Tips to open FTW file
Can't open the FTW file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open FTW files as well as a list of programs that support FTW files.
FTW file extension
| File Name |
Family Tree Maker Format |
| File Developer |
Ancestry.com |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The FTW file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the FTW files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the FTW file on each system platform.
What is FTW file?
The file with the extension FTW is the Data Files file type. The creator of this file is Ancestry.com. In addition to this file, the Data Files category includes 1326 related files. Family Tree Maker Format is supported by 1 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. The Family Tree Maker application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Ancestry.com Inc..
How to open FTW file?
The main problem with Family Tree Maker Format is that the FTW file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that FTW files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the FTW file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Family Tree Maker
In this case, you should first verify that the Family Tree Maker application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Family Tree Maker into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support FTW files.
Programs to open FTW file
Remember to download programs supporting FTW files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Family Tree Maker with FTW files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the FTW file to open in the Family Tree Maker application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Family Tree Maker application as the default for handling the FTW file.
Step 3. Update Family Tree Maker to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Family Tree Maker program with the Family Tree Maker Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. In this case, use the Ancestry.com Inc. website or update the program from the application.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the FTW file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This suggests truncating the FTW file contents when downloading or copying. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the FTW file that we want to open. Sometimes virus-infected FTW files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of FTW file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged FTW files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Ancestry.com
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted FTW files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move FTW to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. In this case, the FTW file is blocked by the first application to open it. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the FTW file again. However, some background programs may block the FTW file while scanning. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
Was this page helpful? YesNo
