How to download your MyHeritage DNA raw data

A step-by-step guide · Updated June 2026

23andMe & raw DNA

What is MyHeritage raw data?

When MyHeritage processes your saliva sample, it reads several hundred thousand specific positions in your genome called SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms). The ethnicity estimate and DNA Matches you see in your account use only part of that. The raw data is the complete table of markers MyHeritage measured — a plain text file you can download and analyze yourself, or import into other tools.

It's the same kind of file you'd get from 23andMe or AncestryDNA, just formatted slightly differently. That means tools built to read 23andMe data can almost always read MyHeritage data too. If you also tested with those services, the guides on downloading 23andMe raw data and downloading AncestryDNA raw data walk through the same idea for each provider.

A useful way to think about it: the ethnicity report is MyHeritage's interpretation of your DNA for one specific purpose — estimating where your ancestors likely came from. The raw data is the underlying measurement. Once you have the measurement in hand, you're no longer limited to the questions MyHeritage chose to answer. You can look at trait markers, carrier-status variants, and pharmacogenomic positions that the ancestry product simply doesn't surface. The catch — covered further down — is that a genotyping array is not a clinical test, and reading these markers yourself is exploration, not diagnosis.

How to download your MyHeritage DNA raw data, step by step

The raw-data download is done on the MyHeritage website, not the mobile app. On a computer:

1. Log in to your account at myheritage.com.
2. In the top menu, click DNA, then Manage DNA kits.
3. Find your kit and open its actions menu (the three dots, or the kit options).
4. Choose Download kit (sometimes shown as "Download raw DNA data").
5. Read and accept the on-screen consent, then enter your password to verify it's you.
6. Submit the request. MyHeritage emails you a secure download link — usually within minutes, occasionally up to 24 hours.
7. Open the email, click the link, and save the file. It downloads as a .csv file inside a .zip.

A few things worth knowing before you start. The download is tied to the kit's administrator — the account that manages it — so if a relative set up your test, you'll either need access to that account or need them to run the export for you. MyHeritage also asks for your password as a deliberate friction point: because raw genetic data is sensitive, it wants to confirm the request came from you and not from a session someone left open. And the emailed link is time-limited and single-use, so download it promptly and save the file rather than relying on the link later.

What your MyHeritage raw data file looks like

Unzip the file and open it in any text editor or spreadsheet app. After a few header lines you'll see one row per marker:

• RSID — the reference ID for the marker (e.g. rs429358)
• CHROMOSOME and POSITION — where it sits in the genome
• RESULT — the two letters you inherited at that spot (e.g. AG)

A single row therefore reads something like rs429358,19,44908684,AG — a named marker, its chromosome and coordinate, and the two base letters (one from each parent) you carry there. Multiply that by several hundred thousand rows and you have the whole file.

One detail that trips people up: MyHeritage uses commas to separate the columns (a CSV), while 23andMe uses tabs. The information is equivalent — good analysis tools handle both automatically.

Build, size, and format notes

Two technical details matter if you plan to look up specific positions. First, the coordinates are reported against a specific reference genome build (the current consumer arrays use GRCh37/hg19). If you cross-reference a position against a database that uses a different build, the coordinate numbers won't line up — so match the build, or work with RSIDs, which stay stable across builds. Second, expect the unzipped CSV to be roughly 5–15 MB with several hundred thousand rows; the zipped download is smaller. If what you get is only a few kilobytes, the export didn't complete and you should request it again.

It's also worth understanding what these arrays don't contain. A consumer genotyping chip reads a fixed, pre-chosen set of positions — it is not whole-genome sequencing. Anything outside that panel simply isn't in your file, which is one more reason the data is best treated as a broad, exploratory snapshot rather than a complete readout of your genome.

Common problems and how to fix them

Most downloads go smoothly, but a few snags come up often enough to name:

• No email arrives. Check spam and promotions folders first — the message comes from an automated address and often lands there. If it's still missing after a few hours, request the export again from Manage DNA kits; the earlier link may have expired or already been used. Confirm the email on your account is one you can actually check.
• The kit doesn't appear. A kit only shows up once it's fully processed and assigned to the account you're signed into. If a relative administers it, or you tested under a different email, sign in with that account instead. Kits still being analyzed in the lab won't be listed until results are ready.
• Can't get past the password step. The export requires re-entering your account password. If you've forgotten it, reset it through the normal login flow, then return to the download page.
• You want to use the app. The raw-data export isn't available in the MyHeritage mobile app — use a desktop or laptop browser.
• The file looks tiny or empty. A complete export is several megabytes. A file of a few kilobytes means the export failed; simply request it again.

