You finally bought that new computer or laptop you’ve been wanting. But now you are wondering how to move your existing RootsMagic files to your new computer. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you.
I have recently come across a few people with a variation of this question. These step-by-step instructions will help anyone who wishes to move their RootsMagic family tree from an old computer to a new computer, a person who has recently updated from an older version of RootsMagic to RootsMagic 7, or someone who wishes to share their family tree with a relative.
Moving RootsMagic Files from Old Computer to New Computer
Step 1: Begin with installing RootsMagic software on your new computer or laptop. To do that, you need to know if you are using the free or paid version of RootsMagic. If you are using RootsMagic Essentials, that is the free version. If you are using RootsMagic 4, or 6, or some other number, then you have the paid version.
Now, go to www.rootsmagic.com and click on the RootsMagic you already have.
You are going to download the appropriate version to your new computer or laptop. For this example, we are going to assume you have purchased RootsMagic in the past. In this case, you would have clicked “Products” at the top, then chose “RootsMagic,” and then at this screen that looks like the image below, you would choose “Free Download.”
Follow the prompts to add RootsMagic to your new computer. When the program opens, it will ask you to enter in your unique purchase code. This code is what you received when you purchased RootsMagic for the first time. Can’t remember your code? That’s okay. Just follow the prompts to recover your forgotten purchase code. Typically, you will do this by email, but if you need to, you can always call the great people over at RootsMagic.
After you have entered in your code, you are ready to begin.
Step 2: Go to your old RootsMagic and open it up. You will see your tree there. At the left, top corner, click “File” and choose “Export” from the pull-down options.
What this is going to do is “export” all the names, places, dates, notes, sources, to-do lists, and make a GEDCOM file that can be moved to a new RootsMagic location.
When you click “OK,” the system will ask where you want to save this file. I suggest saving it to the Desktop because it is typically easy to find! Let me show you:
You have now created and named your family tree in a file format called a GEDCOM and saved it to your old computer’s desktop.
Step 3: You need to retrieve that file from off the old computer’s desktop. The easiest way to do that is to use a thumb-drive, but surprisingly, many of you may not have one. Instead, just email this file to yourself! Open up gmail or hotmail, or whatever you use, and send yourself an email. Before pushing “send”, click on the attachment option and choose to add the GEDCOM file you just created to the email. When you click the attachment icon, a new window will pop-up. Here, you go to the desktop and find the GEDCOM you created. Click it once to highlight and then click “Open.”
Step 4: Go to your new computer or laptop and check your email. Hopefully, you will see the email you just sent yourself. It should include an attachment which you will want to download to your new computer.
When you download this file to your new computer…remember to save it on the desktop so it is easy to find.
Step 5: At your new computer, open RootsMagic. When you do so, it will ask you to name your new family tree. Give it a name and then click on the button at the bottom: “Import information from another program.” Then, click “OK.”
The next window to pop-up will ask you which genealogy program does the file come from and where is it. You will click on the button for GEDCOM at the bottom, then choose “I know where the file is.” Your files will pop-up in a new window and you will click on the GEDCOM file you saved to your desktop.
The computer will suck in your GEDCOM file and populate your RootsMagic family tree on your new computer.
Moving RootsMagic Files Conclusion and Call to Action
I hope this post helped you to easily move your RootsMagic files from an old computer to a new one. If it did, would you share this article with your friends? I look forward to helping you overcome your biggest genealogy and family history challenges in the near future. Keep reading and come back to The Genealogy Reporter often!
Are you LDS and wish to access your free accounts to Ancestry.com, Findmypast, and MyHeritage. Here is the step-by-step guide to help you do that: “LDS Partner Access for Members How-to Guide”
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Mark Johnson says
Thank you! This worked perfectly! I sent a request for help to RM a week ago but no reply. Your process worked perfectly!!!
Richard says
I keep my RM files on my desktop. I am thinking about installing RM on my laptop. I’d like to be able to access and use the RM files from my laptop while traveling and then sync changed RM files wthose on my desktop. What is a good way to do this, a cloud service, a thumb or external drive, or export of a aged on file? It would e great to be able to access my media files too.
Amie Bowser Tennant says
Richard, these are great questions. I am not sure I know the best way to do what you are wanting. I would suggest contacting RootsMagic customer service directly, or even posting this inquiry on the RootsMagic Users Facebook page. Best of luck!
Richard says
Thank you Amie. I will contact RM directly. RM has a Magic Guide for copying their database to another computer using the RM backup and restore backup procedures. That’s not exactly what I’d like to do.
Mary Lu Metz says
Your instructions work well. Roots Magic moved smoothly from my iMac to my Dell laptop using email. Thank you.