Ancestry · username login

How to Login Ancestry with Username?

Did you know that in addition to your email address, you can also use your Ancestry username to sign in? A successful ancestry login with username gives you the same full access to your family tree, DNA results, and historical records. This guide explains how to log in using your username on both the website and app, how to find your username if you've forgotten it, and how to change it if desired.

What is an Ancestry username?

Your Ancestry username is a unique public identifier you choose when creating your account. It appears in URLs for your public profile and is visible to other members when you interact in forums or share trees [citation:8]. Unlike your email, your username is designed to be shared publicly. Importantly, you can use either your username or your email address to log in [citation:1][citation:2].

Public identifier Visible to other members on trees, forums, and DNA matches.

Customizable You can change it in your account settings [citation:3].

Unique No two users can have the same username [citation:3].

Username requirements

If you're creating a new username or changing an existing one, it must follow these rules [citation:3]:

Be between 5 and 24 characters long.
Contain only letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), hyphens (-), underscores (_), and periods (.).
No other special characters or symbols (like %, #, @) are allowed.
Must not already be in use by another member.

Method 1: Login with username on a computer (web browser)

🖥️ Step-by-step web login

Open your browser and go to the Ancestry website (www.ancestry.com).
Click the Sign in button at the top-right corner of the page [citation:2].
On the sign-in screen, you'll see a field labeled Email/Username [citation:2]. This means you can enter either your email address or your username.
Enter your username in this field.
Enter your password.
If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, enter the verification code when prompted [citation:2].
Click Sign in. You will be logged into your account.

Method 2: Login with username on the Ancestry app (mobile)

📱 Step-by-step app login

Open the Ancestry app on your iPhone or Android device [citation:4].
On the welcome screen, tap Sign in [citation:4][citation:7].
You will see fields for Username/Email and password [citation:4][citation:7].
Enter your username in the first field.
Enter your password.
If prompted, enter your two-step verification code and tap Submit [citation:4].
Tap Sign in to access your account [citation:7].

    Important: Your username is case-sensitive? Actually, usernames are typically stored as case-insensitive, but it's safest to enter it exactly as you created it.
  

Forgot your username? Here's how to find it

If you can't remember your username, don't worry. There are several ways to recover it.

🔍 Method A: Check your profile (if already logged in elsewhere)

If you're already logged into Ancestry on another device or browser, click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
Your username is often displayed near your name or in the account menu [citation:8].
You can also go to Account settings to see your username.

📧 Method B: Use the "Forgot username" feature

On the Ancestry sign-in page, look for a link that says "Forgot username?" or "Need help?" (this may appear after a failed login attempt).
Enter the email address associated with your account.
Ancestry will send an email to that address containing your username.
Check your inbox (and spam folder) for the email.

🔄 Method C: Reset your password

If you're still having trouble, you can reset your password using your email. The password reset email will often include your username as a reminder [citation:2].

Click Forgot password? on the sign-in screen.
Enter your email address.
Check your email for the reset link – your username may be mentioned in the message.

How to change your Ancestry username

If you want to update your username for any reason, you can do so in your account settings [citation:3].

✏️ Changing your username

Log into your Ancestry account (using email or your current username).
Click your profile icon and select Account settings [citation:3].
Look for your Username and click Edit or the pencil icon.
Enter your new desired username, following the character requirements [citation:3].
Click Update username.
If prompted, verify your account by entering your password or a code sent to your email [citation:3].
If you receive an error message, try a different username – it may already be taken [citation:3].

Note: After changing your username, use the new one for future logins. Your old username will no longer work.

Troubleshooting: common username login issues

❌ “Username not recognized”

If you enter your username and get this error:

Double-check the spelling, including any periods, hyphens, or underscores.
Ensure you're not accidentally entering your email in the username field (they are interchangeable, but if you meant to use username, verify it's correct).
Try using your email address instead – it will definitely work [citation:3].
If you recently changed your username, make sure you're using the new one.

🔐 “Incorrect password” for username

Your password is the same regardless of whether you log in with email or username. If you're sure the username is correct but the password isn't working:

Use the Forgot password? link to reset it [citation:2].
After resetting, try logging in with your username again.

🔄 Username vs. Display Name confusion

Your username is your login credential. Your "Display Name" or "Real Name" is what others see on your profile [citation:8]. These can be different. If you're trying to log in with your display name, it won't work – you must use your actual username or email [citation:2].

📵 “Username already taken” when changing

If you try to change your username and get this message, it means someone else already has that username. Try a variation with numbers or different punctuation [citation:3].

🌐 App not accepting username

If the app doesn't seem to accept your username, try these steps [citation:4][citation:7]:

Update the app to the latest version.
Try logging in with your email instead – if that works, your username is still valid, but there may be a temporary glitch.
Uninstall and reinstall the app.

Security best practices for username login

Since your username is public, never use a password that is similar to your username.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security [citation:2].
If you change your username, update any password managers or saved logins accordingly.
Be aware that because usernames are public, they can be seen by others – choose one that doesn't reveal personal information.

Frequently asked questions

Is my username the same as my display name?

Not necessarily. Your username is your unique login identifier. Your display name (which can be your real name or a chosen name) is what appears on your public profile and in searches [citation:8]. You control which one is shown publicly in your profile settings.

Can I have multiple usernames for one account?

No, each Ancestry account has exactly one username. However, you can change it anytime [citation:3].

Will changing my username affect my DNA matches or tree?

No, your DNA data, tree, and connections remain exactly the same. Only the username displayed on your profile changes. Your matches will see the new username [citation:8].

Can I use my username to sign in with Google or Apple?

No, if you use the "Sign in with Google" or "Sign in with Apple" buttons, you don't enter a username or password – you authenticate through those services [citation:2].

I forgot my username and don't have access to my email. What now?

This is a difficult situation. You'll need to contact Ancestry support and go through their identity verification process to regain access to your account.

Conclusion

Logging into Ancestry with your username is a convenient alternative to using your email address. The process is identical on both the website and app – simply enter your username in the Email/Username field along with your password. If you've forgotten your username, you can recover it via email or check your account settings if you're already logged in elsewhere. Remember that your username is public, so choose one that you're comfortable sharing with the Ancestry community. With this guide, you should be able to access your family history using your username with ease.