How do you flag new common ancestors?
 

I check weekly and, as is to be expected, rarely get new matches. But, to keep tabs on them, and quantify them, I also colour code them. Every so often, I filter common ancestors and check whether I have my colour spot by them. Invariably, I find new names. If I (or the match) adds to our trees, Ancestry does not think it is "new" so does not bring it to my attention.

Best Mate has over two hundred matches with common ancestors, so checking the list is a task and a half. Can anyone think of a better way?

Oh, and inevitably I have several false ancestors, as there are errors in trees. Cousin is apparently not black now, but Jewish.

I just look through all the "Common ancestors" matches to spot any which haven't got comments.

All the matches I keep already have comments. When I do the exercise, I'm scrolling through over 400 common ancestors - and a glitch in Ancestry means that for some it knows there IS a common ancestor, but refuses to yield its secrets. Mutter.

Every now and then I check if I have any new Common Matches by filtering them using the Common Matches and Unviewed Buttons. Today I had 2 new ones after months of nothing!

Indeed, and occasionally I find common ancestors I've hidden, because the match has added a tree. But I look at every single match, and Ancestry only flags those common ancestors where the match itself is new.

I have only a handful with common ancestors. Not sure the point of putting your DNA on Ancestry if you don’t put a tree and refuse to answer messages.

Not everyone is interested in their wider family tree. I've found people who were given it as a present, did it for a laugh, worried about their paternity, died, got bored, not to mention those who may have forgotten their email address or don't subscribe. To look at someone else's tree, you have to pay. It's a lot of money if you're not really interested. I found one person who would have solved a childhood mystery - had I contacted earlier. He was too ill to care anymore.

Loads of people just do it for their ethnicity. A friend did. Not interested in contacting anyone and doesn’t pay the sub anyway.

Does anyone know how often "Common Ancestors" are updated?

My son tested recently, and of course we have loads of matches in common, but I was surprised to find when I checked his Common Ancestors that he has Common Ancestor trees for many of our matches which I don't.

I think it should be whenever ThruLines is updated, which is usually every 2 or 3 days.