Skip Nav

How to Use the MyHeritage App That's on TikTok

People on TikTok Are Using an App to Animate Photos of Their Loved Ones, and It's So Emotional

@kimberlyrenisehunt

I’m still crying 😢 The app is Myheritage #fyp #McDonaldsCCSing #VideoSnapChallenge #grandma #grandpa #myheritage #myheritagechallenge

♬ record before u listen - penny lane

Looking through old family photos is always an emotional experience, especially if you didn't know your relatives when they were that young or they have passed away. If you've ever looked at a photograph and wished you could go back for just a few seconds, now you can . . . in a small, special way. Tons of TikTok users have shared their results after using the MyHeritage app to animate old photos of their loved ones, and the results will make you heart swell and break at the same time.

The MyHeritage app brings life to an otherwise still image by making the person's head, eyes, and lips move, and those small changes are enough to remind people of their loved ones' mannerisms. TikTok user @thebergmanfamily said, "I brought my dad back for 13 seconds after 8 years," while user @caroleigh30 said, "I brought back my momma for 17 seconds. I have no videos of her so this MEANT SO MUCH to me."

To animate your own photos, start by downloading the free MyHeritage app on your phone. Then, sign up for free (I used Facebook to log in). You'll be asked a series of questions about your family tree — who are your mother, father, and grandparents; where they were born; and their birthdates — and you're encouraged to fill out as much as you know. From there, the app will research your family tree to find more information entered by other users. Once you're in the app, click on the three lines on the top left corner and select "photos" from the drop-down menu. Upload the photo you want to animate, then click on the animate button (it looks like a circle with lines behind it). In just a few seconds, your picture will come to life with short movements that look so incredibly realistic. You can then share the post on TikTok.

Keep reading to see more beautiful moments of people using this app (just bring plenty of tissues!).

Latest Tech