Family Tree Maker 2018: which version do you actually have?
The publisher never released a Family Tree Maker 2018. People who bought the software during 2018 received FTM 2017, on build 23.1 or 23.2 at the time; 23.3 followed as a free update in December 2019. This page shows you how to confirm your real edition in under a minute and what that edition does on a current computer.
- Applies to
- FTM 2017 · 2019
- Platform
- Windows & macOS
- Updated
The short answer: there was no 2018 edition
Family Tree Maker 2018 does not exist. The publisher released FTM 2017, then FTM 2019, then FTM 2024. The lineup skips 2018 entirely.
Your copy is almost certainly FTM 2017, on build 23.3 if you took the free updates. FTM 2019 did not ship until 28 September 2019, so only a purchase from then on points to FTM 2019, build 24.x.
Why people search for Family Tree Maker 2018
Three habits produce the search, and none of them indicate a mistake on your part.
- Purchase year replaces edition year in memory. FTM 2017 sold throughout 2018, so buyers recall 2018.
- Ancestry.com shipped a new edition almost every year, up to FTM 2014 in September 2013. Long-time users expect a version for every year.
- Invoices and card statements carry the purchase date rather than the edition name.
Identify the edition you own
Read the build number. The build identifies the edition without ambiguity.
Open Family Tree Maker. On Windows select Help, then About Family Tree Maker. On a Mac select the Family Tree Maker menu, then About Family Tree Maker.
Read the build number and match it below.
| Build starts with | Your edition | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 25. | FTM 2024 | Current release. |
| 24. | FTM 2019 | Runs and syncs. Update to 24.2.2. |
| 23. | FTM 2017 | Runs on Windows. Blocked on recent macOS. |
| 22. | FTM 2014 | Legacy. Ancestry syncing ended. |
Quote the build number, never the year. Support conversations move faster when the build is on the table, because the build determines which fixes apply.
The FTM 2017 updates, and the last one
FTM 2017 received four free updates over its life: 23.0 in July 2017, 23.1 in February 2018, 23.2 in September 2018, and 23.3 in December 2019. Version 23.3 is the final one. No further update is coming, so a 2017 install on anything older than 23.3 should take that update before anything else, because it carries the Ancestry sign-in and compatibility fixes that later problems trace back to.
Reinstalling FTM 2017 works the same way as any edition: find your registration key first, uninstall, reinstall from the publisher's download, then apply 23.3. Your tree files sit in Documents and are not touched by the uninstall.
What to do with FTM 2017
Your operating system decides the answer.
| Your computer | What to do | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 or 11 | Keep using it | FTM 2017 runs. Upgrade only for a specific fault. |
| Recent macOS | Move to FTM 2024 | Recent macOS blocks the FTM 2017 installer. |
| Syncing failing | Move to FTM 2024 | Sync fixes land in the current edition first. |
Back up your tree file before any change. A backup that includes media protects the photographs as well as the names and dates. See backing up a tree file.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Family Tree Maker 2018?
No. The publisher released FTM 2017, then FTM 2019, then FTM 2024. No 2018 edition exists.
I bought Family Tree Maker in 2018. Which version do I have?
You have FTM 2017. It sold throughout 2018 on build 23.1 or 23.2, and 23.3 arrived as a free update in December 2019. FTM 2019 did not ship until September 2019, so it is not a 2018 purchase.
How do I find my Family Tree Maker build number?
Open Family Tree Maker. On Windows select Help, then About Family Tree Maker. On a Mac select the Family Tree Maker menu, then About Family Tree Maker.
Does Family Tree Maker 2017 still work in 2026?
FTM 2017 was released for Windows 7 through Windows 10. Recent macOS releases block its installer, so Mac users on current macOS need FTM 2024.
Does Family Tree Maker 2017 still sync with Ancestry?
On a Mac, yes. On Windows, many FTM 2017 users cannot sign in to Ancestry at all, which blocks both syncing and web search. The publisher says its engineers are working on a fix but has not released one, and its own advice is to upgrade to FTM 2024 or wait.
What build number is Family Tree Maker 2017?
Build 23.3. Any build starting with 23 is FTM 2017.
Still not sure what you have?
We identify your edition and tell you whether an upgrade is worth it. No fix, no fee.