AQ File

What are AQ files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an AQ file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your AQ files.

What is an AQ file?

An .AQ file is an Ancestral Quest Family Tree Database file.

An Ancestral Quest Family Tree Database file is used by Ancestral Quest genealogy software (by Incline Software) to store all of your family history information in a single native database. It holds records of individuals, families, dates, events, sources, notes, relationships and multimedia links, enabling pedigree, descendant, family view, reports, charts and timelines.

This file is created when you make a new database or convert older database formats into the AQ format within Ancestral Quest. You edit, save and reopen it using the software. It can be converted from older file types (such as Personal Ancestral File .PAF) or, if the Collaboration feature was used, from a collaborative file (.ac), but once it is an .aq file it is the standard editable form of your database. Ancestral Quest on both Windows and Mac uses the same .aq file format.

For newer versions (AQ 3 and later) the format is a single binary file. Its internal structure is proprietary and not publicly documented. It begins with the byte signature 41 51 00 00 31 30 30 00 (ASCII "AQ..100.") at offset 0.

How to open AQ files

We have identified one AQ opener that is compatible with this specific type of AQ file.

Programs that open Ancestral Quest Family Tree Database files

Last updated: August 5, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of AQ files. Remember, different programs may use AQ files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about AQ file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.