The BAM file is the complete sequence alignment generated by your Big Y test — it contains the raw reads of your Y chromosome. This file is required by third-party services such as YFull for advanced analysis, tree placement and deeper haplogroup discovery. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through how to request your BAM file on FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA), generate the download link, and upload it to YFull.
What You Need Before You Start
- An FTDNA account with a completed Big Y or Big Y-700 test
- A valid email address linked to your kit (you’ll receive the BAM link there)
- (Optional) A YFull account ready to receive your BAM upload
Step 1 — Sign In to FamilyTreeDNA
Go to https://www.familytreedna.com/sign-in and log in using the same email you used when ordering your kit.
Step 2 — Access the Big Y Section
Once logged in, open the following path from the top navigation bar:
- Click Y-DNA in the main menu.
- Choose Results & Tools.
- Select Big Y → Big Y Results.
You’ll now be on the Big Y results dashboard, which contains tabs such as Results Overview, Matches, and Download Raw Data.
Step 3 — Request the BAM File
Click the tab labeled Download Raw Data. You’ll see two options:
- VCF File (variant calls only)
- BAM File (complete sequencing data)
Click Request BAM.
FTDNA will now begin generating your personal BAM file. This is not instantaneous — the server needs to compile your reads into a single archive.
Step 4 — Wait for the Email with Your Link
Within 24–72 hours you’ll receive an email from FamilyTreeDNA with a secure download link, usually hosted on Amazon S3. It looks something like this:
Copy example link
https://ftdna-bam.s3.amazonaws.com/bam/BigY_123456.bam
Important notes:
- The BAM file is very large (typically 20–30 GB).
- The link is temporary and expires after a few days — if it stops working, you can simply request a new one.
- You do not need to download it if you plan to upload to YFull — you can just copy and paste the link directly.
Step 5 — Upload Your BAM to YFull
Once you have the BAM link, go to:
https://www.yfull.com/order/
Then follow these steps:
- Click Upload BAM file.
- Paste the direct AWS link from your FTDNA email.
- Enter your kit number and any additional details if required.
- Submit the form. YFull will download the BAM directly from FTDNA’s cloud storage.
The transfer happens between servers, so there’s no need for you to manually download or re-upload such a large file. YFull will confirm by email once the import begins (this can take 1–2 days).
Step 6 — Troubleshooting and Tips
- Can’t find the “Request BAM” button? It may appear only for completed Big Y tests. If it’s missing, contact FTDNA Support using the template below.
- Expired link? Simply revisit the Download Raw Data tab and click Request BAM again, or ask Support to regenerate the URL.
- Only did Y-37/67/111 STR tests? Those do not produce BAM files; only Big Y/Big Y-700 sequencing does.
- Safety tip: Your BAM contains identifiable genetic data — share the link only with trusted analytic services like YFull or YSeq.
Step 7 — Email Template for FTDNA Support
Copy email template
Subject: Requesting Big Y BAM Download Link
Hello FamilyTreeDNA Support,
I would like to request the BAM file for my Big Y test.
Kit number: [YOUR KIT NUMBER]
Name: [YOUR NAME]
Registered email: [YOUR EMAIL]
I cannot find the “Request BAM” button (or my previous link has expired).
Could you please generate a new BAM download link for me?
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
Summary
- Request the BAM → from Y-DNA → Big Y Results → Download Raw Data
- Generate and receive link → wait for the Amazon S3 URL by email
- Upload to YFull → paste the link directly on yfull.com/order
Useful Links
