MyHeritage DNA: Everything You Wanted to Know About the MyHeritage DNA Test
- By Daniella
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! We’re dedicating this post to common questions people have about MyHeritage DNA. In this post you’ll learn the basics on how to take a MyHeritage DNA test, how to understand your MyHeritage DNA test ethnicity results, how to upload your DNA results to MyHeritage from another company and more!
What makes MyHeritage DNA tests unique
Privacy
First and foremost, you can trust that your DNA data is safe! We place a strong emphasis on privacy and security, and to date, are the only consumer DNA company to commit never to sell or transfer our users’ data to any third party.
#1 DNA test in Europe
MyHeritage has earned the trust of 92 million users worldwide, and the MyHeritage DNA test is the #1 DNA test in Europe.
Best test to find new relatives
With MyHeritage DNA you get access to a host of resources that will help you find new relatives.
Chromosome browser: MyHeritage’s One-to-many Chromosome Browser allows you to compare shared and triangulated segments of DNA with up to 7 DNA matches at once. Using a color-coded schematic sketch of your chromosomes, you can see which segments you share with multiple DNA matches (also known as triangulated segments) and extrapolate insights that can help you better understand your relationships to your matches — and maybe even identify DNA segments associated with specific ancestors.
AutoClusters: The AutoClusters tool organizes your DNA matches into groups or “clusters” of individuals who match each other as well as you. Using this tool, you can easily see who among your DNA matches is related to whom and therefore likely shares a common ancestor.
Theory of Family Relativity™: The Theory of Family Relativity™ feature analyzes all the family tree data and historical record data on MyHeritage to bring you plausible theories about how you might be related to your DNA matches. This feature can save you a ton of time and effort.
MyHeritage DNA also offers extremely useful filtering and sorting capabilities that help you sort through your matches and focus on the ones most important to you. On your DNA Matches page, you can filter your matches by a wide variety of criteria, such as which matches have a Theory of Family Relativity™, shared Smart Matches™, shared surnames or places, or a family tree; level of relationship; location; ethnicity; or Genetic Groups. You can also sort your matches by percentage of shared segments overall, largest shared segment, full name, or which matches were most recently added to MyHeritage.
Ethnicity Estimate from 79 ethnicities and 2,114 geographic regions around the world
MyHeritage offers the highest-resolution ethnicity results on the market today with 2,114 genetic & geographic regions around the world.
MyHeritage’s DNA Ethnicity Estimates are a breakdown of your ethnic origins using the highest standard of DNA sequencing and matching technologies. Every DNA testing company will offer slightly different estimates based on their own research and data on the Founder populations.
Ethnicity Estimates are based on different pools of data. Overlap between populations that live near each other means that one DNA company may identify a certain sequence of DNA as belonging to one ethnic group, while another may associate it with a different, neighboring group. For example, someone from northern England may receive an Irish, Scottish & Welsh result rather than English. The larger the pool of data from a given ethnicity, the more accurate it will be — and MyHeritage’s international reach gives our data an edge.
Another thing to keep in mind is that our models are based on the DNA of individuals whose families have been living in a certain place for at least 6, sometimes as many as 15 generations — but not much more. So if your family was from North Africa 1000 years ago, but moved to France 500 years ago, your DNA results are likely to reflect the time your ancestors spent in France rather than North Africa.
MyHeritage DNA results stay up to date
In terms of DNA matches, new users are purchasing DNA kits and uploading their data to our database all the time, so you are likely to have new DNA matches on MyHeritage on a regular basis.
In terms of ethnicity results, we are always working towards improving our models and giving you a clearer picture of your ethnic origins. In late 2020, we released a groundbreaking enhancement to our ethnicity estimates: Genetic Groups, which increased the resolution of our ethnicity breakdown to 2,114 geographic regions. In 2025, we released an updated ethnicity model, growing the number of identified ethnicities from 42 to 79. Also in 2025, we introduced Ancient Origins, which traces your origins up to 10,000 years into the past. More enhancements are forthcoming!
Frequently asked questions about MyHeritage DNA
Where is the MyHeritage DNA lab located?
Our DNA testing lab is located in Houston, Texas.
How long does MyHeritage take to process a DNA test?
We generally process a DNA test within 3–4 weeks of its arrival in our lab.
Does MyHeritage sell your DNA?
We have never and will never sell our users’ DNA data to any third party. Period.
This is explicitly written into our privacy policy: “PERSONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOU, INCLUDING GENETIC INFORMATION AND HEALTH INFORMATION, WILL NEVER BE SOLD OR LICENSED BY US TO THIRD PARTIES, INCLUDING INSURANCE COMPANIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, OTHER CORPORATIONS OR EMPLOYERS.”
To date, we are the only consumer DNA company that has made this explicit commitment.
Does MyHeritage keep your DNA?
No. Your sample is destroyed after it has been processed. Your privacy and the security of your data are paramount to us at MyHeritage.
Does MyHeritage show Native American ethnicity?
Yes — MyHeritage identifies indigenous American DNA from North America (Southwest U.S., Mexican, and Inuit) as well as Central America (North and South) and the South American countries of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. For the full list of currently supported ethnicities, see this blog post.
Purchasing a MyHeritage DNA Test
To give MyHeritage DNA a try for yourself, order a MyHeritage DNA kit.
If you have any additional DNA questions for us, drop a comment for us here or visit the MyHeritage Facebook Page and shoot us a PM — we will be happy to answer!
Last updated in August 2025
