Concerned after 23andMe bankruptcy? Here's a guide on how to download and delete your data

• 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday.
• The company says no changes will be made to how it stores, manages or protects customer data up until the sale of its assets is finalized.
• 23andMe users can download genetic, registration and web behavior, and self-reported information from their accounts ahead of the sale.

One of the most popularly-recognized biotechnology companies, 23andMe, has filed for bankruptcy. Before the company sells it assets, users are able to download and delete their data, if they wish.

23andMe Holding Co. announced on Sunday, March 23 that it started voluntarily filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with plans to "sell substantially all of its assets," according to a news release. The company intends to operate business as usual until the sale is completed, with no changes to how the company stores, manages or protects customer data.

The bankruptcy announcement came the same day as 23andMe founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki resigned.

As the bankruptcy is finalized, here's how 23andMe users can download and delete their data from the platform.

What type of data can you download from 23andMe?

There's different data that 23andMe users can download from their profiles, including genetic information, registration and web behavior information, and self-reported information. Here are the different types of data:

• Reports summary: Brief description of all 23andMe report results
• Ancestry composition raw data: Genomic coordinates for ancestry composition results (CSV format)
• DNA relatives data: Shared DNA segments and profile data for DNA Relatives (CSV format)
• Raw data: Genetic data in its raw, uninterpreted format − As, Ts, Gs and Cs (Text format)
• Registration and web behavior: Account event history, mailing address associated with account, legal document, gift cards received from 23andMe, changes made to profile name, order history and shared reports
• Phenotype data: Data provided through research participation and/or 23andMe profile

In DNA, the As (Adenine), Ts (Thymine), Gs (Guanine) and Cs (Cytosine) represent the four nucleotide bases, the building blocks of DNA.

How to download raw 23andMe data

Raw 23andMe data consists of a user's genotype call data, the As, Ts, Gs and Cs. It is not interpreted.

Here's how to access and download raw 23andMe data:

1. Sign in to your 23andMe account
2. Go to "Account Settings"
3. Click "23andMe Data"
4. Request a "raw data download"

To request a raw data download, users must confirm their birthdate upon filing the initial request and after receiving a confirmation email a few days later.

This confirmation email will be sent two to four days after the request is made. Once the birthdate is confirmed, users can download their raw data. The data will be available to download in a zipped text file. After downloading the zip file to a desktop, unzip it to access its contents. The text file can be opened in a text editor like WordPad or Excel.

How to download reports summary, composition raw data and more

To access and download 23andMe reports summaries, composition raw data, and other information associated with your account, complete the following steps:

1. Sign in to your 23andMe account
2. Go to "Account Settings"
3. Click "23andMe Data"
4. Request the following:
   • Reports Summary
   • Ancestry Composition Data
   • Family Tree Data
   • Imputed Genotype Data R6
   • Phased Genotype Data
   • Profile Data

Requests can be made for multiple files at once. The Reports Summary and Ancestry Composition Raw Data are probably the most important files to download, as they contain key DNA test results.

Data can only be downloaded from a personal computer, not a public computer or mobile device, the 23andMe website states.

How do you delete 23andMe data?

1. Sign in to your 23andMe account
2. Go to "Account Settings"
3. Click "23andMe Data"
4. Click "View"
5. Click "Delete Data"
6. Click "Permanently Delete Data"
7. Confirm request

After submitting a request, a user will receive an email detailing the 23andMe account deletion policy, in addition to a further request for confirmation. Upon email confirmation, a user will then lose account access.

Once the email confirmation has been completed, users can't request their personal information back, as the deletion process is automatic, according to the 23andMe website.

If you are having trouble downloading or deleting data, contact 23andMe's customer service by email at privacy@23andme.com.

Bankruptcy comes six months after class action lawsuit

In September 2024, 23andMe agreed to pay a $30 million statement in a class action lawsuit brought against the company for a 2023 data breach that affected 6.9 million customers. The lawsuit accused the company of failing to protect user data and neglecting to notify users of the breach. Account information, location, ancestry reports, DNA matches, family names, profile pictures and birthdates were all a part of the breach.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.