Most family tree failures are download or import problems, not mysterious GTK bugs.
Blocked Windows install
Confirm the AIO name and Releases URL. Prefer stable tags. See Windows AIO notes.
Wrong macOS architecture
Arm vs Intel mismatches are common. Re-download the matching dmg or use Homebrew.
Snap not found
Ensure snapd is installed, then sudo snap install gramps. apt remains an alternate on Debian-family systems.
Empty charts
Charts need people and relationships. Add a few records before judging Reports. Install Graphviz when graph reports demand it.
GEDCOM chaos
Never import without a backup of the export and of the target Family Tree. Spot-check ten people after import.
Still stuck
Ask on upstream issues with OS, exact filename, and tag. Publisher contact is for guide corrections: contact.
Verify against research notes
Facts on this page come from the gramps-project/gramps README, GitHub Releases tag assets, Homebrew cask JSON for gramps, Snap Store metadata, and the Gramps wiki checked on 2026-09-15. If a newer stable tag appears, prefer the live Releases list and exact filenames over any hard-coded memory of one version alone. The home install panel reads gh.json at build time so the current release link stays fresh.
Keep one update door
One install style per machine. Write it down.
Pick one install style per machine and write it down. Windows AIO users return to GitHub Releases. Homebrew users run brew upgrade. Snap users refresh the snap. apt users use distro tools. Mixing three doors on one PATH creates confusing dual launches and stale Family Trees.
Privacy and offline use
- Local Family Trees keep pedigree data on disk after install.
- Online research in a browser is optional and separate.
Living-person details deserve care. Export GEDCOM only when you mean to share, and review privacy options before you upload a file to any third party. A desktop family tree is useful precisely because the database can stay offline after the first download.
Classroom and shared PCs
Shared labs often block unknown publishers. Document the asset name in your image build notes. Societies that need offline pedigrees should prefer a machine they administer. Keep GEDCOM licences and contributor agreements with the archive so redistribution stays clear.
Network and offline
You need network once to download the AIO, dmg, brew bottle, or snap. After the Family Tree lives on disk, editing people and printing charts works offline unless you choose online research later. That split is why a desktop family tree beats a fragile tab for travel and archive work that forbids cloud uploads.
After install checklist
Confirm the window opens, create one Family Tree, add a Home Person, save, and bookmark Releases or note the brew/snap door. Then read first-run and safety guides. If policy blocks unknown executables, ask an admin instead of smuggling a random mirror binary.
Extra install discipline
Write the asset name or package command in a short text file next to your backups. When someone else inherits the research PC, that note prevents a second random download for the same family tree job. Prefer stable tags, refuse renamed wrappers, and keep living-person exports intentional.
Why this matters for searchers
People who type family tree into a search box often land on adware portals. A clear install door, an exact filename, and a local Family Tree proof keep the job honest. Repeat the same door on the next machine instead of improvising a new mirror each time you travel.
Source checklist
- GitHub Releases stable tag assets
- Homebrew cask metadata when used
- Snap or apt package ids when used
- Gramps wiki for workflow menus after install
If any of those sources disagree with this page, prefer the upstream page and file a correction through the contact path so research notes can be updated.
Frequently asked questions
SmartScreen blocked the AIO
Return to the GitHub Releases URL you typed and confirm the filename is GrampsAIO-*-win64.exe. Do not download a second copy from a review portal to fix a warning on this family tree installer.
Mac app will not open
Confirm you used the Arm dmg on Apple Silicon or the Intel dmg on Intel for this family tree app. Or install with brew install --cask gramps and retry from Applications.
Import created duplicates
Restore from the pre-import backup export, then import once into a fresh Family Tree after you adjust import options. Spot-check ten people and one media link before you trust the merged family tree.