The $29 Family Finder™ Upgrade allows customers with existing microarray autosomal DNA results or autosomal DNA transfers to upgrade their testing to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). This upgrade provides enhanced testing scope and prepares your account for upcoming genetic tools and reports.
Upgrade Types and Eligibility
FamilyTreeDNA offers three distinct upgrade paths based on your original test type:
- Family Finder Upgrade - Designed for users who completed a microarray-tested Family Finder test (tests processed before March 2, 2026).
- Autosomal Unlock to Family Finder Upgrade - Designed for users who previously uploaded autosomal DNA raw data from another company and purchased the autosomal transfer unlock.
- Autosomal Transfer to Family Finder Upgrade - Designed for users who uploaded a free autosomal DNA transfer from another company but have not purchased the autosomal transfer unlock.
How to Order
You can order the Family Finder Upgrade directly through your FamilyTreeDNA account in any of the following ways:
- Dashboard - Locate the Family Ancestry section on your dashboard and click Learn More to select your upgrade.
- Add Ons and Upgrades - Click Add Ons and Upgrades in the top navigation bar while signed in, then locate the Family Ancestry section.
- Shopping Cart - Navigate to your Shopping Cart to view available upgrade options for your kit.
Transfer Accounts
If you purchase the Autosomal Transfer to Family Finder Upgrade, your access to tools—such as myOrigins, Chromosome Painter, Chromosome Browser, and ancientOrigins—will become available once your upgrade results are fully processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to send a new sample?
Usually not. We use your stored sample whenever possible. If the stored sample fails or there is not one, we will mail a collection kit to the address on your account. Autosomal transfers from another company always need a new sample, because we do not have a sample from you in our lab.
What happens to my current matches and results?
Your existing results stay in your account while the upgrade processes. When your new results post, your old raw data, match list, and myOrigins estimates are replaced permanently. Your match notes and linked relationships stay saved. If you want a copy of your old data, download your raw data and match list, and take screenshots of any reports, before the new results post.
Will my raw data file change?
Next-Generation Sequencing analyzes significantly more data points, but our research and development team must analyze this new data for compatibility. There will be slight variations between the downloadable data from the two test versions, as there would be between any two test versions, but these differences are slight.Your new raw data file will permanently replace your previous file once processing completes.
Can I access my old results after my upgrade completes?
No. Previous results will be removed from our system once your new results post. Please download any raw data or save screenshots of your current results before your upgrade finishes processing.
Can I cancel the upgrade before it replaces my data?
Yes, if you ask within 24 hours of ordering and before the lab starts processing. The upgrade is refunded minus a 5% fee, to your original form of payment. After processing starts, the upgrade cannot be cancelled.
Some of my upgrade results appeared, but others are missing.
Results can post in stages, and you will get an email as each part finishes. If parts are still missing after the Family Finder processing time in our Test Results Processing Times article, contact Customer Service.
Can FamilyTreeDNA use a sample stored at another testing company?
No. FamilyTreeDNA cannot retrieve or request samples stored with third-party services, including MyHeritage DNA samples.
Still need help?
Contact Customer Service through our Contact Us form or call +1 713-868-1438, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday between 9 AM to 5 PM CT. Our chat assistant cannot see your kit details, so a person on our team needs to help with anything specific to your account.