"Cookies" in this policy also covers pixels, local storage and similar technologies
Ancestry uses the single word "Cookies" for cookies and other similar technologies, such as pixels and local storage objects, used in connection with its Services. Whenever this policy says Cookies, it includes those other tracking technologies, not only browser cookie files. Capitalized terms the policy does not define (for example "Services" and "Service Providers") take their meaning from Ancestry's Privacy Statement.
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This Cookie policy describes how Ancestry uses cookies and other similar technologies, such as pixels and local storage objects (which we refer to collectively as “Cookies”) in connection with its Services.
Any capitalized term used and not otherwise defined below has the meaning assigned to it in our
Qualifications & exceptions
The defined term reaches "other similar technologies"; pixels and local storage objects are examples, not a complete list.
Undefined capitalized terms are defined in the Privacy Statement, which is linked but not part of this source.
Not stated here
The Privacy Statement was not supplied, so the exact definitions of Services and Service Providers are not known from this document.
Cookies are small files that let Ancestry tell you apart from other visitors
The policy describes cookies as small text files stored in your browser or on your hard drive that let Ancestry differentiate between you and other visitors. It says they help site providers remember login details, store site preferences and understand how a user interacts with a site.
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Cookies are small text files, stored in your browser or on your hard drive, that allow us to differentiate between you and other visitors.
They help site providers with things like remembering a user’s login details, storing site preferences and understanding how a user interacts with a site.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
First-party Cookies are placed by Ancestry and may include its Service Providers' Cookies
The policy names two main types of Cookies. First-party Cookies are placed by Ancestry directly when you use its Services. Ancestry adds that first-party Cookies may include Cookies from Service Providers, so a Cookie counted as first-party is not necessarily one only Ancestry's own systems use.
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There are two main types of Cookies that can be set:
First party Cookies: these Cookies are placed by Ancestry directly when you use our Services. First party Cookies may include Cookies from Service Providers.
Not stated here
Which Service Providers set first-party Cookies is not listed in this document; the policy points to a separate Cookie table that was not supplied.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Pixels in web pages and emails report device and visit details and show whether you opened an email
Ancestry uses pixels (also called web beacons or action tags): tiny images in web pages and emails that call Ancestry's servers, and that call provides device and visit information. Ancestry uses pixels to learn about your interactions with email or web content, such as whether you opened an email or interacted with ads. Pixels can also let Ancestry and third parties place Cookies on your browser.
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A pixel (a.k.a, web beacons, action tags) is a tiny image that may be found within web pages and emails, requiring a call (which provides device and visit information) to our servers in order for the pixel to be rendered in those web pages and emails.
We use pixels to learn more about your interactions with email content or web content, such as whether you opened an email or interacted with ads.
Pixels can also allow us and third parties to place Cookies on your browser.
Qualifications & exceptions
Pixels count as "Cookies" under this policy's collective definition, so the policy's Cookie choices apply to them as described.
Not stated here
Which third parties place Cookies through pixels is not listed here; the Cookie table was not supplied.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Local storage keeps information on your device to enable features, remember preferences and speed up the site
Local storage lets a website or app store information on your device. Ancestry says it may use local storage to improve the Ancestry experience, for example by enabling features, remembering your preferences and speeding up site functionality.
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Local storage enables a website or application to store information locally on your device(s).
Local storage may be used to improve the Ancestry experience, for example, by enabling features, remembering your preferences and speeding up site functionality.
Data Access & Collection · Context
Ancestry's mobile apps use SDKs, described only in general terms
The policy lists SDKs (software development kits) as another technology it uses: software packages in mobile applications that may contain APIs or other tools that help Ancestry debug, build, run and test its mobile apps. The policy describes what an SDK is in general terms; it does not say which SDKs Ancestry's apps include or what information they collect or share.
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A software development kit, or SDK, is a downloadable software package used in mobile applications.
A typical SDK may contain APIs which are pre-defined pieces of code that help you perform common programming tasks on the platform or other tools that help us do things like debug, build, run, and test our mobile apps.
Not stated here
Which SDKs are in Ancestry's apps, and what data they collect or send to their providers, is not stated in this document.
Data Access & Collection · Context
A separate Cookie table lists individual first- and third-party Cookies; names may change
The policy does not name individual Cookies. It points to a separate Cookies table that lists first- and third-party Cookies on Ancestry's sites, together with its partners. Ancestry notes that the names of Cookies, pixels and other technologies may change over time and says it will update its resources when that happens.
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Ancestry’s Cookies [table](https://www.ancestry.com/c/legal/cookie-table) lists first and third-party Cookies on our sites, together with our partners.
Please note that the names of Cookies, pixels and other technologies may change over time and we will update our resources when that happens.
