Family Tree Maker for Mac is running slowly
If Family Tree Maker is running more slowly than expected, here are a few steps you can take to increase the software's performance. This article only applies to Family Tree Maker 1, Family Tree Maker 2 and Family Tree Maker 3 for Mac. As this is the case, in the rest of this article it will only be listed as Family Tree Maker.
This article discusses the following:
Verify you meet the minimum system requirements
Recommended System Requirements for Family Tree Maker 3
| Operating System | Mac OS X 10.8 or later |
| Processor | Intel-based Mac |
| Hard Disk Space | 500MB for installation |
| Memory | 1GB RAM |
| Display | 1024x768 resolution monitor |
| Disc Drive | 32X CD/CD-R (Some products require a DVD-ROM drive.) |
Minimum Requirements
| Operating System | Mac OS X 10.8 or later |
| Processor | Intel-based Mac |
| Hard Disk Space | 500MB RAM |
| Memory | 512MB of RAM |
| Display | 800x600 resolution monitor |
| Disk Drive | 2X CD-ROM (required for installation) |
Recommended System Requirements for Family Tree Maker for 2
| Operating System | Mac OS X 10.5 or later |
| Processor | Intel-based Mac |
| Hard Disk Space | 500MB for installation |
| Memory | 1GB RAM |
| Display | 1024x768 resolution monitor |
| Disc Drive | 32X CD/CD-R (Some supplemental products require a DVD-ROM drive.) |
Minimum Requirements
| Operating System | Mac OS X 10.5 or later |
| Processor | Intel-based Mac |
| Hard Disk Space | 500MB RAM |
| Memory | 512MB of RAM |
| Display | 800x600 resolution monitor |
| Disk Drive | 2X CD-ROM (required for installation) |
Note: Family Tree Maker 1 and 2 are not supported on OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)
You can check your OS X version and processor type by following the instructions found here.
Compact your file
Family Tree Maker's Compact File tool will re-index your file, remove unnecessary data, and optimize your tree's performance. Instructions on this process can be found here.
Merge Duplicate Individuals and Sources
Merging duplicate individuals or sources can reduce the overall size of your file, making your file more efficient.
Instructions on merging duplicate individuals can be found here.
Instructions on merging duplicate sources can be found here.
Work Offline
Temporarily disabling internet access in Family Tree Maker can speed up your experience greatly, especially if you have large files.
With Family Tree Maker open, click the File menu and select Go Offline.
If you don't want to disable Internet access entirely, you might want to turn off Family Tree Maker's automatic Ancestry.com search feature.
Disable fastfields
Disabling fastfields in large databases can also speed up your Family Tree Maker.
- Click the Family Tree Maker menu in the top left of the screen, then click Preferences.
- Uncheck the boxes in the section labeled Use Fastfields for: next to Name, Source Titles, and Place.
If none of the above suggestions improve the speed of your Family Tree Maker program, consider breaking your tree into several smaller, more manageable trees. Instructions for doing this can be found here.