How to download your raw DNA data from 23andMe or AncestryDNA

You can use an existing consumer DNA test to explore educational reports without ordering another kit. First, obtain the raw DNA data download from the provider that performed your test. This is different from a PDF of your results, an ancestry map, or a screenshot.

The steps below follow the providers’ official help pages as checked on October 12, 2026. Account screens and download rules can change, so use the linked official instructions if the labels differ in your account. Only download data for yourself or someone whose data you are authorized to manage.

Download raw DNA data from 23andMe

In your 23andMe account, open the raw data tool, or use your profile menu: Resources → Browse Raw Genotyping Data → Download.

1. Confirm the date of birth for the selected profile.
2. Read the download information, acknowledge it, and submit the request.
3. Wait for the email telling you the download is ready. 23andMe says this usually takes about one week and can take up to 30 days.
4. Follow the email’s instructions and verify the profile birthdate again to download.

Look for a ZIP file with a name beginning with genome. Some computers automatically extract the text file. For account-specific problems, follow 23andMe’s official raw data instructions or contact its support team.

Download raw DNA data from AncestryDNA

1. Open DNA Settings and select the relevant test.
2. Under Download or Delete, choose Download DNA data.
3. Acknowledge the notice and continue.
4. Verify your account using your current password or a code sent by email.
5. Wait for the download email, which Ancestry says can take up to 24 hours.
6. Use Download DNA Data in the email, then download from the page that opens.

The file is a ZIP named dna-data-(date).zip; it is not an email attachment. Only the latest requested link works. It can be used once and expires after a week. Consult Ancestry’s official instructions if you need to restart a request.

Keep the original file intact

Save the provider’s download in a private folder you can locate later. Leave one original copy untouched. If you keep a backup, choose a location with access controls you understand. A shared work folder or public cloud link is a poor place for an identifiable genetic file.

You do not need to turn the download into a spreadsheet, edit the rows, or copy the letters into another document. Opening and saving it through another application can change separators or formatting. If you accidentally modify the file, use the untouched original or request a fresh download.

Check that the download has finished before selecting it. A cloud placeholder, partial download, PDF, or empty file is not the raw data export. If your computer extracted the ZIP automatically, keep track of both the archive and the text file rather than creating an archive of unrelated documents.

Prepare the file for Evigenics

Evigenics accepts raw 23andMe and AncestryDNA exports as .txt or .zip, plus compatible VCF files. The current file-selection screen allows files up to 256 MB. You can select the original provider ZIP directly; you do not need to extract it just for Evigenics.

The browser reads the raw file locally. To generate a report, it sends the genotype pairs matching the curated variant list, together with the profile information and consent you provide. The resulting report is saved to your account. “The raw file stays in your browser” does not mean no genetic information is processed. Read the privacy notice before continuing.

If the file cannot be read, start with simple checks: is it the provider’s raw export, has it fully downloaded, and have you selected the correct person’s file? Use Evigenics support for product questions. Send the error message and provider name rather than attaching your genetic file to an ordinary support email.

What happens after the download?

A download gives you data to interpret; it does not make every later interpretation medically reliable. Before using a report, learn what raw DNA data can and cannot tell you. Before choosing a service, review these DNA privacy questions and decide which uses you are comfortable with.

Evigenics reports are educational and do not diagnose a condition or replace clinical genetic testing. Use a report to prepare informed questions for a qualified healthcare professional. When your file is ready and you have reviewed the processing details, begin with your existing DNA file.