How to download your MyHeritage DNA raw data
If you've taken a MyHeritage DNA test, the colorful ethnicity report is only part of what you paid for. The full set of genetic markers lives in your raw data file — a download you can take elsewhere to explore health, carrier, and trait markers the standard report doesn't cover. Here's exactly how to get it, what's inside, and how to read it without handing your genome to a stranger.
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.
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:
- Log in to your account at myheritage.com.
- In the top menu, click DNA, then Manage DNA kits.
- Find your kit and open its actions menu (the three dots, or the kit options).
- Choose Download kit (sometimes shown as "Download raw DNA data").
- Read and accept the on-screen consent, then enter your password to verify it's you.
- Submit the request. MyHeritage emails you a secure download link — usually within minutes, occasionally up to 24 hours.
- Open the email, click the link, and save the file. It downloads as a
.csvfile inside a.zip.
MyHeritage occasionally redesigns its account pages, so the exact wording may shift. Look for "Manage DNA kits" under the DNA menu, then the per-kit download option. Keep your own copy somewhere safe once you have it.
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)
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.
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 — health risk, carrier status, pharmacogenomics, and traits. 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.
Want a look right now? Try our free DNA raw data explorer — drop your file and it's parsed instantly in your browser, with nothing uploaded. A quick taste of the on-device approach.
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.
Read your MyHeritage raw data privately, on your device
Quanome imports your MyHeritage, 23andMe, or Ancestry raw data and analyzes it on your device — never uploaded. Learn more about Quanome →
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.
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