When it comes to genetic research, Ancestry.com provides the most matches and detailed information. However, MyHeritage is another genetic and genealogical database that can provide researchers different information, more matches, and a variety of DNA tools. MyHeritage has tools such as Auto clusters, and Chromosome Browsers that will allow us to go deeper and expand our research.

MyHeritage is another autosomal DNA database just like Ancestry. They have their own DNA test people can take; however, they also allow users of all major testing providers to upload their DNA results to MyHeritage, widening your matching pool and making it possible for you to match with even more new relatives for free. MyHeritage maintains the same privacy, and your results will appear in a way very similar to Ancestry.

For those who have tested with Ancestry.com, if you are willing, we ask that you upload your DNA results with MyHeritage as well. This will allow us to expand our research and evaluate more matches.

Wait, then why do I need Ancestry?

Ancestry.com is the database that contains the largest amount of test takers. Therefore, when you upload your DNA, it gets compared to those other test-takers and provides you with DNA matches. This will help you discover your ancestors. MyHeritage allows you to upload your Ancestry DNA results for free into their database. This makes it so that your DNA is compared to test takers in the MyHeritage database, allowing you to discover more matches, and more family. This is a great addition to what is in Ancestry.com. With results in both, it helps with our research immensely by doubling the amount of matches we can evaluate.

To do this, you will need to first make a MyHeritage account (please see the section titled “Setting up Accounts”). You will then need to download your DNA data from Ancestry. Once you have it downloaded, it needs to be uploaded to MyHeritage. Instructions for all three parts of this process are below:

 DOWNLOADING YOUR DNA RESULTS FROM ANCESTRY

Step 1

From your DNA homepage once you login to Ancestry, click “ Account Settings” in the top-right corner.

Step 2

Click on the “DNA” setting on the left side of the screen

Step 3

On your DNA settings page, scroll to the Actions section (under the Test Management

heading) and click “Download” next to Download DNA Data.

Step 4

Enter your password, check the box, and click “Confirm”. You'll get an email containing a link to confirm the download. The downloaded file will not be in the email itself; in the email, you'll click a link that will bring you back to Ancestry.

Step 5

In the email, click “Download DNA Data”. A download link can be used just once, and it will expire after one week. If your link has expired, start over at step 1.

Step 6

If prompted, sign back into Ancestry. On the Download DNA Data page on Ancestry, click “Download DNA Data”. If you’re brought to a page that contains a DNA advertisement rather than a sign in page, you may be signed into someone else’s account; click the name or username in the top-right corner to sign out, then sign into your account and start over at step 1.

Step 7

The file will be downloaded to your computer. The file name will be dna-data-(date).zip. If you can’t find it, check your Downloads folder or search for the file name (if you have a PC) by clicking the Windows key on your keyboard and entering the file name in the search field that appears, or (if you have an Apple computer) by clicking the Spotlight icon in the top-right corner of your screen and entering the file name in the search field. To open the file, double-click it.

 UPLOADING YOUR RESULTS TO MYHERITAGE

Step 1

Go to this website: https://www.myheritage.com/dna/upload

Step 2

Click on the “Start” button

Step 3

Click on the “Continue” button

Step 4

Read and mark the box to sign the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, the

processing of genetic data information, and the uploading for personal use agreement.

Step 5

Mark “Yes” to Enabling DNA Matches. (We cannot do our research without this

marked as affirmative)

Step 6

When it comes to the screen that says, “Sharing data with DNA Matches”, you can

choose whether or not to mark “yes” or “no”.

Step 7

Mark the consent button to “Participation in research”.

Step 8

Click on the “Upload” button.

Step 9

After you click the upload button, it will take you to your PC folders. Go to downloads

and you should find your DNA file that you downloaded from Ancestry. If you forgot this step,

please refer to “Step 7” in the “Downloading Your DNA Results From Ancestry” section above.

**Note: You have to download your DNA from Ancestry before you can upload it to MyHeritage.

Step 10

Once you upload your DNA, it will take 2-3 business days for it to process. You should receive an email after that time stating that “Your DNA has been successfully uploaded”. This email will contain information and instructions to accessing your uploaded results through your MyHeritage Account.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us!