What you can — and can't — learn from it

Your raw data is a rich starting point, but it's important to be clear-eyed about what it is. A MyHeritage kit is a consumer ancestry genotyping array, not a medical test. It reads a fixed panel of common variants; it doesn't sequence your genome, and it wasn't validated to diagnose disease.

That has two practical consequences. First, the file is research-grade: individual positions can be miscalled, and a single unexpected genotype at one marker is more likely to be array noise than a real finding. Reputable clinical results are confirmed on a separate, validated test for exactly this reason. Second, most health-relevant traits are polygenic — shaped by many variants plus diet, sleep, activity, and environment — so no single letter in this file "determines" an outcome.

With those caveats set, there's still plenty worth exploring: single-gene trait markers (like caffeine metabolism or bitter-taste perception), carrier-status variants worth discussing with a professional, and well-studied pharmacogenomic genes. The point is to treat findings as prompts for better questions, not answers.

Handling a raw DNA file safely

Once the ZIP lands in your Downloads folder, you're holding one of the most sensitive files you'll ever own — a record you can't revoke, reissue, or change if it leaks. A few habits keep it safe:

• Keep a single controlled copy. Store it somewhere encrypted (an encrypted drive, or a password manager's secure file storage) rather than leaving loose copies scattered across devices, email attachments, and shared folders.
• Think twice before uploading. Every upload to a third-party service is a copy of your genome outside your control. Prefer tools that read the file locally.
• Be cautious with "free" upload sites. If a service is free and asks you to upload your raw data, ask how it makes money — genetic data is valuable, and "free" analysis is sometimes the price.

What to do with your raw data next

On its own the file is unreadable, so you feed it into an analysis tool to translate those genotypes into plain-language findings — traits, carrier status, and pharmacogenomics. The same tools that interpret 23andMe raw data generally accept MyHeritage files, and our complete guide to analyzing raw DNA data applies here too.

This is where the important choice comes in.

Is it safe to upload your raw DNA to third-party sites?

Most interpretation tools ask you to upload your raw file to their servers. That means handing your genetic data — the one piece of information you can never change — to another company, subject to its policies, breaches, and whatever happens to it if the company is sold. As the collapse of consumer-genomics companies has shown, uploading is a one-way decision with permanent data.

There is a safer path: analyze the file on your own device, so it never leaves your phone. Quanome reads your MyHeritage, 23andMe, or AncestryDNA raw file locally, alongside your labs and Apple Health data, and never uploads it. For more on owning your genetic data, browse the rest of the Quanome blog.

Frequently asked questions

Is downloading my MyHeritage DNA raw data free?

Yes. Downloading your own raw DNA data from your MyHeritage account is free. Some third-party tools then charge to interpret it; on-device options like Quanome avoid uploading it at all.

What file format is MyHeritage raw data?

MyHeritage delivers raw data as a comma-separated CSV file inside a .zip, listing RSID, chromosome, position, and your genotype. Most analysis tools also accept this format alongside 23andMe and AncestryDNA files.

How long does the MyHeritage raw data download take?

After you confirm the request, MyHeritage emails a secure download link. This usually arrives within minutes but can take up to 24 hours at busy times.

Can I use my MyHeritage raw data in other apps?

Yes. Once downloaded, the raw file is yours to analyze in third-party tools. The most private option is an on-device app like Quanome that reads the file locally instead of uploading it.

The download link never arrived — what do I do?

First check your spam and promotions folders, since the email comes from an automated address. If it's still missing after a few hours, log back in, go to Manage DNA kits, and request the download again — the earlier request may have expired or the link may have already been used. Make sure you're using the same email address that's on your MyHeritage account.

My DNA kit isn't showing under Manage DNA kits.

The kit has to be fully processed and assigned to the account you're logged into. If someone else administers the kit, or you tested under a different email, log in with that account. Kits still being processed in the lab won't appear until results are ready.

How big is the MyHeritage raw data file?

The unzipped CSV is usually around 5–15 MB and covers several hundred thousand SNPs. The zipped download is smaller, typically 2–6 MB. If your file is only a few kilobytes, the export likely failed — request it again.

Is MyHeritage raw data a medical or diagnostic test?

No. It's a consumer ancestry genotyping file, not a clinical test. Raw data is research-grade and can contain individual miscalls, so it should never be used to diagnose a condition or make a medical decision on its own. Confirm anything health-related with a clinician and, where appropriate, a validated clinical test.

Can I import MyHeritage data if I also have 23andMe or AncestryDNA files?

Yes. Good analysis tools accept all three formats, so you can explore each file you own. Quanome reads MyHeritage, 23andMe, and AncestryDNA raw data on your device.