OpenAnyFile
What is a .ged file?
GEDCOM Genealogy File is a data format developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first released in 1984. It is usually created by Ancestry, MyHeritage, Gramps.
Level-numbered text records of individuals and families — the standard for moving family trees between programs.
File details
| Full name | GEDCOM Genealogy File |
|---|---|
| Category | Data & science |
| MIME type | text/plain |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 30 20 48 45 41 44 (0 HEAD) |
| Developer | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Introduced | 1984 |
| Opens with | Text reader |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .ged file
OpenAnyFile routes .ged files to its text reader, which shows the full text.
- Drop your .ged file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the text reader.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: the full text. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .ged file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .ged files
Can I open a .ged file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .ged files in your browser using its text reader. You get the full text, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .ged file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine GED file begins with 30 20 48 45 41 44 (0 HEAD). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .ged file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.