previously tried it, click "Go To Experiment."
  4. Watch the video for guidance.
  5. Share your feedback using the Feedback button or in the community group.
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