If you don’t have access to family tree making software or a genealogy website that supports building ancestry trees, make a family tree in PowerPoint. PowerPoint contains built-in tools to help you create a family tree that includes text, images, videos, audio, charts, and other elements that make your family tree come to life.

Change the Slide Layout

Before you start building your family tree, start with a blank PowerPoint template and set it up so it’s ready for your family details.

Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365.

Here’s how to open a blank template and change the slide layout:

  • Select File > New to view the list of PowerPoint templates.
  • Select Blank Presentation to open a new presentation that contains a single slide.
  • Select Home.
  • Select Layout.
  • Select Title and Content.
  • Your presentation contains a single slide that contains placeholders for a title, bullet text, and an image.

Insert a SmartArt Graphic Chart

SmartArt Graphics make it easy to work with complex graphics without the need to design them from scratch. Use a SmartArt Graphic to add an organization chart to a slide and edit it for the family tree.

Select File > New to view the list of PowerPoint templates.

Select Blank Presentation to open a new presentation that contains a single slide.

Select Home.

Select Layout.

Select Title and Content.

Your presentation contains a single slide that contains placeholders for a title, bullet text, and an image.

  • Select Insert a SmartArt Graphic to open the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box.
  • Select Hierarchy and choose Organization Chart.
  • Select OK to close the dialog box and add the Organization Chart SmartArt Graphic to the slide.

Add Family Members to the Chart

Your presentation contains the basic building blocks for your family tree. To add names to the family tree, select a shape and enter the information for the family member.

Select Insert a SmartArt Graphic to open the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box.

Select Hierarchy and choose Organization Chart.

Select OK to close the dialog box and add the Organization Chart SmartArt Graphic to the slide.

When the default SmartArt Graphic organization chart doesn’t have enough shapes to fit your family, add a new shape to add a new member to the family tree chart.

  • Select the shape to which you want to add another shape.
  • Select SmartArt Tools Design and select Add Shape.
  • Select the Add Shape down arrow to select exactly where you want your new shape to be added in the chart. Select Add Assistant to add a spouse for the selected member.
  • Continue to add new shapes as necessary to complete the family tree.
  • If the SmartArt Graphic shapes aren’t in the right places, drag the shapes to move them.
  • Add text to the shapes to complete your family tree.

When your family tree branches off in different directions, keep it all together by hyperlinking to the part of the presentation that isn’t included in the current slide.

Select the shape to which you want to add another shape.

Select SmartArt Tools Design and select Add Shape.

Select the Add Shape down arrow to select exactly where you want your new shape to be added in the chart. Select Add Assistant to add a spouse for the selected member.

Continue to add new shapes as necessary to complete the family tree.

If the SmartArt Graphic shapes aren’t in the right places, drag the shapes to move them.

Add text to the shapes to complete your family tree.

  • Select the shape that will link to another slide.
  • Select Insert.
  • Select Link or Hyperlink to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.
  • Select Place in This Document.
  • Choose the slide you want the link to point to.
  • Select OK.

Customize Your Family Tree Chart

Your family tree PowerPoint slideshow doesn’t have to be boring. Create a unique background to spice it up. Add text to the slides, import videos and audio files, change the color of the shapes, pick different shapes for different people, adjust the color of the names of the family members, and more.

Select the shape that will link to another slide.

Select Insert.

Select Link or Hyperlink to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

Select Place in This Document.

Choose the slide you want the link to point to.

Select OK.

To change the color of the SmartArt Graphic shapes, select SmartArt Tools Design > Change Colors to get started with selecting a new colorful design.

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