How do I activate a DNA kit purchased for someone else?

S
System User5
3 min read
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Last updated on Jul 20, 2023

If you have ordered DNA kits for family members, they can either activate their own kit or give you permission to activate their DNA kit for them from the page https://www.myheritage.com/dna/activate

If they wish to activate their own kit, they will be asked to sign up to MyHeritage for free before the activation. Once they are registered to MyHeritage, they will be able to manage their own DNA kit.

If the family members whose DNA has been tested would like you to manage their DNA kit, you can activate their kit online the following way:

1. Please visit the page www.myheritage.com/dna/activate

2. Log in with your usual MyHeritage email address and password - if you have several MyHeritage accounts, make sure you are logged in with the details of the account you purchased the kit from, so that you will be able to track and manage the DNA sample.

 

3. Enter the activation code which you can find on the side of both vials or on the back of the kit package that was given to your family member.

 
Note: make sure you enter the activation code that was given to the family member whose DNA will be tested. If not, the DNA of that person will be assigned to yourself which will lead to mistaken results and matches.   
 
4. Click on ‘Continue’

5. Below the question ‘Whose DNA will this kit be testing?’, select ‘Someone else’s’

6. Start typing the name of the family member as you entered it on your family tree
 
7. Among the suggested individuals that show up, click on the family member whose DNA will be tested:
 
 

If you don’t have a family tree, or if the person who is being tested is not in your family tree, simply enter this/her basic information as shown below:

 
8. Make sure you read and accept the Service Terms and Consent Agreement and obtained the permission of the family member to manage his/her DNA kit. Check the boxes and click on ‘Activate’ to activate the kit.

If you have more kits to activate for other family members, go back to the page www.myheritage.com/dna/activate and start the process again.  

For further instructions on how to manage more than one DNA kit, please read: How can I manage several DNA kits?

If you have trouble activating a DNA kit, please read this article: What should I do if I can't activate a DNA kit?

You can now activate a MyHeritage DNA kit directly from the MyHeritage App, by simply scanning the activation code with your device's camera. To do so, open the app menu and select 'Activate DNA kit'. 

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