If you’re wondering how to delete Ancestry account, the process is fairly straightforward but requires several specific steps. Ancestry, a popular genealogy website, allows users to build family trees, access historical records, and even connect with DNA relatives. However, for various reasons, users may decide to delete their accounts, whether it’s due to privacy concerns, financial reasons, or simply because they’re no longer using the service. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to delete your Ancestry account.
First, it’s important to note that deleting your Ancestry account is permanent. Once deleted, you will lose access to all your family trees, saved records, DNA matches, and any other data associated with your account. Therefore, if you wish to retain any of this information, make sure to download or back it up before proceeding with the deletion. To back up your family tree, Ancestry offers an option to export it as a GEDCOM file, which is a standard format used in genealogy software.
To begin the process of deleting your account, log into your Ancestry account on a web browser. Unfortunately, you cannot delete your account through the mobile app, so accessing the site through a computer or mobile browser is necessary. Once logged in, navigate to the account settings by clicking on your profile name in the upper right corner and selecting “Account Settings” from the drop-down menu. In the Account Settings page, scroll down until you find the “Delete Account” option. Clicking on this will take you to a new page that explains the consequences of deleting your account.
Before you can delete your account, Ancestry will ask you to verify your identity by entering your password again. This extra step ensures that the account deletion is authorized and prevents accidental deletions. After confirming your password, you may also be required to answer a security question or check your email for a verification code, depending on your account’s security settings. Once your identity is verified, you’ll be asked to review a final confirmation page. This page will outline what will happen once the account is deleted, including the fact that any ongoing subscriptions will be canceled, and no refunds will be issued for unused portions of the subscription.
It’s also worth noting that if you have an active subscription, you must cancel it first before you can delete your account. To cancel your subscription, go to the “My Account” section, find the subscription management section, and follow the instructions to cancel it. Keep in mind that canceling a subscription does not automatically delete your account. You must go through the deletion process separately.
Once you’ve completed these steps, your request to delete the account will be processed. It might take a few days for the deletion to be finalized. Ancestry will send a confirmation email once the account has been successfully deleted. During this time, you will no longer be able to access your account, and any saved data, including DNA results and family tree information, will no longer be recoverable. If you have connected your Ancestry account with any third-party apps or services, those connections will also be severed.
For those concerned about DNA data, Ancestry provides a separate option to delete your DNA results without deleting your entire account. If your concern is primarily about your genetic information, you can choose to delete your DNA test results while retaining access to other features of your Ancestry account. This option can be found in the DNA settings section of your account, where you can choose to either deactivate or permanently delete your DNA results.
In summary, learning how to delete an Ancestry account is important for those who no longer wish to use the service or who have privacy concerns about their personal data. It’s essential to back up any information you want to keep, such as family trees, before starting the deletion process. Once your account is deleted, it cannot be recovered, and all associated data will be permanently lost. Make sure to review all terms and consequences before proceeding, especially if you have a paid subscription or have taken a DNA test.