How to Opt Out of MyHeritage

To opt out of MyHeritage, sign in at myheritage.com, click your profile icon in the top-right, open Account Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click Delete my account. To delete DNA data separately, go to DNA → Manage DNA Kits and request DNA deletion — MyHeritage will also destroy the physical sample. For records added by other people, email privacy@myheritage.com invoking your CCPA or GDPR deletion rights.

What Information Does MyHeritage Have on You?

MyHeritage runs one of the world's largest genealogy platforms — 96+ million users, 33+ billion historical records, and one of the biggest consumer DNA databases outside 23andMe and Ancestry. A single MyHeritage profile can hold:

• Full name, date of birth, place of birth
• Family relationships — parents, siblings, spouses, children, and extended relatives
• Photos and documents uploaded by you or any relative
• DNA data and ethnicity estimates from the MyHeritage DNA test
• Email address, phone number, and IP-based location
• Browsing and search activity on the platform

The harder problem: even if you never signed up yourself, a relative can add your name, birth year, and family relationships to a public family tree — and MyHeritage's search will surface you.

Step 1: Download a Copy of Anything You Want to Keep

Account deletion is permanent and irreversible. Before you start:

• Export your family tree as a GEDCOM file (Family tree → Manage trees → Export to GEDCOM)
• Download photos and documents from your Media page
• Download your raw DNA data (DNA → Manage DNA Kits → Download raw DNA data)

Step 2: Delete Your MyHeritage Account

1. Log in at myheritage.com from a desktop browser (the delete option is easier to find than in the app).
2. Click your profile picture or name in the top-right corner.
3. Select Account Settings from the dropdown.
4. Scroll to the very bottom of the page.
5. Click Delete my account.
6. Read the warning, then confirm the deletion when prompted.

If the button does not appear (some subscription states hide it), email privacy@myheritage.com with your account email and request account deletion in writing.

Step 3: Delete Your DNA Data Separately (Optional)

If you want to keep your account but purge just the DNA:

1. Go to DNA → Manage DNA Kits from the top navigation.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to your kit and choose Delete DNA data.
3. Confirm the deletion. MyHeritage states they will also destroy the physical DNA sample stored in their lab.
4. Email privacy@myheritage.com requesting written confirmation of sample destruction for your records.

Step 4: Remove Yourself From Someone Else's Family Tree

The hardest MyHeritage exposure to fix is a profile added by a relative. Here is the sequence that actually works:

1. Search your name on MyHeritage to find the trees that include you.
2. Open the profile page and note the site manager's name — you can message them directly through the platform.
3. Ask the tree owner to remove you or convert your profile to private (living people can be hidden from public view).
4. If they refuse or do not respond within 14 days, email privacy@myheritage.com with the profile URL and a formal deletion request citing your rights under CCPA (California), CPA (Colorado), or GDPR (EU/UK).
5. MyHeritage must respond within 45 days under CCPA and 30 days under GDPR.

Step 5: Verify Removal and Cover the Rest of the Web

• After 30 days, search your name and DNA-relevant terms on MyHeritage in a private browser window to confirm your profile is gone.
• Check Google for cached MyHeritage pages of your profile. If any appear, submit a Google Remove Outdated Content request.
• Repeat the process on Ancestry, 23andMe, FamilyTreeNow, FindAGrave, and GEDmatch, which share overlapping data with MyHeritage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does MyHeritage take to delete my account?

Account deletion is generally immediate once you click the confirmation button — your profile disappears from search within a few hours, and cached pages typically drop from Google within 30 days. Full backend deletion, including archived backups, can take up to 90 days per MyHeritage's privacy policy.

Does deleting my MyHeritage account also delete my DNA data?

Yes, in theory. Account deletion should purge your DNA raw data and destroy the physical sample. In practice, we recommend deleting the DNA kit separately first (DNA → Manage DNA Kits → Delete DNA data), then deleting the account, so you have a dated confirmation email specifically for the DNA removal.

Can I opt out of MyHeritage without an account?

Yes. If a relative added you to a public family tree, you can submit a data deletion request without ever logging in. Email privacy@myheritage.com with your full name, date of birth, the URL of the profile that shows your data, and a citation to your applicable state or GDPR privacy right. MyHeritage is legally required to honor these requests within 30–45 days.

Is MyHeritage account deletion actually free?

Yes. Deletion and opt-out are free under CCPA, GDPR, and MyHeritage's own privacy policy. If a third-party site claims it can "delete you from MyHeritage" for a fee, it is either reselling the free process or scamming you. Use the official myheritage.com dashboard or the privacy@myheritage.com email path.

What happens to the DNA of my relatives if I delete my kit?

Only your DNA and ethnicity data are deleted. Your relatives' DNA kits and their DNA Match ancestry results remain — but any DNA Match connection that specifically referenced you will disappear from their view. Shared photos and family-tree records you contributed also stay unless you remove them individually before deletion.

Will my MyHeritage profile reappear after I delete it?

Sometimes. Deletion is permanent for your account, but MyHeritage continuously imports new records — public marriage, birth, and death records; obituaries; immigration lists — and a match to your name can create a fresh (though non-account) index entry. A relative also re-adding you to a tree will resurface a profile. Re-check every 3–6 months, or use PrivacyOn's monitoring to catch it automatically.