Free Genealogy Tutorials
Step-by-step tutorials to help you analyse your GEDCOM file, find missing records, detect errors, explore migration patterns, and plan DNA testing - all using GEDminer's free tools.
New to GEDminer? Start here with foundational guides on uploading, setting up, and understanding your GEDCOM file.
4 guides
A step-by-step walkthrough for uploading your GEDCOM file and getting instant insights into your family tree - demographics, errors, migration patterns, and research priorities.
Read guideMaster the Overview dashboard to quickly understand your tree's scope, completeness, and key patterns with demographic charts and statistics.
Read guideSetting a Home Person unlocks relationship labels, prioritised research suggestions, and personalised analysis across every tool in GEDminer.
Read guideExport analysis results, research plans, and findings as CSV spreadsheets and PDF reports for offline use, archive visits, and sharing with fellow researchers.
Read guideAdvanced strategies for finding hidden cousins, verifying connections, and solving genealogical puzzles.
5 guides
Uncover possible family connections hiding in plain sight by analysing shared surnames, birth locations, and overlapping timeframes across disconnected branches.
Read guideDiscover which census records your ancestors should appear in but haven't been found yet, and learn strategies for tracking them down.
Read guideLearn how to strategically plan DNA tests to get maximum genealogical value from your family tree research.
Read guideA practical, privacy-conscious guide to finding living relatives - through your existing family tree, DNA matches and the Kinship Explorer. Includes how to make first contact respectfully.
Read guideThe Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) is the framework that separates serious research from a collection of names. Here's the five-element standard, why each matters, and how to apply it.
Read guideKeep your family tree accurate and well-structured with data validation, cleanup, and structural analysis techniques.
4 guides
A practical guide to detecting impossible dates, missing records, duplicate entries, and other data quality issues in your GEDCOM family tree file.
Read guideLearn what connected components are, why your tree might have isolated individuals, and how to strengthen the structural integrity of your GEDCOM file.
Read guideOne wrong date, duplicate person, or bad merge can spread through a GEDCOM file and corrupt hundreds of downstream facts. Learn how genealogy errors propagate - and how to audit your tree before importing or sharing.
Read guideGEDCOM is the universal text-based format for family trees. GEDCOM-X is FamilySearch's modern JSON-based successor. Here's when to use each, what software supports them, and which one to share.
Read guideLearn to search, browse, and explore individuals, locations, occupations, family relationships, and place name standardisation.
5 guides
Master the People Directory to quickly find any ancestor by name, filter by dates, and explore your tree with powerful search and sorting tools.
Read guideDiscover where your ancestors lived, spot geographic patterns, and explore place hierarchies with the interactive Location Explorer map.
Read guideExplore the working lives of your ancestors - from farmers to factory workers, professionals to tradespeople - and understand the social history of your family.
Read guideMaster the Kinship Explorer to calculate relationships, find common ancestors, visualise family paths, and estimate expected shared DNA between relatives.
Read guideInconsistent place names cause mapping errors and missed connections. Learn how to identify and fix location formatting issues across your tree.
Read guideImprove your tree's data quality with error detection, duplicate finding, vital record sharpening, and connecting unlinked individuals.
4 guides
Discover how GEDminer analyses your tree to suggest the most valuable research opportunities, helping you prioritise where to focus your efforts.
Read guideThe Vital Sharpener helps you identify estimated, incomplete, or missing vital records and prioritise which ones to research first for maximum impact.
Read guideFind potential duplicate individuals in your tree using smart matching, compare their records side-by-side, and learn best practices for merging them.
Read guideDiscover individuals in your tree who aren't connected to any family. Learn why they're isolated and strategies for reconnecting them.
Read guideUncover research opportunities with migration analysis, passenger list searches, census gaps, DNA planning, and automated research plans.
4 guides
Discover where your ancestors came from and where they went. Visualise migration flows, identify patterns, and understand the historical context of family movements.
Read guideDiscover undocumented periods in your ancestors' lives where records might exist. The Gap Detector highlights timeline gaps and suggests what to search for.
Read guideLet GEDminer analyse your tree and generate a structured research plan. Get prioritised tasks, focused searches, and a clear roadmap for your genealogy work.
Read guideIdentify ancestors who likely arrived by ship, estimate migration windows, and learn proven strategies for finding passenger lists and immigration records.
Read guideUnderstand your tree at a glance with the dashboard, data quality scoring, and daily family event discoveries.
2 guides
See which family events - births, marriages, and deaths - happened on today's date in history, connecting you to your ancestors in a personal way.
