 Exploring FamilySearch’s updated Full-Text Records Search FamilySearch has officially moved one of its most exciting experimental features out of the Labs section and into its main platform! As of August 28, 2025, the Full-Text Records Search is now available directly under the “Search” dropdown on FamilySearch—no sign-up for Labs required. This new tool, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), allows researchers to search the actual text within digitized historical records. Until now, many of these records have never been searchable beyond basic index entries, meaning important details could easily be overlooked. With Full-Text Records Search, FamilySearch has opened the door to uncovering hidden names, places, and details buried in handwritten or printed documents. What’s New? When FamilySearch first launched this feature in the Labs earlier this year, only two record groups were available for testing—U.S. Land and Probate Records and Mexico Notary Records. Now that the tool has been officially released, the coverage has expanded significantly. Instead of just a handful of collections, dozens of record collections are now searchable, with more being added over time. This means researchers can now run searches across a much broader range of records and potentially uncover new information that traditional indexing might have missed. 👉 Want to see how this feature looked when it first launched in FamilySearch Labs? Check out my original post from March 2024 here. How It Works Using the Full-Text Records Search is simple:
Even better, each result comes with:
 FamilySearch Full-Text Records Search Example- Land Records for My 4th Great Grandfather, Samuel Taylor Why This Matters For genealogists, this update is a game-changer. Many records have never been fully indexed, leaving important context, witnesses, property details, and family connections hidden in plain sight. AI-driven full-text searching brings these details forward, helping you:
Try It Today If you tested this feature back when it was in the Labs, you’ll be thrilled to see how much it has grown. And if this is your first time trying it—prepare to be amazed at the details you can now uncover in your family history research. Head over to FamilySearch and try the Full-Text Records Search today, with your free FamilySearch Account. You never know what hidden discovery is waiting to be found! More FamilySearch Updates, Features, and ToolsLearn about other FamilySearch updates and features to help in your family history and genealogy research under the FamilySearch category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More Genealogy ResourcesLearn about other family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Tracing family roots across continents through DNA and heritage A DNA Journey Across Continents: From Uncertainty to Family Every once in a while, a research case reminds me why I do what I do. Recently, I received a heartfelt update from one of my clients, Ian, who came to me hoping to answer one of the biggest questions of his life: Who is my biological father?  At first glance, his case looked almost impossible. Ian lives here in the U.S., but he was born in Trinidad, and nearly all of his DNA matches were from Trinidad and surrounding areas. His ethnicity results included Trinidadian, Indian, and Scottish roots — a fascinating but complex mix that added layers of difficulty when trying to connect the dots. To make things even more challenging, his DNA match list was quite small, and those few matches were spread across multiple continents. On top of that, there were no records available to lean on. In short: the puzzle pieces were scattered, faded, and few. But as with every case, I started where the evidence was strongest: the DNA. By carefully analyzing centimorgans, sorting matches into groups, and mapping out their relationships, a picture slowly began to form. One key connection was Maria, a DNA match who appeared to be a half-niece to a man I suspected could be Ian’s father. Though the trail was thin, each step forward brought us closer to the truth. And then, the breakthrough came. Ian reached out, and the man I had identified as the likely father welcomed the possibility with open arms. He recognized Ian’s mother from old photographs. Later, an AncestryDNA test confirmed the relationship beyond all doubt: a 50% parent–child match. The best part? The acceptance came even before the DNA confirmation. Ian’s father, McField, and his children embraced Ian as family right away. Since then, Ian has been speaking with his father weekly, exchanging stories, sharing photos from different decades, and beginning to bridge the years they spent apart. Soon, Ian plans to go to Trinidad to meet his family in person for the very first time and his cousin and DNA match, Maria will be coming out to visit him. When I read Ian’s update, I couldn’t help but smile. What began as a challenging unknown parentage case, complicated by geography and sparse matches, ended in something far greater than just “solving a mystery.” It ended in connection, belonging, and a brand-new chapter of family life for Ian. Stories like Ian’s remind us that while DNA testing and genealogical research are about science, data, and analysis, at their heart they are really about people — about finding where we belong, and about discovering family when we least expect it. For anyone out there still searching, know that even the toughest cases can have happy endings. It may take patience, persistence, and a lot of careful work, but there is hope. The Client's Review on Google(Before contact and the DNA target test) "A few years ago, Diane Henriks was able to find the father of one of my relatives. I was given an Ancestry.com DNA kit a couple of years ago, and it showed the person I thought was my dad was really my step-father. I started wondering just who was my dad. I contacted Diane a short time ago and within 24 hours, she was able to find the person we are certain is my father. This was despite the fact that my father and I were born outside of the USA. I was given his name, a picture and other details of his life. Given my age, I was surprised he is still alive. I was able to contact one of his relatives and she welcomed me to the family. She is reaching out to him to see if he would be willing to speak with me. I am very happy with the professionalism, thoroughness, enthusiasm and speed of Diane. As another reviewer has said, she is also very personable. I highly recommend her for any genealogical searches. Thanks again Diane." -Ian B Interested in Discovering Your Own Family Story?If you have questions about your family history or are searching for long-lost relatives, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. With professional guidance, uncovering the stories and connections of your family tree can be within reach. Feel free to reach out—each family story is unique, and I’m here to help bring yours to light.
