FAQ & Troubleshooting

Is my DNA data uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything DGBrowser captures is written to a database file on your own computer, and syncing to GDAT copies it to another file on your computer. Nothing is sent to DNAGedcom or any other service. (The only network calls DGBrowser itself makes are loading the web pages you visit and checking for app updates.)

Where is my captured data stored?

In a dnagedcom.db SQLite file, by default in a DNAGedcom folder in your user profile:

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/DNAGedcom/
Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\DNAGedcom\
Linux: ~/.local/share/DNAGedcom/

The status bar at the bottom of the window shows the exact path. You can change the folder and file name under Settings….

I browsed my matches but nothing seemed to happen

That's usually normal — capture is deliberately silent. To check it's working, click Sync to GDAT…: the kit list shows everything captured so far. If a site's kits don't appear:

Check the site is enabled under Settings… → Vendors.
Check “Write captured data to the DNAGedcom database” is ticked in Settings.
Make sure you actually opened the match list or match pages — DGBrowser captures the data those pages load, so a site's home page alone captures nothing.
Scroll or page through the list; most sites load matches only as they come into view.

Windows warns about an unknown publisher when installing

Expected — the Windows installer isn't yet signed with a commercial certificate. In the blue SmartScreen dialog, click More info, then Run anyway. See Install & Update.

DGBrowser says it can't start the browser engine

The embedded browser failed to initialize — most often after an incomplete install or an overzealous antivirus quarantine. Reinstall DGBrowser from the downloads; if the message mentions a missing license, the installation is incomplete and a reinstall fixes that too.

A testing site says my browser is unsupported

DGBrowser identifies itself as Google Chrome precisely to avoid this, and the sites are tested with each release. If one starts rejecting it, check for an app update (the green Update to… toolbar button, or re-download) — site changes are handled in updates.

A sign-in window disappeared / opened somewhere unexpected

Pop-up windows open as new tabs in DGBrowser. Look along the tab strip above the page — the sign-in form is there. When you finish, close that tab and return to the site's tab.

Can I run DGBrowser and GDAT at the same time?

Yes — browse and capture in DGBrowser while GDAT is open. The one thing to avoid is syncing into a GDAT database file that GDAT currently has open: close it in GDAT first, sync, then reopen.

How do I remove everything DGBrowser has stored?

Uninstall the app, then delete the DNAGedcom data folder listed above (and your GDAT file, if you synced into one). DGBrowser keeps its own settings in a small DGBrowser folder next to your other application settings; deleting it is optional.