Qualifications & exceptions
The Cookie table is a linked page, not part of this source.
Not stated here
The specific Cookies, partners and their purposes in the Cookie table are not known from this document.
Data Access & Collection · User right or choice
You can manage Ancestry Cookie preferences at any time; other Ancestry services use a site-footer link
The policy says you can use a tool to manage your Ancestry Cookie preferences at any time, but the saved text does not capture the tool's name: the sentence reads "You can use" and continues "to manage your Ancestry Cookie preferences at any time". Depending on your location, for Know Your Pet DNA, Newspapers.com and similar Ancestry services, you review and manage cookie preferences through the "Do Not Sell or Share" link or the "GDPR" link at the bottom of that service's website. The management section appears twice in the saved page; the second version omits the sentence about other Ancestry services.
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You can use
to manage your Ancestry Cookie preferences at any time.
Depending on your location, you can review and manage your cookie preferences for Know Your Pet DNA, Newspapers.com, and similar Ancestry services by following the Do Not Sell or Share link or GDPR link at the bottom of the website for the relevant service.
You can use
to manage your Cookie preferences at any time.
Qualifications & exceptions
Which footer link is shown depends on your location.
The policy does not say Necessary Cookies can be switched off through this tool; it states elsewhere that they cannot.
Not stated here
The name or location of the preference control is missing from the saved text (likely an interactive link or button).
Which audience or region sees each of the two versions of this section is not stated.
Data Access & Collection · User right or choice
You can set your browser to block Cookies, but parts of the site may then not work
As an alternative to Ancestry's preference tool, you can set your browser to block Cookies, following your browser's own instructions. Ancestry warns that if you disable Cookies, some features of its site and Services may not operate as intended.
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Alternatively you can set your browser to block Cookies.
Please check your browser for instructions on how to do this or follow the instructions below to understand your options.
If you choose to disable Cookies, some features of our site and Services may not operate as intended.
Alternatively you can set your browser to block Cookies.
If you choose to disable Cookies, some features of our site and Services may not operate as intended.
Qualifications & exceptions
Blocking Cookies may stop some site features and Services from working as intended.
Data Access & Collection · Procedure
Ancestry links to cookie-management help for seven browsers
Ancestry says each browser works differently and lists instructions for some browsers it supports: Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Brave and Microsoft Edge, each linking to that browser maker's help page. The list covers "some of the browsers we support", so other supported browsers may not be listed.
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Each browser works differently, but here are instructions on how to manage your Cookies, using some of the browsers we support:
Internet Explorer
Safari
Mozilla Firefox
Opera
Google Chrome
Brave
Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer
Safari
Mozilla Firefox
Opera
Google Chrome
Brave
Microsoft Edge
Each browser works differently, but here are instructions on how to manage your Cookies, using some of the browsers we support :
Qualifications & exceptions
Only some supported browsers are listed.
Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception
Blocking or deleting Cookies can break the site and may mean re-setting your preferences
If you block all Cookies in your browser, or switch off certain Cookies, you may not be able to access some or all parts of Ancestry's site, and it may not work as intended. If you delete, block or otherwise restrict Cookies, or use a different device or browser, you may need to set your preferences again.
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If you change your browser settings to block all Cookies, or if you switch off certain Cookies, you may not be able to access some or all parts of our site and the site may not work as intended.
In addition, if you delete, block or otherwise restrict Cookies, or if you use a different device or internet browser, you may need to renew your preferences again.
Ancestry points to allaboutcookies.org for general cookie advice
For general information on Cookies, including how to find which Cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, Ancestry points to the external site allaboutcookies.org.
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Generally, you can find out more about Cookies and get advice discovering what Cookies have been set and how you can manage and delete them at
Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception
Ancestry does not respond to browser Do-Not-Track signals
Ancestry states that it does not respond to Do-Not-Track signals from your browser at this time, because there is no established industry standard. Turning on Do-Not-Track in your browser therefore does not change how Ancestry uses Cookies; the policy's other choices (its preference tool, browser blocking and third-party opt-outs) are the ways it describes to limit them. Ancestry frames this alongside a statement that it does its best to honor your privacy preferences and has implemented industry standard safeguards "as described above".
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we do not respond to Do-Not-Track signals from your browser at this time due to the lack of an established industry standard.
Ancestry notes that although we do our best to honor your privacy preferences, and have implemented industry standard safeguards as described above,
Qualifications & exceptions
Stated as Ancestry's position "at this time"; the reason given is the lack of an established industry standard.
Not stated here
The policy refers to industry standard safeguards "as described above", but the policy text above does not describe specific safeguards beyond the security use of Necessary Cookies; what is meant is unclear.