For many years, Family Tree Maker (FTM) has been the most popular genealogical program.

However, opening these files in more recent editions, such FTM 2019 or FTM 2024, can be difficult for customers who began their family history journey with Family Tree Maker 2008, 2010, or other previous versions. Not all older files are directly supported because file formats and technologies change over time.

You can learn how to read, import, and handle outdated or unsupported files in FTM 2008–2024 on Windows by following this article, which has been updated for 2025.

Why Old Files May Not Open in Newer FTM Versions?

The most recent software releases might not necessarily be compatible with older FTM files, such as those with extensions like.FTW,.FBK, or.FBC. Among the causes are:

⦁ Versions of the file have different formats.

⦁ backup files that are incomplete or corrupt.

⦁ Modern Windows systems no longer support outdated software.

⦁ Data that is not correctly synced or missing media links.

⦁ The first step to properly recovering and opening your old family tree data is to be aware of these limitations.

Supported File Types in FTM 2008–2024

FTM and.FTMB files are the main file types supported by Family Tree Maker 2019 and 2024. Nevertheless, previous iterations employed distinct expansions. Here's a brief summary:

⦁ A very old database format that was utilized in earlier versions is.FTW.

⦁ Backup files made in previous editions are in the.FBK and.FBC formats.

⦁ Modern releases use the standard and backup formats.FTM and.FTMB.

Before opening the files in the most recent software, you might need to convert them step-by-step using intermediate versions if they were created prior to 2008.

Steps to Open Old FTM Files in New Versions

1. Find the Original Document. Locate your old. FTW, FBK, or FBC files stored on your external drive or PC.

2. It is occasionally necessary to open files from FTM 2008–2010 in FTM 2012 or 2014 before importing them into FTM 2019 or 2024. Install an intermediate version if necessary.

3. Restore Backup Files: Use FTM's "Restore from Backup" option if your file is a backup (.FBK or.FTMB).

4. Use Cloud Backup or TreeVault: Upload your old files for migration and storage if you have a TreeVault membership.

5. Verify Media Links: After importing, make sure that records, documents, and images are correctly associated with people.

6. Save in Modern Format: To guarantee compatibility in the future, save your file as a new.FTM file after it has been successfully opened.

Troubleshooting Unsupported Files

Try these fixes if your old FTM file won't open:

⦁ If corruption is suspected, use Windows tools to repair the file.

⦁ For expert recovery, get in touch with FTM technical support.

⦁ If the file is not recognized by any version of FTM, use genealogical file converting services.

⦁ Visit the official Family Tree Maker website to view compatibility lists.

Conclusion

It's not difficult to open outdated or unsupported Family Tree Maker files from 2008–2014 with more recent versions, such as FTM 2019 or FTM 2024.

You can save your family history without losing important information if you follow the correct procedures, which include saving files in contemporary formats, recovering backups, and using intermediate versions.

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