diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c99e8ad45df..12214a89f71 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ For upgrade instructions, please check the [migration guide](MIGRATIONS.md).
 [Commits](https://github.com/scalableminds/webknossos/compare/19.11.0...HEAD)
 
 ### Added
--
+- Added an API to set a tree active by name. [#4317](https://github.com/scalableminds/webknossos/pull/4317)
 
 ### Changed
 -
diff --git a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/api_latest.js b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/api_latest.js
index 4f5cf9e2e3e..020e1889770 100644
--- a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/api_latest.js
+++ b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/api_latest.js
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ import {
   setNodeRadiusAction,
   setTreeNameAction,
   setActiveTreeAction,
+  setActiveTreeByNameAction,
   setTreeColorIndexAction,
   setTreeVisibilityAction,
   setTreeGroupAction,
@@ -286,6 +287,18 @@ class TracingApi {
     Store.dispatch(setActiveTreeAction(treeId));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Makes the tree specified by name active. Within the tree, the node with the highest ID will be activated.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * api.tracing.setActiveTree("tree_1");
+   */
+  setActiveTreeByName(treeName: string) {
+    const { tracing } = Store.getState();
+    assertSkeleton(tracing);
+    Store.dispatch(setActiveTreeByNameAction(treeName));
+  }
+
   /**
    * Changes the color of the referenced tree. Internally, a pre-defined array of colors is used which is
    * why this function uses a colorIndex (between 0 and 500) instead of a proper color.
diff --git a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/cross_origin_api.js b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/cross_origin_api.js
index c51e3ea7e91..38f5d517062 100644
--- a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/cross_origin_api.js
+++ b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/api/cross_origin_api.js
@@ -27,6 +27,15 @@ const onMessage = event => {
       api.tracing.resetSkeletonTracing();
       break;
     }
+    case "setActiveTreeByName": {
+      const treeName = args[0];
+      if (_.isString(treeName)) {
+        api.tracing.setActiveTreeByName(treeName);
+      } else {
+        console.warn("The first argument needs to be the name of the tree.");
+      }
+      break;
+    }
     case "importNml": {
       const nmlAsString = args[0];
       if (_.isString(nmlAsString)) {
diff --git a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/actions/skeletontracing_actions.js b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/actions/skeletontracing_actions.js
index 2ea9558e962..85dc50f1d1f 100644
--- a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/actions/skeletontracing_actions.js
+++ b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/actions/skeletontracing_actions.js
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ type AddTreesAndGroupsAction = {
 type DeleteTreeAction = { type: "DELETE_TREE", treeId?: number, timestamp: number };
 type ResetSkeletonTracingAction = { type: "RESET_SKELETON_TRACING" };
 type SetActiveTreeAction = { type: "SET_ACTIVE_TREE", treeId: number };
+type SetActiveTreeByNameAction = { type: "SET_ACTIVE_TREE_BY_NAME", treeName: string };
 type DeselectActiveTreeAction = { type: "DESELECT_ACTIVE_TREE" };
 type SetActiveGroupAction = { type: "SET_ACTIVE_GROUP", groupId: number };
 type DeselectActiveGroupAction = { type: "DESELECT_ACTIVE_GROUP" };
@@ -124,6 +125,7 @@ export type SkeletonTracingAction =
   | DeleteTreeAction
   | ResetSkeletonTracingAction
   | SetActiveTreeAction
+  | SetActiveTreeByNameAction
   | DeselectActiveTreeAction
   | MergeTreesAction
   | SetTreeNameAction
@@ -157,6 +159,7 @@ export const SkeletonTracingSaveRelevantActions = [
   "ADD_TREES_AND_GROUPS",
   "DELETE_TREE",
   "SET_ACTIVE_TREE",
+  "SET_ACTIVE_TREE_BY_NAME",
   "SET_TREE_NAME",
   "MERGE_TREES",
   "SELECT_NEXT_TREE",
@@ -330,6 +333,11 @@ export const setActiveTreeAction = (treeId: number): SetActiveTreeAction => ({
   treeId,
 });
 
+export const setActiveTreeByNameAction = (treeName: string): SetActiveTreeByNameAction => ({
+  type: "SET_ACTIVE_TREE_BY_NAME",
+  treeName,
+});
+
 export const deselectActiveTreeAction = (): DeselectActiveTreeAction => ({
   type: "DESELECT_ACTIVE_TREE",
 });
diff --git a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/reducers/skeletontracing_reducer.js b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/reducers/skeletontracing_reducer.js
index 908b2fd399d..531aa90453e 100644
--- a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/reducers/skeletontracing_reducer.js
+++ b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/reducers/skeletontracing_reducer.js
@@ -370,6 +370,25 @@ function SkeletonTracingReducer(state: OxalisState, action: Action): OxalisState
             })
             .getOrElse(state);
         }
+        case "SET_ACTIVE_TREE_BY_NAME": {
+          const { treeName } = action;
+          const { trees } = skeletonTracing;
+          const treeWithMatchingName = _.values(trees).find(tree => tree.name === treeName);
+          if (!treeWithMatchingName) {
+            return state;
+          }
+          const newActiveNodeId = _.max(treeWithMatchingName.nodes.map(el => el.id)) || null;
+
+          return update(state, {
+            tracing: {
+              skeleton: {
+                activeNodeId: { $set: newActiveNodeId },
+                activeTreeId: { $set: treeWithMatchingName.treeId },
+                activeGroupId: { $set: null },
+              },
+            },
+          });
+        }
 
         case "DESELECT_ACTIVE_TREE": {
           return update(state, {
diff --git a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/sagas/skeletontracing_saga.js b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/sagas/skeletontracing_saga.js
index dbf74ce9822..fea634abf94 100644
--- a/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/sagas/skeletontracing_saga.js
+++ b/frontend/javascripts/oxalis/model/sagas/skeletontracing_saga.js
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ export function* watchSkeletonTracingAsync(): Saga<void> {
   yield _takeEvery(
     [
       "SET_ACTIVE_TREE",
+      "SET_ACTIVE_TREE_BY_NAME",
       "SET_ACTIVE_NODE",
       "DELETE_NODE",
       "DELETE_BRANCHPOINT",