Encryption Print button

My Family Tree provides the option to securely encrypt the personal information stored in your family tree file using authenticated 256-bit AES encryption.  This may be appropriate if your tree contains the personal information of living people, especially if you plan to transfer your file via email, portable devices, or the cloud.


If you forget the password, you will lose access to all data stored in the file.

Encrypting a file

To encrypt a file, go to File⯈Save As choosing My Family Tree Files (encrypted) from the Save as type box.

Save as an encrypted file

Fig 1. Save as an encrypted file.

Then enter and confirm a password.

Choosing a password

Fig 2. Enter a password.

If you regularly forget your passwords, we recommend that you write it down with a pen and paper. Do not reuse any other password.

Accessing encrypted files

If you encrypt a file, you will need to enter the correct password each time a secured file is opened.

Password prompt

Fig 3. Password prompt for secured files.

Changing the password

You can change file password using File⯈Change password.  Changing a password requires the current password to be correctly entered.

Working with encrypted files

When you are working with an encrypted file, the only visible difference is the display of a key icon in the top right-hand corner of the summary panel.  A key icon overlay is displayed on the taskbar for My Family Tree.

Key icon Password prompt

Fig 4. The key icon in the summary panel (left) and the taskbar icon overlay (right).

 

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