Finding Your Kit Number
Every uploaded DNA file on GEDmatch is assigned a unique Kit
Number (e.g., AB1234567). You need this number to use matching tools and to
share with others for comparison.
Where to find it:
2. On your home page/dashboard, your uploaded kits are
listed in the DNA section.
3. Each kit shows its kit number, name, source (testing
company), and current status.
If you cannot see any kits on your dashboard, see the section
on "Missing Kits" below.
If you forgot your kit number:
• Log in to GEDmatch and check your dashboard — your kit
numbers are displayed there.
• If you cannot log in, contact GEDmatch Support (support@gedmatch.com) with the
email address on your account and we can look up your kit number for you.
Kit Access Status Settings
Each kit has an access status that controls who can see
and compare with your kit. You can change this at any time.
Available status options:
|
Status
|
Visible
in One-to-Many
|
Usable
in One-to-One
|
Description
|
|
Public + Opt-In
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Most open setting. Your kit is visible to all users and
opted in for law enforcement searching.
|
|
Public + Opt-Out
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Your kit is visible to all users but opted out of law
enforcement searching for violent crime.
|
|
Research
|
No
|
Yes
|
Your kit does not appear in One-to-Many match lists, but
other users can compare with you using One-to-One if they have your kit
number.
|
|
Private
|
No
|
No
|
Your kit is not visible to anyone except you. Other users
cannot search for or compare with your kit.
|
How to change your kit's access status:
1. Log in to GEDmatch.
2. Click the pencil icon (edit button) to the right
of your kit number.
3. Select your preferred access status from the dropdown.
4. Save the changes.
Note on law enforcement opt-in: Kits set to
"Public + Opt-In" allow law enforcement agencies to search for
matches using your kit. If you do not want law enforcement to be able to use
your kit for investigative purposes, select "Public + Opt-Out" or a
more restrictive status.
Editing Kit Details
Changing the name on a kit:
1. Click the pencil icon next to your kit number.
2. Update the name field.
3. Save.
Correcting the sex/gender marker:
If the sex marker on your kit is incorrect (which can affect X
chromosome analysis):
1. Click the pencil icon next to your kit number.
2. Change the sex field to the correct value.
3. Save.
If you are unable to change it yourself, contact GEDmatch
Support with your kit number and the correct sex marker.
Transferring a Kit Between Profiles
If you need to move a kit from one GEDmatch profile to a
different one (for example, if you want to link a kit to a different email
address):
1. Log in to the GEDmatch profile that currently has
the kit.
2. Navigate to the kit transfer option by selecting the pencil icon next to your kit number.
3. Select the kit transfer tab. Enter the email address of the GEDmatch profile you
want to transfer the kit to.
4. Confirm the transfer. The kit will then appear in the receiving profile.
Common use case: If you uploaded a kit using one email
address but your GEDCOM (family tree) is on a profile with a different email
address, you can transfer the kit so that both the kit and the GEDCOM are on
the same profile. This allows GEDmatch to link your DNA matches with your
family tree.
Missing Kits / "Kits Disappeared"
If your DNA kits no longer appear in your GEDmatch profile,
here are the most common causes:
You logged in with a different email or
method
If you originally registered with one email address but logged
in with a different one, you may have inadvertently created a new, empty
profile. Your kits are still on the original profile.
Solution: Log out and log back in using the exact
same email address and method (regular email login, Google login, or Yahoo
login) that you originally used to create your account.
Common scenario: If you originally registered using a
Google social login but later tried logging in with the same email address
through the regular login form, you will land on a different (empty) profile.
Social logins and email logins create separate accounts even if the email
address is the same.
Your email address is no longer active
If the email address associated with your GEDmatch account no
longer exists (e.g., you changed ISPs or closed that email account), you may
not be able to log in.
Solution: Contact GEDmatch Support with:
• Your old email address
• Your new email address
• Your kit number (if you remember it)
Our team can update the email on your account so you can
access your kits again.
Your kit was deleted
If a kit was manually deleted from your profile, it cannot be
recovered. You would need to re-upload your DNA data.
Duplicate Kit Issues
GEDmatch does not allow the exact same DNA data to exist in
more than one active kit. If you upload a DNA file that has already been
uploaded (either by you or by another account), the new kit will be flagged as
a duplicate.
How to resolve a duplicate:
• If you accidentally uploaded the same file twice, you
can delete the duplicate kit by clicking the pencil icon next to the kit
and selecting the delete option.
• If the duplicate is on a different profile, you may
need to contact Support for assistance.
• If you want to have kits from different testing
companies for the same person, those are not duplicates — each
testing company generates unique data and will receive its own separate kit
number.
For full details, see our article: "Duplicate Kit Issues
and How to Resolve Them."
Batch Processing
After uploading, your kit enters a batch processing queue.
During this time:
• Your kit status will show as "Processing."
• You cannot use matching tools until processing
completes.
• Processing typically takes 24 to 48 hours but
can occasionally take longer during high-volume periods.
If your kit has been in "Processing" status for more
than 48 hours:
1. Clear your browser cache and cookies and check again.
2. If it still shows as processing, contact GEDmatch
Support with your kit number.
Deleting a Kit
To delete a DNA kit from your GEDmatch profile:
1. Log in to GEDmatch.
2. Click the pencil icon to the right of the kit
you want to delete.
3. Select the delete option.
4. Confirm the deletion.
Warning: Deleting a kit permanently removes it and all
associated data. This cannot be undone. If you want to re-use the data in the
future, you would need to re-upload the raw DNA file from your testing company.
If you want to remove your kit from public searches but keep
it for personal use, consider changing the status to Private instead of
deleting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "kit status: police" mean?
This means your kit is set to "Public + Opt-In,"
which allows law enforcement agencies to search for matches using your kit. If
you want to change this, click the pencil icon next to your kit and select a
different access status.
Can I have kits from multiple family members on the same
profile?
Yes. You can upload DNA kits from multiple family members to
the same GEDmatch profile. Each kit will have its own unique kit number.
My kit number starts with a letter — is that normal?
Yes. GEDmatch kit numbers consist of two letters followed by a
series of numbers (e.g., AB1234567). This is the standard format.
Can I merge kits from two different testing companies?
Yes, Tier 1 members can use the "Combine multiple kits
into 1 Superkit" tool to merge results from different testing
companies for the same individual. The original kits remain intact — the
Superkit is an additional combined kit.