UPDATED transfer options can be found here.
A frequently asked question is “Can I transfer my autosomal DNA data from company A to site B?” Transferring is a great way to get into an extra database (or two, or three, or four) without the added time and expense of doing another test from scratch. Remember: the relative who might help you solve your next family puzzle may have already taken a DNA test at a different company than you; you need to be in the same database to find one another. But keeping track of which sites accept transfers from which testing companies can drive you mad. Take this diagram, for instance:
To which I can only say: BWAHAHAHA! If you can follow that, I’ve got a wiring diagram for a vintage BMW motorcycle I’d like you to take a look at.
The table below might be more helpful. To use it, find the company who performed your autosomal DNA test in the top row, then follow that column down to see which sites will accept transfers of your DNA data. As always, be sure to read the Terms of Service for each company/database before you transfer.
I hope you find it useful!
| If you tested at (1): | Ancestry DNA |
23andMe | Family Tree DNA | MyHeritage |
||
| You can transfer to | AncestryDNA (1) | — | No | No | No | No |
| 23andMe (1) | No | — | No | No | No | |
| Family Tree DNA (2) | YES | YES | — | Yes? | No | |
| MyHeritage (3) | YES | YES | YES | — | No | |
| WeGene (4) | YES | YES | No | No | — | |
| DNA.Land (5) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| GEDmatch (6) | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | |
(1) AncestryDNA and 23andMe do not accept transfers of DNA data, but their results can be transferred to most other sites. They are like Type O blood for genetic genealogy—the (almost) universal donors. As of this writing, their databases contain approximately 4 million and 2 million testers, respectively.
(2) Transfers to Family Tree DNA can see and contact their DNA matches for free. For a $19 fee, they can access additional tools, like ethnicity estimates and the chromosome browser. Testers who used the newer versions of AncestryDNA (v2) and 23andMe (v4) will not receive distant, speculative matches at FTDNA. If they want distant matches, they can purchase a new Family Finder test. Their database is estimated at over 500,000 people.
(3) MyHeritage transfers are free and receive a list of DNA matches. Ethnicity estimates are not included. (UPDATE: MyHeritage began providing ethnicity estimates to customers who transferred into their database in late May 2017.) The size of their database is not known.
(4) WeGene serves primarily an Asian market. They do not currently have relative matching but plan to add it in the future. The size of their database is not known.
(5) DNA.Land accepted transfers but did not offer DNA tests themselves. They announced on 15 Sep 2019 that they were ceasing operation as a non-profit research site run by academics and relaunching as an independent commercial enterprise. In compliance with the original research consent agreements, the DNA kits in the academic database will be deleted on 30 Sep 2019. User who want to participate in the commercial venture can upload again starting 1 Oct 2019. The academic site offered relative matching, ethnicity estimates, and reports on wellness and physical traits, and the commercial site is likely to offer similar features.
(6) If AncestryDNA and 23andMe are the universal donors of autosomal DNA testing, GEDmatch is the universal acceptor. Transfers and most tools are free, including relative matching, ethnicity (admixture) estimates, phasing, and archaic matches. Additional “Tier 1” tools available for a donation of $10 per month. Their database contains more than 500,000 uploads.
NOTE: This post has been updated to include the database sizes as of May 2017, more information on the features available at each site, and a note that MyHeritage began providing ethnicity estimates to people who have transferred into their database after the original publication of this blog post.
The MyHeritage testing is done by FamilyTreeDNA – according to Bennett Greenspan.
MyHeritage entered the DNA market by selling FTDNA Family Finder kits. MyHeritage has since come out with their own branded product. It’s still run by FTDNA’s lab (at least in the US), but it’s separate product with a separate database of users.
I have been trying to upload my DNA from MyHeritage to FamilyTreeDNA, and am told I have the wrong extension. They say for me me to contact FamilyTreeDNA, it’s not their problem.
What does FTDNA say?
Problems of transfer of a recent AncestryDNA test to FTDNA. Is there a solution?
Thanks for contacting us.
Unfortunately, the problem is on Ancestry’s end. There is an issue with the size of some of their files (The formatting of the columns is skewed-— the data is not lining up in the proper column or category. Any time a rsid# in the first column is smaller than 5 digits then the rest of the data on that line is skewed and does not read the proper column or category. The same thing happens where the position number, in the third column, is smaller than 8 digits. That skews the rest of the columns in that line.) and that is why some of them are not uploading, like what you have experienced.
Other sites with transfers available, like Gedmatch and MyHeritage, have different transfer processes. Their upload accepts files of any size and format, which is why you would have been able to upload the file to either or both of those websites with no trouble. However, the files must be in the same size and format as all other Ancestry V1 or V2 files in order to work with FTDNA’s upload so that our system can properly translate the data and give Family Finder results.
I apologize again for the trouble you are experiencing when trying to transfer. Please contact Ancestry for an accurate raw data file.
Best,
Katy R.
Family Tree DNA
Hopefully, FTDNA can figure out a solution similar to those of GEDmatch and MyHeritage.
Geno 2?
Good question. I didn’t include them as they don’t do relative matching and (at least to my knowledge) aren’t planning to. Can Geno 2.0 still be transferred to FTDNA and GEDmatch? Anywhere else?
Geno 2 can be transferred but does not give relative matching. Geno 2+ sold before Nov. 2016 can be transferred for free, and Family Finder autosomal unlocked for $39. Geno 2+ sold after Nov. 2016 cannot be transferred.
I didn’t include Geno because they don’t do relative matching and aren’t planning to. I can add them if the community thinks it’s worthwhile.
Unlocks at FTDNA are now $19, and the free transfer there gives you all of your matches, not just the top 20.
