RootsMagic App for iPhone and iPad

The free RootsMagic app shows the family tree you build in RootsMagic on your computer, right on your iPhone or iPad. Send your tree to it through Dropbox, then look through your family wherever you go.

The RootsMagic app on an iPhone and an iPad, showing a pedigree and a list of surnames

Features

This viewer is designed as a companion product to RootsMagic, the award-winning desktop genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy.

If you don't own RootsMagic for the desktop but would like to use the free viewer app, be sure to download our free version and take it for a spin. See for yourself why Family Tree Magazine called RootsMagic, "Probably the best all-around genealogy program, RootsMagic offers a winning combination of features for both casual and serious genealogists."

Files:

Shows the family tree you build in RootsMagic on your computer
Send your tree to your iPhone or iPad through Dropbox, right from RootsMagic
Keep as many family trees as you want right on your device
Use RootsMagic Essentials, free for Windows and Mac, to bring in a tree from Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, PAF, or a GEDCOM file, then send it to the app

Views:

Pedigree, Family, Descendant, and Individual Views to quickly explore your family tree
Browse people by surname and given names
Search ancestors by name or record number
View media, notes, and sources for people, families, events, and facts

Lists:

Source list
To-do lists
Research Logs
Media Lists
Address Book
Repository List
Correspondence List
Place List

Tools:

Perpetual calendar
Date calculator
Relationship calculator
Soundex calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Which devices does the app run on?
The RootsMagic app runs on iPhone and iPad.
Are you working on the app?
Yes. We're working on updates to the RootsMagic app. Sign up for our newsletter to hear about them first.
How do I install the RootsMagic App?
1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad
2. Search for "RootsMagic"
3. Tap "Get" to install the free app
How do I copy my family tree onto my device?
RootsMagic on your computer saves a copy of your tree to Dropbox, in the format the app reads, and the app downloads it from there. When you start the app the first time, it explains how. The steps are also in the next question.
How do I copy my data to my device using Dropbox?
There are 2 steps to copying your file to your device: 1) copying your file from the computer to Dropbox, and 2) copying your file from Dropbox to your device.
- Copying your file from your computer to Dropbox
  1. Open your file in RootsMagic on your computer
  2. On the File page, choose "Export Data", then "Dropbox" (RootsMagic 8 through 12)
  3. Sign in to Dropbox and give it permission to upload your file
- Copying your file from Dropbox to your device
  1. Select the "File" option at the bottom of the app, then select the "Dropbox" option that appears.
  2. If you haven't previously connected to Dropbox from the RootsMagic app:
    1. You will be directed to Dropbox to sign in
    2. Dropbox asks you to authorize the RootsMagic app. Tap Allow.
    3. Dropbox makes an Apps folder with a RootsMagic folder inside it.
  3. Select your file from the list. Depending on the size of the file it may take a minute or two to download the database to your device. A message will pop up when the file is finished downloading to let you know you are ready to use the database
  4. The file should now show up under the "On Device" tab in the RootsMagic app. This means it has been copied to your device and doesn't need to be reloaded from Dropbox unless you change the file on your computer.
  5. If you edit the database on your computer (and export it to Dropbox again, as above), the app will let you know that the files have been modified and need to be re-downloaded to your device. After a file has been downloaded you can then access the file from the "On Device" tab.
Do I need to be connected to the internet to access my database?
You only need to be connected to the internet to initially download your database through Dropbox. Once you have downloaded your data file, it remains on your device and you can access it without being connected to the internet.
Can I add or edit data in the app?
Not at this time. The RootsMagic app is a "reader" which allows you to take and view your data.
Are my pictures available in the app?
The app will display thumbnails of your images (which are stored in your RootsMagic file), but doesn't have access to the full resolution copies of your images.
Which versions of RootsMagic work with the app?
RootsMagic 8 through 12. On the File page, choose "Export Data", then "Dropbox", and RootsMagic saves your tree in the format the app reads.
Will the app open RootsMagic backup files or GEDCOM files?
No. The app opens the copy of your tree that RootsMagic saves to Dropbox. To use a backup, a GEDCOM file, or a file from another genealogy program, open or import it in RootsMagic on your computer first, then export it to Dropbox.
What should I do if my tree doesn't show up in the app?
Make sure you sent it from RootsMagic with "Export Data", then "Dropbox", rather than copying a backup or GEDCOM file into Dropbox yourself.
How do I get support for the App?
The app is free, so we can't offer phone, chat, or email support for it. The answers on this page cover the most common questions, and the RootsMagic Community is a friendly place to ask other RootsMagic users.