Transferring AncestryDNA Test Results to GEDmatch

Every genetic researcher should upload their autonomous DNA (atDNA) matches and family trees (GEDCOM file) to GEDmatch. This free tool allows people to compare matches from all of the major testing companies. The site is particularly useful for Ancestry.com customers, because GEDmatch provides the chromosome browser that AncestryDNA does not.

Why Use GEDmatch

Every DNA testing company will provide thousands of DNA matches. But it doesn't help a lot to know that John Joseph Smith is one of your father's 16,000 DNA matches - unless you can determine how your father is related to John Joseph Smith. AncestryDNA does a pretty good job at this, but for extensive analysis a chromosome browser is needed. GEDmatch provides that missing piece - and it's free.

Even if you're not interested in that level of detail, some of your relatives (like me!) are - and can do the hard lifting for you.

How to Upload Your atDNA Results from AncestryDNA to GEDmatch

There are three main steps to the process:

1. Create a free account on GEDmatch
2. Download your results from AncestryDNA to your computer
3. Upload your results from your computer to GEDmatch

1 - Create a Free GEDmatch Account

It's fast and easy: Register for a GEDmatch account.

2 - Download Results from AncestryDNA

Here are the steps:

1. Go to your AncestryDNA results
2. Click the "Settings" link at the top right of the results page.
3. Click "Download Raw DNA Data at the top right. Follow the instructions and note where you save the data on your computer.

You now have a file saved on your computer that ends with file extension .zip. You may be used to uncompressing "zip" files; don't do that with this file.

3 - Upload DNA results to GEDmatch

Now upload your zip file to GEDmatch:

1. Login to GEDmatch
2. At the top right of the GEDmatch site, in the "File Uploads" section, select AncestryDNA.com
3. Enter the name of the testee and an alias if desired. Click "yes" to allow comparisons.
4. Click "choose file" and navigate to select the zip file of the downloaded DNA results
5. Click "Upload"

Your DNA results will be assigned a GEDmatch kit number. Please email that kit number to me at so I can analyze our matches. I'll share all of my findings with you. Thank you!