If you already know exactly how a MyHeritage DNA Match is related to you, you can confirm the relationship yourself, including which side of your family the DNA Match is on. Your confirmation replaces the estimate that MyHeritage shows by default, in your own view.
👤 Who can use this: The Kit Manager, the Kit Assignee, and any Collaborators on a DNA kit can confirm relationships for that kit. When you confirm a relationship, it changes only your own view. People with access to the same DNA kit don't see your confirmation.
How do I confirm a relationship from my DNA Matches list?
You can confirm a relationship with a MyHeritage DNA Match from your DNA Matches list in the following ways, depending on the device you're using:
🌐 On the desktop and mobile web
🌐 On the desktop and mobile web
Go to your "DNA Matches" list.
Find the DNA Match you want to confirm a relationship for, and click their relationship (for example, "Grandparent's 1st cousin") to open the "Possible relationships" window.
3. In the "Possible relationships" window, click "Select relationship".
The first time you open your DNA Matches, a message called "Select relationship" explains this feature. Click "Got it" to close it. After you close it, it doesn't appear again.
💡 Tip: On desktop, you can skip the step above — hover over the relationship label and click the pencil icon (✏️) that appears to open "Select relationship" directly. This shortcut isn't available on mobile web.
4. In the "Select relationship" window, choose the side of the family ("Mother", "Father", or "Not sure") and the specific relationship under "How is [name] related to you?". Then click "Save relationship".
You can only choose a relationship that appears in the list in the “Select relationship” window. The list shows only the relationships that are possible based on the DNA you share with the DNA Match. After you save, the MyHeritage DNA Match shows "Confirmed relationship" instead of "Probable relationship" or "Estimated relationship". If the "Possible relationships" window asks a question such as "Is [name] your father?" instead of showing "Select relationship", see "What if the DNA Match is a parent, child, or full sibling?" below.
📱 On the mobile app
📱 On the mobile app
To confirm a relationship with a MyHeritage DNA Match in the MyHeritage mobile app, follow these steps:
Log in to the MyHeritage app and tap "DNA" at the bottom of the screen. You can also open the main menu and tap "DNA".
Tap "DNA Matches".
Find the DNA Match you want to confirm a relationship for. Under "Probable relationship" or "Estimated relationship", tap their relationship (for example, "Grandparent's 1st cousin") to open the "Possible relationships" window.
In the "Possible relationships" window, tap "Select Relationship" under the question "Do you know how you are related to [name]?".
In the "Select relationship" window, choose the side of the family under "Which side of your family is [name] on?" ("Mother", "Father", or "Not sure"), the specific relationship from the list under “How is [name] related to you?”, or both.
Tap "Save relationship". The button stays inactive until you choose at least one option.
After you save, the MyHeritage DNA Match shows "Confirmed relationship" instead of "Probable relationship" or "Estimated relationship". If the "Possible relationships" window asks a question such as "Is [name] your father?" instead of showing "Select Relationship", see "What if the DNA Match is a parent, child, or full sibling?" below.
What if the DNA Match is a parent, child, or full sibling?
If the only possible relationship for a MyHeritage DNA Match is a parent, child, or full sibling, the "Possible relationships" window asks you a direct question instead, for example "Is [name] your father?". Click "Yes" to confirm the relationship.
These DNA Matches have no side of the family to choose, so you don't need the "Select relationship" window. On your DNA Matches list, the pencil icon doesn't appear for these DNA Matches.
After you click "Yes", the window shows, for example, "You have confirmed that [name] is your father". To undo it, click "Remove".
How do I confirm a relationship from a DNA Match's own page?
You can also confirm a relationship with a MyHeritage DNA Match from the DNA Match's own page. Follow these steps:
On your DNA Matches list, click "Review DNA Match" on the DNA Match's card to open their page.
Next to the relationship, click the pencil icon.
In the "Select relationship" window, choose the side of the family, the specific relationship from the list, or both. Then click “Save relationship”. The button stays inactive until you choose at least one option.
How do I edit or remove a confirmed relationship?
After you confirm a relationship, the MyHeritage DNA Match shows "Confirmed relationship" instead of “Probable relationship” or “Estimated relationship”, with a checkmark next to it.
To edit or remove a confirmed relationship, use one of these options:
Click the pencil icon next to the relationship. On your DNA Matches list on desktop, hover over the relationship first. The "Select relationship" window opens with your choices filled in. Change them, then click "Save Changes". To clear the confirmation from this window, click "Remove".
In the "Possible relationships" window, use the banner at the top that shows your choice, for example "[name] is your 2nd cousin from your mother's side". Click "Edit" to change it or "Remove" to clear it.
When you remove a confirmation, the DNA Match shows the estimated relationship again.
Where does a confirmed relationship show?
When you confirm a relationship with a MyHeritage DNA Match, MyHeritage shows it in these places:
Your DNA Matches list and the DNA Match's own page, labeled "Confirmed relationship". If you chose a side of the family, it appears in parentheses, for example "Parent's 1st cousin (Mother's side)".
The "Possible relationships" window.
Shared Matches, with a checkmark next to the relationship in the "Probable relationship to you" column. Hover over the checkmark to see "You confirmed this relationship".
Theory of Family Relativity™, where the summary line reads, for example, "Confirmed relationship: Parent's 2nd cousin (Mother's side)".
If you choose only a side of the family, the DNA Match keeps its original label (“Probable relationship” or “Estimated relationship”), and the side appears in parentheses next to the estimated relationship. The label changes to "Confirmed relationship" only when you confirm a specific relationship.
What changes when I confirm a relationship on a DNA kit I manage for someone else?
When you view a DNA kit that you manage for someone else, the MyHeritage windows use the Kit Assignee's name instead of "you". For example, the "Select relationship" window asks "How is [name] related to [name]?". The confirmation is saved for your own view only.
How is this different from confirming a Theory of Family Relativity™?
Confirming your relationship with a MyHeritage DNA Match is not the same as confirming a Theory of Family Relativity™.
Confirming a relationship with a DNA Match (this article): You tell MyHeritage the relationship and the side of the family, based on what you already know.
Confirming a Theory of Family Relativity™: MyHeritage builds a relationship path from your family tree and your DNA Matches, and you can confirm or reject it.
Both can apply to the same DNA Match, and you can do either or both. For the steps to confirm or reject a theory, see: How can I confirm or reject a Theory of Family Relativity™?