Hello!
As of today there’s no officially confirmed option to upload MyHeritage raw data to FTDNA. A few months ago some i got an answer from an employee without any estimates.
From what I understand, MyHeriage does not have their download feature online yet, so there’s nothing to upload elsewhere.
Could you please explain? I didn’t understand. I did download my raw data from MH and upload it to Gedmatch.
You are correct. The download at MyHeritage is working now. I called FTDNA today and was told that they’ll accept MyHeritage uploads “within a couple of months”.
A very good news! As of today i was able to upload my raw data to FTDNA. It takes about 24 hours data to be accepted.
Thanks for letting me know! I have an updated version of this post that reflects the changes here: https://thednageek.com/whats-new-in-autosomal-dna-transfers/
This is the reply I received fro MyHeritage today.
Hi Norm,
Yes, we do not currently accept transfers from MyHeritage.
Thanks,
Chris W.
Information Specialist
Family Tree DNA
http://www.familytreedna.com
That’s unfortunate.
Had I known, I would not have had my DNA tested by MyHeritage!
Patience! FTDNA has said they’ll have the transfer back up soon (a few months?).
I have not yet received my results but tested through GenesforGood. Do you know if other sites accept their results? I would like to transfer them if possible. I am researching my family tree and it is most important to me to get closer to finding some distant relatives.
Your best bet would be to test with AncestryDNA and 23andMe, then transfer those results to the other sites. If you can only afford one, do AncestryDNA.
You can transfer your genesforgood to gedmatch.com as well as codegen.eu
Yes, you can transfer Genes for Good to GEDmatch. It should be assigned a kit number that begins with the letter “G”. I don’t know about codegen.eu.
codegen.eu is like Promethease and genesforgood works there too
Genes for Good kits are processed by 23andMe. Newer kits (after about Aug 2017) have the new chip and there were initially problems uploading raw data to some of the sites, including GedMatch.
I contacted the techs at GedMatch and they suggested unzipping the raw data file and uploading just the GFG_filtered_unphased_genotypes_23andMe.txt file. There is no need to re-ZIP it. It uploaded to both the old GedMatch as well as the Genesis GedMatch sites.
If it’s the same chip at 23andMe v5, you won’t be able to do one-to-many in regular GEDmatch. One-to-ones work, though.
It is the V5 chip, and I do One-to-Many matches all the time.
Are you uploading the unphased file or the imputed one?
Unphased… see my original comment
It’s odd that the 23andMe v5 files don’t work in regular GEDmatch but the GfG one does.
Is there any difference between the raw data 23andMe provides to their customers in purchased kits compared to the GFG kits? I would not think so….
Has anyone who had a purchased 23andMe kit tried unzipping the raw data file and just uploading the unphased text file?
I can only say it worked fine for me, and for people I suggested this method too.
I can’t speak to differences between the 23andMe v5 and GfG kits. However, GEDmatch created Genesis because they could not provide reliable matching for v5 kits. Tricking the regular GEDmatch system into taking such a kit will not get around the problems caused by having so little overlapping data.
I had more trouble uploading to Genesis than I did to the old GedMatch.
Although I have more matches on Genesis, they are nearly useless to me because there are no GED or WIKI trees included. It really was disappointing to find that out once I finally was able to upload the data file.
Can only autosomal DNA be transferred? I did autosomal/Family Finder on Ancestry and mtfull on FTM and would like to transfer both to MyHeritage.
Also, when you say transfer you only transfer a “copy” right? I don’t want to actually remove the DNA from either site.
You can only transfer autosomal. And yes, when you transfer, you’re transferring a copy of the data file. The data at your original testing company isn’t affected.
Another site is Gencove
You can transfer from Ancestry to 23 & Me Now – read more here: https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003152494-Upload-Your-Results-with-Discover23
Unfortunately, that offer was only valid for one day (April 25, 2018) and it did not include relative matching. For anyone wanting to find biological relatives, the best advice is still to test at both AncestryDNA and 23andMe, then transfer the AncestryDNA results to the other sites.
Well shoot, you seem to be right. I didn’t read that part I guess.
Last year it was already possible to upload your Myheritage DNA data to FTDNA. And then to upload your converted FTDNA data to DNA.land. I did it that way. For a few months it’s also possible to upload your Myheritage DNA data straight to DNA.land. I did it too just for fun – and I got very different results of the ethnic estimate!
Please see the link at the top of the post that will direct you to updated information.
Hi there, I would like to subscribe for
this weblog to obtain most recent updates, therefore
where can i do it please help.
There is an option to subscribe in the right-hand panel if you’re using a computer. On a phone or pad, you may need to scroll to the bottom to find it.
This statement, above, is in need of revision:
> (5) DNA.Land is a non-profit research site run by academics. They accept transfers but do not offer DNA tests themselves. They offer relative matching…
I just contacted DNA.Land. They responded:
> We have decided to discontinue relative matching. Although there is no indication that law enforcement agencies have used DNA Land, the field is quite divided on the issue of sharing genetic data to investigate crimes. We care about your privacy and have decided to remove this information for the time being.
I contacted Yaniv Erlich, one of the lead scientists at DNA.Land, and he said that matching would be back within a couple of weeks.
Good to know. Thanks for the update!
UPDATE: DNA.Land announced on 15 Sep 2019 that they are closing as an academic research project on 30 Sep and relaunching as an independent website on 1 Oct. All of the kits currently in the DNA.Land database will be deleted. People wanting to continue to use “DNA.Land 2.0” can upload again once the new site is open.
https://medium.com/@dl1dl1/important-announcement-cbcd0e5718bd
https://medium.com/@dl1dl1/dna-land-is-relaunching-34f5a505504f