How do I access the settings for Family search to allow another user to view my tree?

BethJoseph1 · January 17, 2022

How do I access the settings for Family Search to allow another member to view my family tree?

Brett . · January 17, 2022

Beth

Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.

I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...

Just in passing ...

Please be aware, that OTHERS, can ALREADY, "View" your "Ancestral" Lines; but, with the "Caveat", that they CANNOT (and, will NOT) be able to 'see' (nor, access) the "Living" individuals/persons, that reside, in the "Private Spaces", of your 'FamilySearch' Account - for the REASON of "Privacy".

In other words ...

They can 'see' (and, access) ALL the "Deceased" individuals/persons; but, they cannot 'see' (nor, access) ANY of the "Living" individuals/persons.

One thing that you CAN do, to enable specific Users/Patrons, the ability to 'see' if there is a "Connection"/"Link" between you both, is for BOTH of you to "Enable" what is termed "Relationship Viewing".

Such is NOT permanent; and, can be turned "On" or "OFF", at any given time, by either User/Patron.

[ Plus, you DO NOT 'see', the "Details" of the "Living"; as, they just become "Place Holders" ... ]

Here is a "Knowledge Article", in 'FamilySearch':

Relationship Viewing: How do I turn on or off the option to view my relationship to other users?

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-turn-on-or-off-the-option-to-view-my-relationship-to-other-users

I hope, that this may help/assist, somewhat.

Now ...

That Said ...

As an aside

Just to that you are fully aware ...

Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...

------------------

Most new (and, some old) Users/Patrons DO NOT understand the basic 'nature' and 'premise', of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.

Please let me explain ...

[ And, please bear with me; as, I am VERY 'Verbose' ... that is my 'style' ... ]

We do not have our OWN "Tree", in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.

We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.

The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is NOT like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).

We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees', in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.

We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons, in "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.

And, most importantly ...

We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.

The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any "Registered" User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.

You can certainly "Merge"/"Combine" any "Deceased" individual/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', with another "Deceased" individual/person, in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', regardless of who the User/Patron was, that initially created those "Deceased" individuals/persons; as, they DO NOT reside with the User/Patron, who initially created them - they are "Public".

In fact, you can ONLY 'see' "Deceased" individuals/persons, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'; except, with this 'rider', that you can ALSO only see "Living" individual/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', that YOU created; as, they reside in your "Private Spaces".

No other User/Patron, can 'see' ANY "Living" individuals/persons, that were created by another User/Patron; as, they ONLY reside in the "Private Spaces", of the User/Patron who created them.

We CANNOT even 'see', the ACTUAL Record, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', of our IMMEDIATE Family (eg. Spouse; Children; Parents; Siblings; ETC; Etc; etc), if they are "Living"; and, they have their own 'FamilySearch' Account.

Of course, you can create your "Living" Family members; and, record them in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'; but, they will ONLY be seen by you:

▬ You cannot "Share" them with any other User/Patron.

▬ You cannot "Merge"/'Combine" them, with any other "Living" individual/person, residing in the "Private Spaces", of another User//Patron.

There is CURRENTLY, no mechanism, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', for Users/Patrons, to "Share"; or, "give permission" to "Share", the "Living" individuals/persons, in their own "Private Spaces", with/between other/another User(s)/Patron(s).

There are a myriad of "Privacy" Laws, within the many various, Countries; and, Unions, throughout the World - it is a nightmare to negotiate.

The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is used in many, Countries; and, Unions, throughout the World; and, as such, must adhere to the myriad of "Privacy" Laws, throughout the World.

Hence, "Privacy" is one of the reasons that we cannot "Share" the "Living" individuals/persons in our own "Private Spaces" - it is NOT the ONLY reason; but, certainly has a bearing on the matter.

Another factor, is that such would have to be 'Coded'/'Programmed', into the Programme, that is the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.

'Yes', these "Living" individuals/persons, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', WILL, in fact, in many (most) cases will be "Duplicated" - unfortunately a necessary situation that currently cannot be avoided.

I know, that there are "Duplicates", of the "Living" ME - at least, one for my Wife and each of our Children, not to mention my other ("Living") extended Family members.

Here are some "Knowledge Articles", in 'FamilySearch', in regard to "Private Spaces"; and, "Living" individuals/persons: