Activate Quick Search via ctrl/cmd + /

What problem does Quick Search solve?

Searching the Ancestry Card Catalog for specific record collections can be time-consuming, requiring users to navigate to the catalog page and manually search through numerous options. Quick Search provides a faster, more efficient way to search for record collections from anywhere. Often times when researching we need to cross reference the FamilySearch Wiki, which can be done in a flash with Quick Search.

How does Quick Search work?

With Quick Search, you can open a search prompt by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + / (Windows) or CMD + / (Mac). This prompt enables you to quickly search for record collections in the Card Catalog using keywords, such as census years, locations, or record types. Results are displayed immediately, and selecting an entry takes you directly to the collection’s search page. In addition you can also quickly search terms in the FamilySearch Wiki from the same search box.

How do I use Quick Search?

• Ensure Quick Search is enabled in the Genealogy Assistant pop-up panel.
• From any page on the Ancestry website, press Ctrl + / (Windows) or Cmd + / (Mac) to open the Card Catalog Search prompt.
• Type the name of the record collection or keywords you want to search for (e.g., 1950 Census or Ontario Birth).
• Popular Census and Birth/Marriage/Death records for the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand will be automatically appear.
• Use the arrow keys or mouse to select a result. You can choose to search the Ancestry Card Catalog by title/keyword or the FamilySearch Wiki. Press Enter to navigate directly to that collection’s search page.
• You can use a search prefix to quick search a specific database:
  • Type title before your keywords to search titles in the Ancestry Card Catalog.
  • Type keyword before your keywords to search keywords in the Ancestry Card Catalog.
  • Type wiki before your keywords to search the FamilySearch Wiki.
• Your 3 most recent searches will be automatically displayed when opening the search prompt.

Quick Search Keyboard Shortcut:

Ctrl + / (Windows) or Cmd + / (Mac)

Quick Search is a feature of the software Genealogy Assistant.

Genealogy Assistant is an extension for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge which supercharges your family history research by adding 50+ custom features to popular genealogy websites like Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, FamilyTreeDNA and more. You can watch a full video walkthrough on YouTube.

Install Genealogy Assistant for Google Chrome | Install for Microsoft Edge