How to Delete Your 23andMe Data: A Complete Guide

If you've decided you no longer want 23andMe holding your genetic information, you have real options — but the process involves more than just clicking "delete account." Understanding what data exists, where it lives, and what deletion actually removes is essential before you start.

What Data Does 23andMe Actually Hold?

Before deleting anything, it helps to know what you're dealing with. 23andMe stores several distinct types of data:

• Genotype data — the raw DNA results extracted from your saliva sample
• Profile and account information — name, email, date of birth, and personal details
• Health and ancestry reports — the interpreted results based on your DNA
• Spit kit and biological sample — the physical saliva sample and extracted DNA, if not already destroyed
• Research consents and contributions — data you may have opted into sharing with third-party researchers

These are not all deleted by the same action. Closing your account and deleting your genetic data are separate steps, and many users don't realize that.

Step 1: Download Your Raw Data First (Optional but Recommended)

Once you delete your data, it's gone — 23andMe cannot restore it. If you ever want access to your raw genetic file for use with third-party health or ancestry tools, download it before proceeding.

To download your raw data:

1. Log in to your 23andMe account
2. Go to Settings (top-right menu)
3. Scroll to 23andMe Data and select Download Raw Data
4. Verify your identity and confirm the download

The file is typically a compressed .txt format and can be used with services like Promethease, GEDmatch, or similar platforms.

Step 2: Request Deletion of Your Genetic Data 🧬

This is the step most people overlook. Deleting your account does not automatically delete your genetic data. You must request this separately.

To delete your genetic data:

1. Log in and navigate to Settings
2. Scroll to 23andMe Data
3. Select Delete Data
4. Follow the prompts — you'll be asked to confirm the action via email

Once confirmed, 23andMe states that your genetic data, including your genotype file and individual-level data, will be deleted from their active systems. This process may take up to 30 days to fully process.

Step 3: Request Destruction of Your Physical Sample

If you did not previously opt out of sample storage, 23andMe may still hold your physical saliva sample and extracted DNA in a lab facility.

To request sample destruction:

1. Go to Settings
2. Under Biobanking, look for the option to Discard Sample
3. Submit the request and confirm via email

This is a one-time, irreversible action. Once your sample is destroyed, 23andMe cannot re-run or re-analyze your DNA in the future.

Step 4: Withdraw from Research (If Applicable)

If you previously consented to having your data used in research studies, you should withdraw that consent before account deletion. Research data contributions can sometimes persist in anonymized or aggregated datasets even after individual account deletion, depending on the stage of the research.

To withdraw:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Research and Product Consent
3. Toggle off any active research participation consents

Note that already-aggregated or anonymized data that has been included in completed research may be difficult or impossible to fully retract — this is disclosed in 23andMe's terms of service.

Step 5: Delete Your Account

Once your data deletion and sample discard requests are in, you can close your account entirely.

To delete your account:

1. Go to Settings
2. Scroll to Account Actions
3. Select Close Account
4. Follow the verification steps

Closing the account removes your profile, login credentials, reports, and associated personal information from 23andMe's active user systems.

What the Process Looks Like Across Different Situations

What Deletion Does — and Doesn't — Guarantee 🔍

It's worth being clear-eyed about the limits of deletion:

• Active systems — your genotype data, reports, and profile will be removed
• Backups and legal holds — data may be retained temporarily in secure backups or if subject to a legal obligation
• Aggregated research data — anonymized contributions to completed studies may not be retroactively removed
• Third-party data already shared — if you previously connected third-party apps via 23andMe's API, those platforms hold their own copies

23andMe's privacy policy outlines specific retention timelines and the conditions under which data may persist, and it's worth reviewing the current version directly since these policies can be updated.

The Variables That Shape Your Experience

How straightforward this process feels depends on several factors specific to your account: how long ago you signed up, whether you opted into research programs, whether you connected third-party health or ancestry services, whether family members are linked to your profile, and which jurisdiction's privacy laws apply to your account (California residents, for example, have additional rights under CCPA).

Each of those factors changes which steps apply to you and what you can realistically expect to be removed — and that's the piece only your own account history can answer.