How to Delete Your 23andMe Data: Step-by-Step (2026)

If you have decided to close your 23andMe account, the process is a sequence of separate actions rather than a single button. We walk through the full sequence below, in the order that protects the most of your data.

A brief caveat first. As of early 2026, 23andMe operates under new ownership after its March 2025 Chapter 11 filing and the mid-2025 sale of its genetic data and core assets to TTAM Research Institute. The consumer service still runs, and the account-management pages still work, but the exact wording and menu paths in the account dashboard can change. If a step below does not match what you see on screen, search the 23andMe Customer Care site for the current path before assuming the option is gone.

Step 1: Download your raw DNA data first

Once your account is deleted, you cannot retrieve the raw data file. If you might ever want to upload your data to MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, or another service, or simply want a personal archive, do this first.

Sign in, open your account menu, and look for the “Browse Raw Data” or “Download Raw Data” option under your profile or account settings. The file you download is a compressed text file roughly 5 to 20 MB. Save it somewhere you will still have access to in a few years.

Our full walkthrough is in how to download your raw DNA data.

Step 2: Revoke research consent

This is separate from deleting your account. Research consent governs whether your de-identified data is shared with 23andMe’s research partners.

In your account settings, find the section labeled “Research and Product Consents” (the exact label varies). Revoke consent for the 23andMe Research program and any sub-studies you previously opted into.

Important to understand: revoking consent stops your data from being used in future research. It does not retroactively claw back data that has already been shared with research partners or included in completed studies. This is stated in the 23andMe consent documents.

Step 3: Delete your account and data

In your account settings, look for the “23andMe Data” section. Choose the option to permanently delete your account and data. You will be asked to confirm by email.

After confirmation, 23andMe processes the deletion request. The company’s documentation describes this as removing the genotype data, account profile, and self-reported information associated with your account, subject to limited retention required by law (for example, basic transaction records).

Step 4: Request sample destruction

This step is the one people miss. Deleting your account does not automatically destroy the physical saliva sample that the lab still has in cold storage.

By default, 23andMe stores samples after analysis unless you have opted out. To request destruction, navigate to your account settings and look for a “Sample Storage” preference, or submit a request through Customer Care. Confirm in writing (the support ticket itself works) that you want the sample destroyed.

If you complete account deletion before requesting sample destruction, you may need to contact support directly with your prior account email.

What deletion does and does not do

Deletion removes the data 23andMe holds in its consumer-facing systems and stops future research sharing. Deletion does not:

• Recall data already shared, under your prior consent, with research partners or in published studies.
• Affect relatives’ DNA data. Your siblings, parents, and cousins have their own accounts and decisions.
• Reverse a previous data breach. If your account was among the roughly 6.9 million affected by the 2023 incident, deletion now does not undo that exposure.

After deletion

You will lose access to your results, your DNA Relatives matches, and any health or trait reports. If you change your mind, you would need to buy a new kit and start over. That is the point of downloading raw data first: you can re-upload it to other services without re-testing.

For the broader picture on what happened to 23andMe and what it means for users, see 23andMe bankruptcy: what it means for your data and 23andMe data sale to TTAM, explained. To compare deletion processes across companies, see our DNA test privacy policies compared.

This piece is part of our Genetic Data Privacy guide.