AncestryDNA’s Biggest Update Ever: What You Need to Know

AncestryDNA’s Biggest Update Ever!

​AncestryDNA just launched its biggest update yet, adding a variety of new features and regions designed to help us get more out of our DNA results. This update includes a total redesign of the platform, offering improved accessibility, faster performance, and enhanced mobile support. With the launch of 24 new DNA regions and the introduction of 54 subregions in Europe, as well as 64 ethnic groups in Africa, this is Ancestry’s most significant update to date. Let's take a look at what's new and how these changes can impact your family history journey.

1. New Regions and Subregions: Precision at Its Finest

AncestryDNA has expanded its geographic coverage significantly with the introduction of 24 new DNA regions. This includes:

• 8 new regions in Africa
• 5 new regions in Europe
• 3 in West Asia
• 8 in South and Southeast Asia​

The most exciting feature is the addition of subregions, which provide even more precise geographic breakdowns. In Europe alone, 54 subregions have been introduced. These subregions allow us to see a more refined view of their ancestry, helping pinpoint specific locations tied to our ancestral roots. This can be particularly beneficial for those with mixed heritage or those whose ancestors lived in border areas or regions that experienced migration.

AncestryDNA's 24 New Regions for 2024

VIew All Regions

2. African Ethnic Groups: A Cultural Deep Dive

A standout feature of the update is the addition of ethnic groups in Africa, which reflect communities of people who share common cultural characteristics, such as language, religion, customs, and national origin. Ancestry has added 64 ethnic groups, providing a richer understanding of African heritage. This is a significant leap forward, especially for those researching African ancestry, where historical records can often be scarce or difficult to trace.
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With these ethnic groups, we can explore connections beyond just geography. The groups provide insight into cultural dynamics, migration patterns, and community history, offering a deeper perspective on their ancestral stories.

3. Refreshed Design and Feature Name Changes

In addition to the new regions and features, AncestryDNA has undergone a total redesign. The new, more accessible design aims to enhance usability, whether you're accessing the site on a desktop or a mobile device.
Several features have also been renamed for greater clarity:

• “DNA Story” is now “Origins”: Origins provide a broad look at your ancestral connections to various regions worldwide, reaching back 1,000+ years. This name change highlights the long-term historical context of your DNA results.
• “Ethnicity Estimate” is now “Ancestral Regions”: This updated name better reflects the broad analysis of where your ancestors likely came from, comparing your DNA to a reference panel of people with deep roots in specific regions.
• “Communities” is now “Ancestral Journeys”: Ancestral journeys trace where your relatives might have lived and moved over the past 300 years. These journeys are based on your DNA matches and can connect you with others who share common ancestors.
• “DNA Inheritance” features now include “[the feature] by parent”: For example, "Regions by parent" helps you identify which regions or journeys are inherited from which parent.

These name changes are to improve comprehension and better coordinate the terminology with the purpose of each feature. 

AncestryDNA's "Ethnicity Estimate" Changed to "Ancestral Regions" with 24 New Regions and 54 Subregions in Europe

AncestryDNA's "DNA Communities" Changed to "Journeys"

Changes to DNA Inheritance Terms: New "Ancestral Regions by Parent" and New "Ancestral Journeys by Parent"

4. Improved Performance and Accessibility

AncestryDNA’s update isn’t just cosmetic—it's also designed to improve site performance. The updated platform supposedly gives faster load times, even on slower connections, to make it easier to explore our results without delay. Enhanced support for mobile devices will mean that you can seamlessly access your DNA insights on the go.

5. Enhancements and Future Plans

Ancestry’s redesign also seems to lay the groundwork for future enhancements. While the update intends to improve user experience and understanding of the platform, it also sets the stage for more features and tools in the coming months and years. We can look forward to continued improvements that will further refine the accuracy and depth of our results.

My Experience: New Insights and a Few Growing Pains

Personally, my Ancestral Regions (formerly "Ethnicity Estimates") have remained fairly consistent and seem to align even more closely with my known family history. I’ve noticed the increased precision in the new subregions, which has given me a deeper understanding of my ancestral ties.

However, there are still a few kinks in the system. For example, although my regions were marked as “Updated October 2024,” it now shows “Updated July 2024.” Additionally, some of the new subregions assigned to me were removed within days of the update. I’ve also encountered issues with managing my list of others DNA results that I manage, which is now disorganized and not in alphabetical order as it was before.

Despite these minor bugs, the update is a significant improvement, offering a more immersive and accurate understanding of my DNA results. The potential for future enhancements makes me hopeful that AncestryDNA will continue to evolve and improve over time.

My AncestryDNA "Ethnicity Estimate" and "DNA Communities" as of July 2024

My Updated "Ancestral Regions" and "Ancestral Journeys" with the New AncestryDNA October 2024 Update

User Experience Challenges: Not All Changes Are for the Better

While AncestryDNA's latest update has introduced exciting new features and a fresh design, there are some changes that make navigating the platform more difficult for users like myself.

1. Color Grouping Dots Now Squares
   One of the more frustrating changes is the switch from the familiar colored grouping dots to squares. The new color scheme is also harder on the eyes, making it more difficult to visually adjust and organize my DNA matches. I find that this design choice is not as user-friendly and has actually made it more cumbersome to work with my DNA results.
2. Reduced Match List Per Page
   In another move that complicates DNA analysis, the match list now only displays 20 matches per page, or 50 when using a filter. This change slows down the process of reviewing matches and organizing my findings, as I constantly have to click through pages of results.
3. Slow Loading of Notes and Group Info
   The updated layout for DNA matches also seems to have performance issues. Notes, groups (now squares), and other information tied to each match are taking noticeably longer to load, which disrupts the workflow and makes it harder to quickly review and sort matches.
4. Loss of Historical Information
   Another disappointing change is the removal of the historical information for each "Ancestral Region". Previously, AncestryDNA offered a wealth of context, including migration patterns and time periods, which provided a deeper understanding of how ones ancestors fit into the broader historical picture. This information was incredibly valuable for interpreting DNA results, and its removal feels like a step backward.
5. Discontinuation of the BETA AI Feature
   Ancestry also removed a BETA AI feature that had allowed users to dive deeper into each region for more detailed insights. This tool made exploring ancestral regions fun and educational, and its absence is sorely missed, as it helped enrich the overall DNA experience.

Final Thoughts

Ancestry’s biggest DNA update brings exciting new features and refinements that will help genealogists and family historians gain more insight into their ancestral roots. From expanded regions to enhanced design and performance, this update represents a major step forward in how we explore our family history. While there are still a few hiccups to iron out, and some important features that I found useful now missing or changed, the overall experience has been positive, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Ancestry will continue to build on these improvements.
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If you haven’t already, now is a great time to revisit your AncestryDNA results and see how these new updates could unlock more of your family story. 



​© 2024​ Diane Henriks @ Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family

More Ancestry and Genealogy Resources

Learn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.