Read guideLearn how GEDminer evaluates your tree's data quality, what the health score means, and practical steps to improve your tree's completeness and accuracy.
Read guideEssential knowledge for genealogists - from understanding GEDCOM files and census records to DNA matching, BMD records, and protecting your family data.
10 guides
Everything you need to know about the GEDCOM file format - its history, structure, how to create one, and what you can do with it using modern analysis tools.
Read guideNew to genealogy? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through starting your family tree research, from interviewing relatives to using online databases and free analysis tools.
Read guideCensus records are essential for genealogy research. Learn how to locate ancestors in census returns, interpret the columns and abbreviations, and use census data to extend your family tree.
Read guideDNA testing has revolutionised genealogy. Learn how to interpret centiMorgan values, understand relationship predictions, and use genetic genealogy to confirm or extend your family tree.
Read guideEven experienced researchers make these mistakes. Learn the 10 most common genealogy errors - from unsourced facts to name assumptions - and how GEDminer helps you catch them.
Read guideYou don't need expensive subscriptions to research your family tree. Here are the best free genealogy tools, databases, and resources available in 2026.
Read guideBirth, marriage, and death records are the backbone of genealogy research. Learn how to find BMD records, what they contain, and how to use them to build and verify your family tree.
Read guideYour family tree contains sensitive personal information. Learn about genealogy data privacy risks, how to protect your research, and why GEDminer's local-first approach keeps your data safe.
Read guideA plain-English glossary of every genealogy term you're likely to meet - from Ahnentafel and BMD to Sosa numbers, endogamy, GEDCOM, kinship and Y-DNA. Bookmark and reference as you research.
Read guideA neutral overview of the modern genealogy software landscape: desktop tree programs and specialised analysis tools, and how they fit together.
Read guide5 guides
Combining two family trees is one of the most error-prone tasks in genealogy. This guide walks through a safe merge workflow using GEDminer to spot duplicates, conflicting dates, and overlapping branches before you commit.
Read guideIf accented characters, apostrophes, or non-Latin scripts look broken in your family tree, the problem is almost always character encoding. Here is how to diagnose and fix it.
Read guideA GEDCOM that won’t load can feel catastrophic. Most "corrupted" files are actually salvageable with a few targeted fixes. Here is the diagnostic workflow.
Read guideEvery genealogist hits a brick wall. The difference between solving one and giving up is method. Here is a repeatable workflow for cracking even the most stubborn ancestor.
Read guideTracing women in historical records is genealogy on hard mode. Surnames change, legal records ignore them, and parish registers reduce them to "wife of". Here is how to find them anyway.
Read guide2 guides
A surname is rarely just one name - spellings drift, branches scatter, and patterns emerge only when you map the whole picture. Here is how to use surname distribution analysis to drive deeper research.
Read guideAI can transcribe handwriting, translate Latin baptisms, and brainstorm research strategies - but it will also confidently invent ancestors that never existed. Here is how to use it well.
Read guide3 guides
Irish genealogy lost much of its civil and parish records in 1922, but more survives than most people think. Here is a practical workflow for Irish family trees.
Read guideScotland has some of the richest genealogical records in the world - if you know where to look. This guide covers the OPRs, statutory records, censuses, and how to plan Scottish research.
Read guideResearching German ancestors means navigating shifting borders, two main religions, and Gothic handwriting. This guide explains the key records and how to use GEDminer to organise them.
Read guide3 guides
An undated photograph can be placed within a 5-10 year window using clothing styles, mount type, and photographer details. Here is how to date your family photos systematically.
Read guideGenealogy generates hundreds of files, screenshots, and notes. A simple organisation system - plus regular GEDCOM analysis - keeps your research efficient and shareable.
Read guideSource citations turn a family tree into evidence. Learn the standard format, how to record citations efficiently, and how GEDminer measures your sourcing.
Read guideWhether you're just starting your family history journey or you're an experienced genealogist, these guides will help you get more from your GEDCOM file. Each tutorial is designed to be practical and actionable, showing you exactly how to use GEDminer's free analysis tools.
For beginners: Start with our Getting Started guides to learn how to upload your GEDCOM file and understand the Overview dashboard. Then explore the Directory Tools to search and browse your ancestors.
For intermediate researchers: Use the Integrity Tools guides to improve your data quality - find errors, sharpen vital records, and identify duplicates. The Discovery Tools guides will help you find new research opportunities.
For advanced genealogists: Our guides on DNA testing strategy, hidden cousin detection, and migration analysis will help you break through brick walls and make new discoveries in your family tree.
Upload your GEDCOM file and start using the tools covered in these guides.