 Exploring one ancestor’s story in three formats with ChatGPT-5 Genealogists often struggle with the challenge of presenting the same research in different formats. Sometimes you need a deeply researched, fully sectioned biography for a family history book; other times you need a flowing, narrative chapter that reads like a story; and sometimes you just need a short “ancestor snapshot” for quick reference. For my research on Samuel Steinman, my official AI tester ancestor, I decided to test ChatGPT-5 by giving it the same set of research facts — and asking for three different biographies:
Here’s how each turned out — and what I learned about GPT-5’s capabilities. 1. Detailed, Sectioned Biography with Historical ContextThe first format was a full, sectioned biography — the kind you might see in a formal research report or a comprehensive family history. This biography included:
Why it works: This approach ensures no detail is lost. It’s perfect for record-keeping, reports for clients, or the main biographical section in a printed family history. What GPT-5 added: Older versions could list facts well, but GPT-5 integrated them smoothly with historical notes, avoided repetition, and kept each section consistent in tone. It felt “polished” without heavy post-editing.
2. Narrative-Style Biography for Family History Books Next, I asked GPT-5 to take the same facts but weave them into a flowing narrative — the kind of biography that feels like you’re reading a chapter from a historical novel, even though it’s entirely factual. Example excerpt: “By the spring of 1910, Samuel had left Albany temporarily for work in El Dorado, Kansas. The Nicodemus Market kept him busy, with farmers coming in before dawn, boots muddy from the fields. But his thoughts drifted home, to Hattie and the children, and the lilac bush blooming by their gate.” Why it works: This format pulls readers in emotionally, helping them picture the ancestor as a living, breathing person. It’s ideal for family history books, presentations, or blogs where engagement matters as much as detail. What GPT-5 added: While GPT-4 could create narratives, GPT-5 stayed more historically grounded and avoided introducing anachronistic or overly modern phrases. The flow felt natural and era-appropriate without sacrificing accuracy.
3. Condensed Ancestor Snapshot for Quick Reference Finally, I asked GPT-5 to condense the same material into a brief ancestor profile — just enough for a caption next to a photo or a family tree entry. Example: Samuel Steinman (1852–1925) – Born in Hancock County, Ohio, Samuel worked as a butcher in Missouri for decades. Married to Hattie, he raised four children, was active in his community, and was known for his strong work ethic. He died in Albany, Missouri, in 1925. Why it works: These quick-reference summaries are perfect for timelines, photo albums, online family trees, and social media posts. What GPT-5 added: The ability to distill decades of life into a few sentences without losing the core identity of the person. Older versions could do this, but GPT-5 does it with more precise word choice and without cutting out essential facts.
