Understanding Ancestry’s Hint System
Working with Ancestry’s online tree system can greatly simplify your genealogy research by providing hints that suggest potential historical records and family connections. However, sometimes you may need to unaccept a hint if you feel that the provided information is incorrect or not relevant to your family tree. This article offers a step-by-step guide on how to unaccept hints in Ancestry’s online tree system, along with useful tips and frequently asked questions.
Steps to Unaccept a Hint
Log into your Ancestry Account
Begin the process by logging into your Ancestry account. Use your username and password to access your personal genealogical records. If you experience any issues logging in, ensure that your credentials are accurate or use the password recovery option if necessary.
Navigate to Your Family Tree
Once logged in, direct your attention to your family tree. Select “Trees” from the main navigation menu. From the dropdown, click on the specific family tree you wish to edit. This will open your tree view, where you can see all the members and the hints associated with them.
Identify the Hint You Wish to Unaccept
To find the hint you’d like to remove, locate the individual who has received the hint in your family tree. You can identify hints by looking for a green leaf icon next to their name. Click on the individual’s name to access their profile and information, where you will see the details of the hints they have received.
Unaccept the Hint
After selecting the individual, scroll down to the “Hints” section on their profile page. Here, all accepted and unaccepted hints will be listed. To unaccept a hint, click on the green leaf icon associated with the hint you want to remove. A prompt will appear asking if you wish to unaccept this hint. Confirm your selection by clicking “Unaccept,” and the hint will be removed from your account.
Verify Hint Status
After unaccepting the hint, it is essential to verify that its status has changed. Return to the hints section for the individual, and ensure that the green leaf icon has disappeared or turned gray, indicating that the hint is no longer accepted. This verification confirms that you successfully unaccepted the hint.
Additional Tips for Managing Hints
Regularly Review Hints
To maintain an accurate family tree, it is recommended to regularly review the hints provided by Ancestry. Some hints may become outdated or irrelevant as you conduct further research. Being proactive about managing hints will keep your tree updated and relevant.
Use Notes for Future Reference
Consider using the notes feature within Ancestry when unaccepting a hint. Document your reasons for unaccepting specific hints in order to reference them later. This practice can help maintain clarity when reviewing your decisions or when others are viewing your tree.
Educate Yourself on New Resources
Stay informed about new resources and tips on how to maximize your use of Ancestry’s hint system. The company frequently updates its features and tools, and knowing how to use them effectively can streamline your genealogical research.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I re-accept a hint after unaccepting it?
Yes, you can re-accept a hint after unaccepting it. Simply follow the same steps to locate the hint in the individual’s profile and click the green leaf icon again to accept it.
2. What happens to the information linked to a hint if I unaccept it?
Unaccepting a hint does not delete any information associated with that hint. It simply removes the hint from your accepted list. You can still manually add any useful information to your family tree if needed.
3. Is there a limit to how many hints I can unaccept?
There is no specific limit to the number of hints you can unaccept on your Ancestry account. Feel free to manage hints as frequently as necessary to maintain the accuracy of your genealogy research.