How To Retrieve Your Data Before Deleting Your 23andMe Account
Deleting your 23andMe account is a significant decision, but retrieving your data before taking this step is essential. Many users may be unaware of the valuable genetic and health information they could lose if they don’t back up their accounts first. Fortunately, 23andMe offers a straightforward process to export your data. Below, we will guide you in ensuring your genetic information is safely stored before account deletion.
Backing Up Your 23andMe Data
When considering the deletion of your 23andMe account, one of the first tasks is to back up your data. You might wonder, “What to download from 23andMe before deleting my account?” The answer involves downloading your raw genetic data, which includes information about your DNA markers. This data can be used for further research or analysis should you decide to revisit it.
To begin backing up your data, log into your 23andMe account. Navigate to the settings section, where you’ll find the “Data” tab. This section allows you to initiate the download of your genetic data file, which contains your raw DNA data in a text format. Save this file securely on your computer or an external hard drive to ensure its safety.
It’s important to note that downloading your data doesn’t automatically preserve your full genetic health reports generated from the raw data. While raw data is essential to your genetic profile, you may also want to take screenshots or record any key health insights you’ve received through the platform. This step ensures you retain a comprehensive record of your genetic information, even after your account is deleted.
After successfully downloading your raw data, double-check that the file is complete and accessible. Since the file will contain hundreds of thousands of genetic markers, it may take some time to download, depending on your internet speed. You’re taking the first step toward safeguarding your valuable genetic information by ensuring the download is successful.
Exporting Your Genetic Information
Once raw data is downloaded, the next step is exporting genetic information. To export your health reports, you’ll need to go to the “Reports” section in your account. From there, you can download your health-related results, which include details on traits, conditions, and ancestry, among other things. This step will allow you to retain critical insights about your genetic makeup.
Before exporting your reports, note that 23andMe allows you to export some reports in PDF format. These PDFs will include a detailed summary of the information 23andMe has analyzed from your genetic data. It’s a good idea to save these reports for future reference, as they might not be accessible once your account is deleted.
In addition to health reports, 23andMe also provides ancestry-related data. If you have explored your family’s genetic background, this data is crucial to retain as it can connect you with distant relatives or offer insights into your heritage. If you wish to preserve this ancestry data, export and store it separately.
Consider downloading any other relevant information on your 23andMe account, such as your genealogy or DNA relatives’ information. By downloading these reports, you will have a comprehensive record of everything you’ve explored on the platform, ensuring that no valuable data is lost in the deletion process.
Steps to Ensure Data Retention Before Deletion
Before deleting your 23andMe account, follow these steps to ensure you retain all necessary data. Start by reviewing the data 23andMe stores in your account, ensuring you’ve downloaded everything you need. The platform allows you to access raw genetic data, health reports, and ancestry information, so make sure none of these are overlooked.
Once you’ve downloaded all relevant data, it’s important to double-check that the files are intact and readable. For raw data, ensure that the text file opens correctly on your computer, and for health reports or ancestry information, verify that the PDFs are accessible. If you encounter any issues, consider contacting 23andMe support for assistance before moving forward with account deletion.
After securing your data, it’s wise to back up your files to multiple locations. In addition to saving them on your computer, consider using cloud storage or an external hard drive for extra security. This way, even if one device fails, you’ll have an additional backup to restore your information.
23andMe’s data retention policies should be reviewed before initiating the deletion process. Some data may be retained by the company for a specific period, even after account deletion, so understanding these terms will help you determine if there’s anything left in your account that could affect your decision to delete it.
Altogether, backing up and exporting your 23andMe data ensures that you retain valuable genetic information before deleting your account. Properly storing your data can help avoid losing important insights into your health and ancestry.