Gathering from MyHeritage

Overview

MyHeritage data is gathered using a browser-based approach. You log in to MyHeritage through an embedded browser in the Client. MyHeritage provides matches, chromosome segments, ICW, triangulation, and family trees.

MyHeritage gathering is among the most time-consuming because MyHeritage enforces a pause of almost a minute between each match gathered. Plan accordingly — large kits may take many hours.

Available Data (When Enabled)

Data Type	Available	Notes
Matches	Yes	Includes preload option from MyHeritage ZIP files
Chromosome Segments	Yes	Shared DNA segments (default: On)
ICW (In Common With)	Yes	Shared match relationships (default: Off)
Triangulation	Yes	Triangulated segment groups (default: Off)
Family Trees	Yes	Match family tree data (default: On)
Ethnicity	No	Not currently supported
Haplogroups	No	Not available from MyHeritage

Getting Started (When Enabled)

1. Navigate to Gather > My Heritage.
2. Log in to MyHeritage through the embedded browser.
3. Select a DNA profile from the dropdown (shows total match count by category: new, close, and distant matches).
4. Optionally preload Match and Segment ZIP files from MyHeritage (see Preloading below).
5. Configure your gather options.
6. Click Gather to begin data collection.

Gather Options

Profile Selection

The profile dropdown shows your available MyHeritage DNA kits with match counts broken down by category (new matches, close matches, distant matches).

Preloading Data Files

MyHeritage allows you to download your match and chromosome segment data as ZIP files from their website. You can load these files into the Client using the Match File and Chromosome File pickers, then click Load Files. This can speed up the initial data import significantly compared to gathering through the browser.

Chromosome

Default: On. Gathers chromosome segment data. Has a dedicated Clear button.

ICW (In Common With)

Default: Off. Gathers shared match relationships. Enabling ICW significantly increases gather time due to MyHeritage's rate limits.

Triangulation

Default: Off. Gathers triangulation data for chromosome segments.

Trees

Default: On. Gathers family tree data for matches with linked trees. Has a dedicated Clear button.

FTDNA Trees

Default: Off. An additional option to gather FTDNA-linked tree data if available.

Match cM Range

Set minimum and maximum shared centimorgans to filter which matches are gathered.

Important Notes

• MyHeritage enforces rate limits of approximately one minute between each match gathered. A kit with thousands of matches will take many hours.
• The preload option (loading ZIP files) is the fastest way to get initial match and chromosome data.
• ICW gathering is especially slow on MyHeritage. Consider gathering matches and chromosomes first, then running a separate ICW gather later.

Additional Features

• Run Report — Generates CSV files from the data already in your database (see Reports & CSV Files below)
• Auto-Report — Toggle to run the report automatically as soon as a gather finishes, so the CSV files are created without a separate click
• Clear buttons — Remove specific data types before re-gathering
• GDAT ID — Field for Genealogical DNA Analysis Tool (GDAT) integration

Reports & CSV Files

Gathering saves your data into the local database (the .db file in your database folder). It does not create CSV files on its own. CSV files are produced by the report step, which reads the data already in your database and writes it out in the universal CSV format used by other genealogy tools.

There are two ways to produce the CSV files:

• Run Report — Click this button on the MyHeritage gather page at any time to generate fresh CSV files from your current database contents. This only takes a few seconds and does not re-gather anything, so you can use it after a gather has finished without repeating the lengthy collection process.
• Auto-Report — Turn on this toggle before you gather and the report runs automatically the moment the gather completes.

Output Files

The CSV files are saved directly in your database folder, alongside the .db file — the same folder the Open Folder button on the home page opens. You do not need to look inside the BrowserData subfolders; those hold the embedded browser's session cache, not your gathered data. The exported files are compatible with other genealogy tools, including DNAPainter, the Genealogical DNA Analysis Tool (GDAT), RootsFinder DNATools, and spreadsheet programs such as Excel and Google Sheets.