Ancestry · LDS member access
How to Log into Ancestry with LDS Account?
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have access to a free premium membership on Ancestry through a partnership with FamilySearch. A common question is whether you can log into Ancestry directly using your LDS account (Church account). This guide explains exactly how the process works, how to activate your free membership, and how to sign in once your accounts are linked.
Quick answer: Can you use your LDS account to log into Ancestry?
No, you cannot directly use your LDS Church account to log into Ancestry. Your LDS account and your Ancestry account are two separate accounts [citation:7]. However, as a member, you can activate a free "Church of Jesus Christ-Ancestry Membership" by going through FamilySearch. After activation, you'll have a standard Ancestry account (created or linked during the process) that you'll use to log in [citation:7].
What is the LDS Ancestry membership?
As part of a content partnership with FamilySearch, members of the Church can activate a free Ancestry membership [citation:1]. This membership includes:
Access to 99% of records View billions of historical records and collections on Ancestry [citation:1].
Linked accounts Connect your Ancestry and FamilySearch accounts and trees [citation:1].
Import from FamilySearch Import up to 4 generations of your FamilySearch tree into Ancestry [citation:2].
Member messaging Communicate with other Ancestry members [citation:1].
What's not included: AncestryDNA kits, Pro Tools, some specific records (pay-per-view available), and access to Fold3 or Newspapers.com [citation:1].
Step-by-step: Activate your free LDS Ancestry membership
Before you can log in, you need to activate your free membership. This process links your FamilySearch account (which uses your Church account) to an Ancestry account [citation:1][citation:2].
🔐 Step 1: Go to the FamilySearch partner access page
- Open your browser and go to https://www.familysearch.org/en/access/ [citation:1].
- You will need to sign in to FamilySearch using your Church account (your LDS account) [citation:1]. This is not your Ancestry account – it's the account you use for FamilySearch.
- If you don't have a FamilySearch account, you can create one using your Church account [citation:1].
🔄 Step 2: Locate Ancestry and join for free
- On the partner access page, find the Ancestry tile or logo [citation:2].
- Click Join for Free or the button beneath the Ancestry logo [citation:1][citation:2].
- You may be asked to confirm by clicking Join for Free again [citation:1].
👤 Step 3: Sign in or create an Ancestry account
Now you'll be redirected to Ancestry. You have two options [citation:1][citation:2]:
- Sign in now: If you already have an Ancestry account (free or paid), click "Sign in now" and enter your existing Ancestry email/username and password. This will link your existing Ancestry account to your FamilySearch account and apply the free membership [citation:1].
- Sign up now: If you're new to Ancestry, click "Sign up now" and create a free Ancestry account using Google, Apple, or your email address [citation:1].
After signing in or creating an account, you'll be asked to check a box accepting the free membership terms, then click Start your membership [citation:1].
Important: Each FamilySearch account can only be linked to one Ancestry account [citation:1]. If you later want to use a different Ancestry account, you'll need to unlink first.
How to log into Ancestry after activation
Once your membership is activated and accounts are linked, logging in is simple – but you do not use your LDS Church account directly [citation:7].
🔑 Standard login (recommended)
- Go to www.ancestry.com [citation:7].
- Click Sign in at the top right.
- Enter the email/username and password for the Ancestry account you used during activation [citation:7].
- Complete two-factor authentication if you have it enabled.
- You're now logged into your Ancestry account with full free membership benefits.
Remember: Your login credentials are your Ancestry account details, not your LDS account details [citation:7].
🔄 Alternative: Access Ancestry through FamilySearch
You can also start from FamilySearch and navigate to Ancestry, but you'll still need to be signed into your Ancestry account [citation:3].
- Sign in to FamilySearch using your Church account.
- Go to the Solutions Gallery (bottom of any page) or find an ancestor's person page [citation:3][citation:5].
- Look for the Search Records box and click the Ancestry link [citation:5].
- If you're not already signed into Ancestry, you'll be prompted to sign in with your Ancestry credentials [citation:3].
How to find out which Ancestry account is linked to your FamilySearch
If you've forgotten which Ancestry account you used, or need to unlink, follow these steps [citation:2]:
- Go back through the activation steps (FamilySearch partner access page).
