Ancestry ancestry.com How to delete your Ancestry account
Sign in, start deletion from your account settings, confirm the subscriptions, trees and DNA tests listed, pick a reason, then enter the verification code Ancestry emails you. Deletion is irreversible and full removal can take up to 30 days.
View all 112 guides- Platform
- ancestry.com
- Type
- Delete an account
- Last updated
Step by step
- 1
Download what you want to keep
Deletion can't be undone, so save your family tree (as a GEDCOM file) and any raw DNA data first. Downloads have to happen before you delete.
- 2
Sign in to the right account
Check that the email address shown on the page is yours, still works, and belongs to the account you want to delete. If it's the wrong account, sign out and sign in to the correct one.
- 3
Start the deletion from your account settings
Confirm each section Ancestry lists: subscriptions, trees and DNA tests. Ticking the boxes confirms the memberships, trees and DNA results will be removed.
- 4
Pick a reason and continue
Choose a reason at the bottom of the page, click Continue, then click Next step. Keep this window open. If you close it, you start over.
- 5
Get the verification code
Open a new tab or window and check your email. Ancestry sends a verification code that expires after 2 hours. It doesn't show up in your Ancestry messages.
- 6
Enter the code and delete
Paste the code into the Confirm Account Delete box and click Delete account. This step is irreversible.
- 7
Look for the confirmation email
You should get a confirmation email. Full removal of your data can take up to 30 days.
Watch out for
- Deleting removes your subscriptions, family trees and DNA results. It can't be reversed.
- If you bought your membership through another company, you keep getting billed until you cancel it with that company.
- Archives.com, Fold3, Forces War Records and Newspapers.com accounts are separate. Cancel those on their own sites.
- Content you shared with other people may stay on Ancestry after your account is gone.
Other ways to do it
- 1
Cancel the membership but keep the account
Go to Account Settings, then the Membership section, and choose Cancel membership. This stops renewals. It doesn't delete your account, family trees or DNA results.
What stays out there
Deleting your Ancestry account closes your account at Ancestry. It doesn't reach copies of your name, past addresses and relatives that people-search sites and data brokers already hold, and family-tree details other people published about you can stay where they are.
Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them from the sites and services that hold them, including people-search sites where you live. See how Serus works.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to delete an Ancestry account?
You finish the request in one session, and Ancestry says full removal of your data can take up to 30 days.
Can I get my Ancestry account back after deleting it?
No. Ancestry's help page calls the final step irreversible, so download your tree and DNA data first.
Does cancelling my Ancestry membership delete my account?
No. Cancelling stops renewals but keeps your account, family trees and DNA results.
Why didn't I get the Ancestry verification code?
It goes to your email, not your Ancestry messages, and it expires after 2 hours. Check that the email address on the page is a working one.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
