Have Ancestry.com's Y-DNA or mtDNA Tests? Make Sure You Download Your Results and Data Before it is Deleted

For anyone out there that had a Y-DNA or mtDNA test done with Ancestry.com, remember you only have until September 30th, 2014 (it was September 5th) to download your test results and copy your matches.

Ancestry.com will retire (delete) all Y-DNA and mtDNA test results and matches from its website on September 30th. Do not wait until the last minute to save your information to your computer. (Please note that AncestryDNA -- the autosomal test -- is not effected by this retirement.) 

See the DNA Frequently Asked Questions page at Ancestry.com for more information. If you purchased a Y-DNA or mtDNA test but did not use it/have it processed, there is a phone number to call and get a refund of the cost of the test and any taxes paid. Shipping costs will not be refunded.

To download your Y-DNA or mtDNA test results, sign into your Ancestry.com account and go to "Your DNA Home Page." Go to the Y-DNA or mtDNA test page. (Note: I can't see this but it is probably similar to the AncestryDNA test page.) Essentially, for each person you had tested, click on Settings to the right of the tested person's name. Then likely to the right will be a column with Actions, select  "Download Your Raw DNA Data." (Do not select delete this test.) Follow the directions given to download your raw DNA data and then you will have a copy of that test's results on your computer. Repeat this for each test you had done.

With your results downloaded, you can transfer your raw data to another genealogy/DNA testing company if you choose to do so. Transferring generally costs a little bit less than purchasing a new test. (Note that with a transferred test you will not be able to add/upgrade another type of test to it because the company will only have the raw data your transferred, it will not have the actual DNA sample. To have the person tested for another type of DNA you would have to have a new test kit sent.)

Now as to your matches/potential matches, you will need to either page by page or individually print these out to paper, print these out as pdf files, or make screen captures of your matches to preserve them for future reference. If you have definite matches, you should likely print/preserve that individual match.

You can also check the Ancestry.com community forum for DNA for other ideas on how to preserve your matches for the future.

Also remember that Ancestry.com owned websites, MyFamily and Mundia (English) are also retiring on September 30th. The website Genealogy.com is being retired too but some of it will be changed to a read-only website (i.e. community message boards). Recently the website, MyCanvas, has been sold and will change hands instead of retire.

See you soon at the Mt Clemens Public Library!

LE