How to delete your 23andMe account

You can delete your 23andMe account through your account settings, and the company will remove your genetic data from their servers. The process takes a few minutes and is permanent — once deleted, you cannot recover your results or reactivate the account. 23andMe will stop sending you emails and will remove you from any research studies you joined.

Log into your 23andMe account on their website or mobile app. Go to Settings, then select Account. Scroll down to find the option labeled "Delete Account and Data" or "Delete My Account." Click it, and 23andMe will ask you to confirm your choice and enter your password again. After you confirm, the deletion begins when ready, though the company says it can take up to 30 days to fully remove all copies of your data from their systems.

Key Takeaways

  • Account deletion removes your genetic data from 23andMe's servers and is permanent — you cannot undo it or recover your results later.
  • The deletion process happens in your account settings and requires you to confirm your password; it takes a few minutes to initiate but up to 30 days to complete fully.
  • If you have a family member who shares your DNA results through 23andMe's DNA Relatives feature, deleting your account will remove your connection to them in the system.
  • You should read your raw DNA data before deleting your account if you want to keep a copy or transfer it to another genetic testing service.

read your DNA data before deletion

23andMe lets you read your raw genetic data in a standard file format before you delete your account. This file contains your DNA results and can be imported into other genealogy or health services if you want a second opinion or want to use your data elsewhere. The read takes a few minutes and gives you a backup in case you change your mind later.

In your account settings, look for "read Your Data" or "Raw Data." Click it and follow the prompts to read a compressed file to your computer. Save it somewhere you will remember. Some people upload this file to services like AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, or GEDmatch to compare results or explore family connections without paying 23andMe again. Once you delete your account, you will no longer be able to read this data from 23andMe, so do this step first if you think you might want it later.

What happens to your DNA Relatives connections

If you have connected with relatives through 23andMe's DNA Relatives feature, deleting your account will remove those connections. Your relatives will no longer see you in their match list, and you will lose access to any messages or family trees you shared through the platform. The deletion is when ready on their end — they will see your profile disappear as soon as your account is deleted.

If you want to preserve contact information with relatives you found through 23andMe, exchange email addresses or phone numbers before you delete your account. Some people move their family tree information to a free service like FamilySearch or Ancestry's free tier before leaving 23andMe so they do not lose that work.

Research study withdrawal and data use

If you enrolled in any 23andMe research studies, deleting your account removes you from all of them. Your data will no longer be used in ongoing research, and 23andMe will not contact you about study results or new studies. Withdrawing from studies is automatic when you delete your account — you do not need to take a separate step.

If you want to withdraw from research studies but keep your account and results, you can do that separately in your account settings without deleting your entire account. Look for "Research Participation" or "My Research" in your settings and toggle off the studies you want to leave. This option is useful if you want to keep your results but do not want your data used in future research.

Deactivating instead of deleting

23andMe does not offer a true "deactivation" option that pauses your account while keeping your data. You can only delete your account permanently or keep it active. If you want to step away temporarily without losing your data, you can straightforward stop logging in and ignore 23andMe's emails — your account and results will remain on their servers until you decide to delete them.

Some people choose this middle ground if they are uncertain about deletion or want to preserve the option of accessing their results later. You can always log back in months or years later and read your data or delete it then. There is no time limit on how long 23andMe will hold your account if you are inactive.

What 23andMe does with deleted data

When you delete your account, 23andMe removes your genetic data and personal information from their active databases. The company says it deletes all copies within 30 days, though some backup copies may exist in their systems for a short time afterward for technical and legal reasons. 23andMe does not sell your data to third parties, but your data may have been shared with research partners or law enforcement before deletion if you consented to research or if a valid legal request was made.

If your DNA was already used in a published research study before you deleted your account, that published data cannot be removed — the research is already public. However, 23andMe will remove your personal information from their research databases and will not use your data in future studies after deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reactivate my account after deleting it?

No. Once you delete your 23andMe account, it cannot be reactivated. You would have to order a new DNA kit and start over if you wanted results again. This is why downloading your raw data before deletion is important — it is your only way to keep a copy of your results.

Will deleting my account remove me from law enforcement databases?

If your DNA was already shared with law enforcement through a valid legal request before you deleted your account, deletion will not remove it from police databases. However, 23andMe will stop allowing law enforcement to search your profile going forward. Your deletion only affects 23andMe's systems, not external databases that may already have your information.

What if I share a kit with a family member?

If you ordered a kit that includes results for a family member, deleting your account removes both sets of results from 23andMe. Your relative will lose access to their results too. If your relative wants to keep their results, they should have their own 23andMe account registered to them before you delete yours.

Does 23andMe charge a fee to delete my account?

No. Deleting your account is free. 23andMe does not charge for account deletion or data removal. You will not be billed again after deletion, and any subscription you have will be canceled automatically.

How do I know my data was actually deleted?

23andMe will send you a confirmation email when your account deletion is complete, usually within a few days. After that, you can try logging in with your email and password — if the login fails, your account has been deleted. You will not receive a detailed report showing that your genetic data was removed from every server, but the confirmation email is 23andMe's official notice that deletion is done.