- When you reach the page showing your linked account, you'll see the name, email address, and username of the linked Ancestry account [citation:2].
- You can then sign in to Ancestry with that email/username and your password. If you've forgotten the password, use the "Forgot password" option on Ancestry [citation:2].
- If you don't recognize the account, click Unlink FamilySearch and then relink with your preferred Ancestry account [citation:1][citation:2].
Importing your FamilySearch tree to Ancestry
One of the key benefits of this membership is the ability to import your FamilySearch tree into Ancestry [citation:2].
🌳 Tree import steps
- After logging into Ancestry, click the Trees tab and select Import tree from FamilySearch [citation:2].
- You may need to sign in to FamilySearch again to authorize the connection [citation:2].
- Name your tree, choose privacy settings, and click Save.
- Click Continue to import up to 4 generations of your FamilySearch tree [citation:2].
Note: Photos and documents are not copied during import – you'll need to download and upload them manually [citation:2].
Troubleshooting: common LDS account login issues
🔒 "Access denied" or "You do not qualify"
If you see this error when trying to activate your free membership, it likely means your FamilySearch account is not properly linked to your Church membership record. Ensure your LDS Account has your membership record number attached [citation:7]. You may need to contact FamilySearch support for help [citation:3].
🔄 "FamilySearch Authorization" message
If you see this message while using Ancestry, your account needs updated permissions. Click Sign in and sign in to FamilySearch (not Ancestry) to renew the authorization [citation:1].
📵 Can't remember which Ancestry account I linked
Follow the steps in "How to find out which Ancestry account is linked" above. You can see the email/username of the linked account and reset its password if needed [citation:2].
👤 I changed my LDS account password – do I need to update Ancestry?
No, your LDS account and Ancestry account are separate. Changing your LDS password does not affect your Ancestry login [citation:7].
🌐 Being asked to upgrade or buy a membership
If you're signed in but still being asked to upgrade, it could be because [citation:1]:
- You're signed into the wrong Ancestry account (one without the free membership).
- You're trying to access records not included in this membership (like Fold3 or Newspapers.com).
- You need a separate Pro Tools add-on for certain features.
Security best practices for LDS-linked Ancestry accounts
- Use a strong, unique password for your Ancestry account – it's separate from your LDS account [citation:7].
- Enable two-factor authentication on your Ancestry account for added security.
- Remember that your Ancestry account credentials are what you use to log in – not your LDS account [citation:7].
- If you ever need to unlink your accounts, you can do so in Ancestry Account Settings under Membership [citation:1].
- For help with FamilySearch or LDS account issues, contact FamilySearch support directly, not Ancestry [citation:1][citation:3].
Frequently asked questions
Is the LDS Ancestry membership free forever?
Yes, it's a free membership that does not automatically renew or expire [citation:1]. However, you can cancel it anytime in Account Settings, which will unlink your accounts [citation:1].
Can I have both a free LDS membership and a paid Ancestry subscription?
Your free membership provides access to over 99% of records. If you want additional features like Pro Tools or access to Fold3, you can purchase them as add-ons or upgrade to All Access [citation:1].
What if I already have a paid Ancestry subscription?
You can still activate the free LDS membership. When your paid subscription ends, your account will revert to the free membership benefits [citation:1].
Can I link multiple FamilySearch accounts to one Ancestry account?
No, each FamilySearch account can only be linked to one Ancestry account, and vice versa [citation:1].
I'm having trouble with FamilySearch sign-in – who do I contact?
For any issues with your FamilySearch account (including sign-in, membership linking, or Church account questions), contact FamilySearch support directly [citation:1][citation:3].
Conclusion
While you cannot directly log into Ancestry with your LDS Church account, members have access to a valuable free Ancestry membership through FamilySearch. The process requires one-time activation: sign in to FamilySearch with your Church account, then create or link an Ancestry account. After that, you'll log into Ancestry using your standard Ancestry credentials. This partnership gives you access to billions of historical records to enhance your family history work. Keep your accounts secure, and enjoy exploring your heritage.