Key Takeaways for Genealogists
This exercise proved that GPT-5 isn’t just about answering questions — it can reshape the same research into exactly the format you need, making it a powerful tool for professional and personal genealogy projects. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 First look at ChatGPT-5 — faster, more accurate, and ready to assist with genealogy research OpenAI has just released ChatGPT-5, the newest version of its popular AI tool — and it’s already showing promise for research, writing, and organization. I recently tested it out on a client genealogy report, and the results were impressive: clear, accurate, and written in a style that felt like my own. I’ll be doing more in-depth testing soon, but here’s an early overview of what’s changed and what it could mean for genealogy and family history work. What’s New
How This Can Help Genealogists Previous versions of ChatGPT could already help with drafting, summarizing, and organizing — but ChatGPT-5 tends to do these tasks with more accuracy, better flow, and less editing afterward. For genealogists, that means:
Next Up: The Real Genealogy Test In the coming weeks, I’ll put ChatGPT-5 through a full genealogy-focused trial — everything from interpreting records to building clear timelines for complex family trees. I’ll share examples, strengths, and limitations so you can decide if it’s worth adding to your own research toolkit. For now, my first impression is that ChatGPT-5 feels like a more reliable and efficient partner — one that could help free up more of our time for the hands-on, human side of genealogy. Just keep in mind that as AI progresses, so must you. Thus, the way you interact with ChatGPT must evolve as well for you to be able to see and reap the benefits. If you'd like to learn more about the usage limits and the model deprecations and what it will mean for you, learn more at: GPT-5 in ChatGPT More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Upgrading your system? Make space for Windows 11 and your family history For many of us in the genealogy community, our computers are our lifelines—our virtual libraries, archives, and research labs. But if you’re still running Windows 10, there’s an urgent deadline looming that could affect your access to security updates and compatibility with new genealogy software: Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. As a genealogist who just spent days cleaning and clearing my C: Drive, let me share what I learned from this digital deep-clean, and how you can avoid tech headaches while preserving your research and preparing your system for the transition. ⚠️ Why This Matters: The Windows 11 Upgrade Deadline Windows 10 will no longer receive updates after October 14, 2025, meaning your computer could become vulnerable to security threats—and some genealogy programs may eventually stop supporting it. Upgrading to Windows 11 isn’t just a click-and-go process. It requires a minimum of 64 GB free space on your C: Drive just to begin the upgrade, and ideally 20+ GB additional to temporarily store the old system files during the process. For genealogists, that’s a tall order—especially if you’ve been running Family Tree Maker or other data-heavy programs on your system drive for years. 💡 Lessons Learned from My Upgrade Prep Here are a few critical takeaways from my own prep process that I believe every genealogist should consider: 1. Don’t Store Research Files on Your C: Drive When I installed Family Tree Maker 2019 five years ago (waiting to upgrade to Windows 11 before I install my FTM 2024 I received a few months ago), it defaulted to the C: Drive on my then new computer. I hadn’t realized just how much space had accumulated--over 144 GB of media files, backups, and client folders. While this was fine back then, it became a major roadblock when preparing for the Windows 11 upgrade. System updates depend on having enough space on the system drive, and FTM data can quickly eat up that room. ✅ Genealogist Tip: If your computer has a data drive (D:), move your Family Tree Maker media and backup folders there and change the default path in FTM's settings. If you're using a laptop without a D: Drive, consider using a reliable external SSD as your default path. 2. Keep Multiple Backups—But Know Where They Live Before deleting anything, I backed up my Family Tree Maker folders and other important files in three different locations: an external SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD, a Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD, and a WD Elements Desktop External Hard Drive. I also use cloud storage selectively for vital documents. ✅ Genealogist Tip: Always back up in at least two or three places—especially before moving or deleting any genealogy files. Think of it as digital preservation insurance for your life's work. 3. Clean Your Computer Regularly Even after deleting huge folders like Pictures, Videos, and Music, I noticed my C: Drive space mysteriously disappearing over time. Turns out, many apps and background processes slowly creep back in. ✅ Genealogist Tip: Schedule routine digital cleanups every few months. Uninstall unused apps, clear browser caches, and move or delete non-essential files. Use tools like Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense in Windows to automate some of this process. 🛠️ How to Move Family Tree Maker Files to Another Drive For those using Family Tree Maker, here’s a simplified step-by-step guide to changing the file path:
💻 What to Do If Your Computer Can’t Run Windows 11 If your device doesn’t meet the Windows 11 Upgrade hardware requirements (such as TPM 2.0 or processor compatibility), you have a few options:
🧬 Why This Matters for Genealogists We spend countless hours building, sourcing, and preserving our family trees. Losing access to updates, programs, or data because of a full C: Drive or outdated operating system could stall—or worse, derail—our work. By keeping our systems clean, our files organized, and our programs properly configured, we’re not just managing technology—we’re preserving history. Final Thoughts Cleaning up my computer was exhausting, but it was a wake-up call. Whether you’re preparing for the Windows 11 upgrade or simply trying to keep your system running smoothly, make this a regular part of your genealogical routine. It’s not just good computer hygiene—it’s good family history preservation. ✅ Quick Checklist for Genealogists
If you’ve recently gone through a digital cleanup, I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience in the comments below—or better yet, let us know your best tip for keeping your genealogy work organized and safe! More Genealogy Software and OrganizationLearn about more family history and genealogy software and organization under the Genealogy Software and Organization categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
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Author, Diane HenriksHi, I'm Diane Henriks, a professional genealogist, speaker, author, investigator, and the founder of Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family who... Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family: Family History and Genealogy BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! Categories
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