How to download your 23andMe raw data file
Your 23andMe raw data file is the plain-text list of DNA markers behind all of your reports. Downloading it takes about a minute, and once you have it you can use it with any tool that reads raw data — including the free convert, merge and explore tools on this site.
Where the download lives
23andMe keeps the raw data export a few clicks deep in your account settings. Sign in on a desktop browser (the option is easier to find there than in the app) and follow these steps.
- Sign in to your 23andMe account.
- Open the menu under your profile name and choose Settings.
- Scroll to the 23andMe Data section near the bottom and select View.
- You may be asked to re-enter your password to confirm it is you.
- Scroll to Download Raw Data, then request the download. Choose the raw data file option.
- You will get an email when the file is ready; return and download it.
What you get
The download is a compressed text file. Unzipped, it is a tab-separated table with four columns: the marker ID (an rsID), the chromosome, the position, and your genotype. There is a short comment block at the top, each line beginning with a #. That is the whole file — no interpretation, just the data.
What to do with it next
Because 23andMe’s layout is the de facto standard, most tools accept it directly. From here you can:
- Explore your file to see how many everyday lifestyle traits it covers.
- Merge it with a file from another company for wider coverage.
- Keep a personal backup — it is yours, and re-downloading later is not always guaranteed.