Help Solve The Case™
Investigative Genetic Genealogy

Move your DNA. Give them their names back.

Thank you for being part of the solution. By moving your DNA to GEDmatch and/or FamilyTreeDNA, you dramatically increase the odds of identifying unknown human remains — and putting these souls to rest properly.

Your DNA isn't really stored "inside" the testing companies — it's a computer file called a genome, delivered as a compressed .zip file. First you download your genome from your testing company (Ancestry, 23andMe, MyHeritage, etc.), then you upload it to GEDmatch and/or FTDNA — ideally both.

Step 1 · Download your DNA

Ancestry.com

  1. 1If prompted, sign in to your Ancestry.com account.
  2. 2In the "Your DNA tests" section, select a name to download the DNA data for that test.
  3. 3Check the box confirming you understand the downloaded copy won't be protected by Ancestry's security measures, then select Confirm. This triggers a confirmation email (may take up to 24 hours; the link expires after 7 days).
  4. 4Enter your password and hit Continue.
  5. 5When the email arrives, open it and click Confirm Data Download.
  6. 6On the Download DNA Data page, click Download DNA Data (sign in again if prompted).
  7. 7The file downloads as AncestryDNA.txt — check your Downloads folder or Desktop if you can't find it.
Official instructions

23andMe.com

  1. 1Navigate directly to you.23andme.com/tools/data/ — or —
  2. 2Click your profile name (top right) → Resources → Browse Raw Genotyping Data → Download.
  3. 3Or visit Account Settings and click View under 23andMe Data.
  4. 4Confirm the date of birth associated with the profile, read the important considerations, check the box, and select Submit Request.
  5. 5You'll get an email within 48 hours once your data is ready. Verify the profile birthdate again to download.
Official instructions

Step 2 · Upload your DNA

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA)

  1. 1Create a FREE account at FTDNA.
  2. 2You can upload Ancestry.com & MyHeritage DNA files.
  3. 3Navigate to the "Upload DNA" tab at the top of the window.
  4. 4Choose Autosomal DNA from the drop-down menu.
  5. 5On the autosomal DNA transfer page, enter the first name, last name, email, and sex of the person whose data you're transferring.
  6. 6Click Join Today — you'll be directed to the upload page.
  7. 7Choose the platform your DNA originated from (Ancestry.com or MyHeritage).
  8. 8Drag and drop the .zip file you downloaded (or browse for it), then click Submit.
  9. 9You'll receive an email with your kit number and temporary password.
Official instructions

GEDmatch.com

  1. 1Register for an account at GEDmatch.com.
  2. 2Log in to GEDmatch.
  3. 3Click Upload DNA, then the "Choose File" button.
  4. 4Provide as much information as you can in the form.
  5. 5Fill in your consent.
  6. 6Click Upload and wait until you see the word "Finish".
  7. 7Wait for processing to complete.
Official instructions

Important: For your data to be available to law enforcement, you must voluntarily consent and "opt in" to law enforcement matching on both GEDmatch and FTDNA. It's your choice — and it's what makes identifications possible.

Every genome moved is a chance at a name.

Thank you for helping bring answers to families who have waited far too long.

Start with GEDmatch