Manual method
- On the 23andMe website open your profile menu > Resources > Browse Raw Genotyping Data > Download. The alternative route is Account Settings > 23andMe Data > View.
- Verify the selected profile’s birthdate and submit the request after reading the notice.
- When notified, sign in again, verify as required, and download the ZIP.
- Extract a working copy and keep the original ZIP and its text file unchanged.
Coverage and limitations: Raw data is not a validated medical report. Download relevant report summaries separately and avoid resaving genotype files through a spreadsheet, which can change their contents.
Size and time to allow
Illustrative planning size: 0.02 GB; scenario range 0.005–0.1 GB. This is a storage-planning example, not a measured average. Your archive may be smaller or larger. One raw-genotype text file and a few report summaries; a whole genome can be far larger.
Preparation and hands-on time: Allow about one week, and potentially up to 30 days, based on 23andMe’s current official help article. Follow the estimate shown in your account if it differs, and save the file promptly when notified.
For the 0.02 GB example, network transfer alone is approximately:
| Connection download speed | Transfer estimate |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbit/s | 23 sec |
| 50 Mbit/s | 5 sec |
| 100 Mbit/s | 3 sec |
These calculations use decimal GB and 70% of the advertised speed. Tiny transfers can take longer because of startup overhead. Local exports do not need an internet download; use these numbers only for a network transfer. Preparation, retries, extraction, checking and a cloud upload are additional; use upload speed for the latter.
Where and how to keep it
An encrypted USB key can hold this example, but keep another independent copy on an external drive or in private encrypted cloud storage. A USB key alone is easily lost and is not a complete preservation plan. Genetic files can also reveal information about relatives; keep access limited and store the recovery key separately.
Create a dated 23andme/YYYY-MM-DD/ folder. Keep received originals unchanged, use a separate working copy, and note the account/profile, selected dates, formats and known gaps in a private README. Compare file sizes, check any supplied checksums, and open sample files from the backup before considering the task finished. Repeat after meaningful additions. Follow the storage, archive-checking and large-file guide.
Sources and review
Public documentation was reviewed on 27 October 2026. No signed-in export or restoration was performed. Account options and availability can change; follow the current provider instructions.