Getting your DNA into gedmatch

There are many companies that you can get your DNA processed with for genetic genealogy purposes. The big three are 23andme, ftdna and ancestry.  Once you have your DNA done on one of those sites (or others), you can use the tools on that site to 'match' with other users of that same site.  

However, the potential genealogy discoveries you can make are limited to the tools (and quality) that site offers as well as the people who have chosen to get their DNA processed by that site.  For a fee, FTDNA and ancestry both give you the option to import DNA from other sites, so many people choose to download their DNA data from the original site and import it into other sites.  This gives you a broader toolset to use as well as more potential matches. 

If only there were a site that were free, had a huge toolset and a huge user base!  Enter gedmatch.  Gedmatch does have paid tiers to support the site but there is a whole lot you can do without paying anything, and users from all of the big three, plus other sites have uploaded their DNA there, giving you a much larger and more diverse user base to test against.  

I use gedmatch for the John Turner project because it gets all project participants on the same platform without cost to them, regardless of where they originally tested, and because the tools there allow me to do the work I need to do to make discoveries on that project.  

The number one question I get on that project is 'how do I get a gedmatch kit #'?

The first thing you will do is to download your raw DNA data from the site you tested at.  

• instructions for ancestry.com        
• how to download your data at 23andme
• how to download your DNA from ftdna

Once you have your data, save it somewhere on your computer you will remember (I save all things to my desktop). 

Now you will create a 'kit' on gedmatch.  A kit is a DNA data file.  These instructions assume you have never used gedmatch.  If you HAVE used gedmatch and have an account, skip down to #3.

1. Go to gedmatch.com.
2. Under the login, there is a link to click to register.  Registration is pretty standard
1. fill out your info
2. log into your email and gt the confirmation code
3. enter confirmation code into gedmatch
4. log into gedmatch
5. acknowledge terms of service
3. Once you are logged in, in the right hand navigation, you will see an option to 'upload your DNA files'.
4. Gedmatch will present you with a screen full of questions.  They are pretty self explanatory.  Answer the required ones that you are able to answer.  
5. At the bottom of the screen, there are two buttons.  One to 'choose file' and one to upload.  Click 'choose file'.  Use the popup to find the file you downloaded earlier from the site you had your DNA tested on.  Once you have selected the file and are back on the page, click 'upload'.  It will take some time for gedmatch to process your file.  Once it's processed: 
1. Log into gedmatch again.  This time, on the left hand side, it will show some of your profile information.  Below that, it will show 'Your DNA resources:'
2. The kit # is the ~7 digit/letter identifier that appears to the left of your name under 'Your DNA resources'.

Once that's done, you can delete your DNA file from your computer if you would like or you can keep it for your own records.  If you keep it, I recommend keeping it in a secure location.  It's your DNA.  Definitely not on your desktop - and at least a password protected zip file, although if you are tech savvy, an encrypted location would be best.