Cancel through your Ancestry account settings online

The fastest way to cancel is to log into your Ancestry account, go to Account Settings, and select the subscription or membership option. Look for "Manage subscription" or "Membership" — the exact wording depends on which Ancestry product you have (Ancestry.com, AncestryDNA, or Ancestry Health). Click the option to cancel, confirm your choice, and your membership will end at the end of your current billing cycle.

Your access continues until that date. You will not be charged again after cancellation takes effect. If you cannot find the subscription settings in your account, look for a "Help" or "Contact Us" link on the same page — Ancestry's interface changes periodically, and support can walk you through the exact steps for your account type.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Ancestry account, navigate to Account Settings, and select the option to manage or cancel your subscription.
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, not immediately, so you keep access until then.
  • If you cannot locate the cancellation option online, contact Ancestry support by phone or chat through the Help section of the website.
  • Keep a record of your cancellation confirmation in case you are charged after the cancellation date.
  • If you were charged after cancellation, contact your credit card company or bank to dispute the charge if Ancestry does not refund it within 30 days.

Contact Ancestry support if you cannot cancel online

If the cancellation option does not appear in your account settings, or if you have trouble completing the process, Ancestry offers phone and chat support. Go to the Help section of the Ancestry website, select "Contact Us," and choose your preferred method. Phone support is typically available during business hours, and chat support may be available outside those hours depending on your region.

Have your account email address and the phone number or payment method associated with your account ready when you contact them. Support can cancel your membership directly and confirm the cancellation date in writing. Request that confirmation be sent to your email so you have a record of when the cancellation takes effect.

What happens to your data after cancellation

Cancelling your membership does not delete your family tree or DNA results. Your data remains in your Ancestry account, and you can log back in to view it at any time. You will not be able to build or edit your family tree, upload new DNA samples, or access certain features that require an active subscription, but the information you created stays there.

If you want to delete your account entirely — removing your family tree, DNA results, and all personal information from Ancestry's servers — that is a separate process. You can request account deletion through the Help section, though Ancestry may retain some information for legal or billing purposes. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

Cancelling a gift membership or trial

If someone gave you a gift membership or you signed up for a free trial, the cancellation process is the same: log into your account and manage your subscription through Account Settings. Gift memberships end on their expiration date, but you can cancel early if you do not want to be charged when the gift period ends.

Free trials convert to paid memberships automatically unless you cancel before the trial ends. Check your confirmation email from when you signed up to see the exact date your trial ends. If you cancel during the trial, you lose access immediately rather than at the end of a billing cycle.

Disputing charges if you are billed after cancellation

If you are charged after your cancellation date, first log into your Ancestry account and check the billing history to confirm the cancellation was processed. If the charge appears after the cancellation date, contact Ancestry support with your cancellation confirmation and ask for a refund. Most refund requests are resolved within 30 days.

If Ancestry does not refund the charge within 30 days, contact your credit card company or bank and report the unauthorized charge. Provide them with your cancellation confirmation and the charge receipt. Your bank can dispute the charge on your behalf and may reverse it while the dispute is being investigated. Keep all documentation — cancellation confirmations, emails from Ancestry, and bank statements — in case you need to provide evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose access to my family tree immediately after I cancel?

No. Your membership continues through the end of your current billing cycle. You keep full access to your family tree and DNA results until that date. After the billing cycle ends, you can still view your data but cannot edit or add to it unless you renew.

Can I cancel an Ancestry subscription that someone else set up for me?

If the account is in your name and you have the login credentials, you can cancel it yourself through Account Settings. If the account is in someone else's name, you will need their permission and login information, or you can ask them to cancel it. Ancestry does not cancel accounts based on a request from someone other than the account holder.

What if I want to cancel just AncestryDNA but keep my Ancestry.com membership?

You can manage each subscription separately in your Account Settings. If you have both products, you will see options to cancel or modify each one independently. Cancelling AncestryDNA does not affect your Ancestry.com membership, and vice versa.

Do I need to cancel before my next billing date?

No. You can cancel at any time, and the cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle. You will not be charged for the next cycle. However, if you want to avoid being charged, it is safer to cancel a few days before your billing date in case there are processing delays.