How to Download and Upload 23andMe Raw Data for a Traits Report

Do I need to buy a new kit to get a traits report?

No. If your 23andMe results are complete, the raw data file you can already download is everything a second look needs. Your DNA doesn't change over your lifetime, so a file from an older test still works. Downloading your raw data also doesn't change anything in your 23andMe account; you're simply taking a copy of your file to read elsewhere.

Before you start

You'll need:

• Your 23andMe sign-in, and access to the email address on that account.
• A personal computer (23andMe itself recommends not downloading raw data on a public machine).
• A few minutes now, and a little patience. 23andMe prepares the file in the background.

If more than one person's profile sits on your account, make sure you're requesting the right profile's data. You'll be asked to confirm that profile's date of birth.

Step 1: Request your raw data from 23andMe

1. Sign in at 23andme.com.
2. Go to Settings, scroll to 23andMe Data, and click View. (Shortcut: you.23andme.com/tools/data/.)
3. Choose to download your raw data.
4. Confirm the profile's date of birth, read the notes 23andMe shows you, tick the acknowledgment box, and click Submit request.

Menu names can change over time. If a button has moved, search 23andMe's help center for "accessing your raw genetic data."

Step 2: Wait for the "ready" email

23andMe emails you when your file is ready to download. According to 23andMe's own help pages, this usually takes about a week and can sometimes take up to 30 days. Check your spam folder if it's been a while. If a download link expires before you use it, go back to the same page and request a new one.

Step 3: Download and unzip the file

1. Open the 23andMe email and follow its link. You'll verify the birthdate again.
2. Your browser downloads a .zip file whose name begins with "genome."
3. Unzip it. On a Mac, double-click the .zip. On Windows, right-click it and choose Extract All. Some computers unzip automatically; in that case look for the .txt file instead.

Can't find it? Search your Downloads folder or Desktop for "genome."

What's inside: a plain text file. The top lines start with # and describe the file; after that, each line is one marker: an ID like rs4477212, a chromosome, a position, and two letters (your genotype). You don't need to read it; that's our job. But it's reassuring to see it's just text.

Step 4: Upload your 23andMe file to My Gene Story

1. Go to [mygenestory.com/upload](/upload).
2. Drag the unzipped .txt file onto the upload box, or tap to browse for it.
3. Your browser checks the format first. If it recognizes a 23andMe file, you'll see it labeled as such.
4. You'll get a confirmation and a receipt number. Keep it in case you need to contact us.

Leave your email on the upload page and we'll let you know when stories open. We don't promise a fixed turnaround yet; we'd rather be honest than guess.

What you can get from a 23andMe file

• DNA Story ($24.99): a plain-English narrative of everyday traits, like nutrition, fitness, and more, built from your file.
• Trait reports (about $9.99 each, optional): deeper detail on one topic. Browse reports.
• Ancestry Insights ($19.99, optional add-on): heritage context next to your story. Not required.

You don't need to buy anything beyond the DNA Story to get value from your upload, and trait reports can be added any time.

Troubleshooting common 23andMe upload problems

"Unsupported file format" or "doesn't appear to be a DNA raw data file." You probably uploaded the .zip. Unzip it and upload the .txt inside.

File too large. Uploads can be up to 50 MB. An unzipped 23andMe file is normally well under that. If yours isn't, make sure you didn't merge or edit it.

I opened the file in Excel and saved it. Re-download a fresh copy instead. Spreadsheet apps can change the format when they save.

The email never arrived. Check spam, confirm the email address on your 23andMe account, and give it the full window 23andMe describes before requesting again.

I have a different 23andMe file (like ancestry composition coordinates). That's a different download. You want the raw data file.

Is it safe to upload 23andMe raw data?

Be deliberate with any genetic data:

• Download on a personal device and delete extra copies you don't need. Once it's on your computer, that copy isn't protected by 23andMe's security.
• At My Gene Story, we don't sell your genetic data, and in this early version your file stays on your device. See our privacy policy.

How to read your results

Read every genetic insight like a weather forecast: a likelihood, not a certainty. Your genes are one input alongside sleep, food, activity, and environment. Our pillar guide explains this in more detail, and the FAQ answers the most common questions.

Tested with AncestryDNA too?

The process is similar but the menus differ. See How to Upload AncestryDNA Raw Data (Step-by-Step).